Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-08-08

to get hurt. Every man in the room was
looking square at Laraway. And to
every man it seemed as if the pistols
were looking square at himself.
The Kid always was sandy-apd
freckled. Half an hour before he had
skunk off to bed. Now, just at the right
moment, he skunk up behind Laraway,
his freckled hands to the mans throat
and brought him down. The guns went
off through the roof.
Mr.. Laraway was tied to the bed that
night and many nights after. He had a
severe attack Of brain fever from which
he came out as weak as baby. During
his convalescence he never spoke of the
Bible, and he had an aversion to liquor.
During those days strong and quiet
friendship grew up between Laraway
and the Kid.
The ''old man. was visiting his
ranches that season, and took great in
terest in the sick man, told him to go Oft
somewhere and get we'll and hearty be-
fore trying to work again; said his pay
would go on exactly as though he were
in the saddle.
But Laraway said: I've no place to
go that l like half so we'll as this old
ranch, and no friends so good as these" "
So he stayed around camp and made hair
brides and cinches, and read books, and
helped the cook, and did all those things
which a cowboy does only when he is in
valided.
Among the visitors whom the cold
man" entertained at the ranch that
spring was Mitchell, the famous mind
reader. One Sunday afternoon he volun-
teered to show the boys what he could
do. We hid objects all over the place
and kept him chasing around for an
hour.
At last Mitchell said: :This is all dead
easy for me; it don't amuse me. You
all know where these objects are placed,
and the trail is hot to them. Now" he
said to the Kid, who had been one of
the most interested participants, you fix
your mind ON something whose where
abouts is known only to yourself and
which you don't want me to find"
He took the Kids hands and began to
wander around the buildings. Twice he
circled the corrais, then, getting his
bowlder-strewn butte quarter of mile
away. By this time he was fairly drag
ging the reluctant Kid along.
The mindreader halted at the first big
bowlder and the boys quickly turned it
over. The bed of the rock was a
rounded hole some three feet deep, and
at the bottom lay small black book
Laraway's Bible. At sight of it he fell
back a step and stood about the hole as
solemnly as grave. The Kid was blub-
boring L didn't mean no HARM" said
he.
Laraway had been in the second rank
of those who followed the mind-reaGer
up the hill; now he crowded to the front
and looked in.
My Bible, by Cod" he cried, and
jumped into the hole. AS he came out
with the book in his hand and strobe
down the hill without a word to any
one. he tore out the fyleaf, upon which
he had written his pledges. 1 picked it
up and kept it as a record of Il noble en-
deayor.
We turned our backs on the Kid S
cache, now despoiied, and walked slow
~ down the hill. For some time there
was no comment on the foreman's con-
clusiOn. We heard clatter of hoofs on
the hard road as Laraway spurred away
toward town.
Then the Kid lifted his head Che was
ever a stubborn youngster). III save
him yet" he said.-San Francisco Argo-