The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-11-02


Colonel, they all said We was a queer
sort of a critter, but this last circus
beats my time. Mebbe ye'H tell ME
what it's all about?"
"And maybe I'll pump 16 bullets in
to you as soon rs l get hold of my ri
fe.' | gasped. Potts. you ought to be
killed out of hand. 1t won't be murder
to wipe you off the face of the earth"
"Bekase of that bar trap" he asked.
Yes, of course. You knew where il
was and never said a word to me. III
hadn't struck the chain with my foot.
I'd have walked right into it."
YES, I'd sortcr forgot bout that
trap" he mused as he scratched his
ear, but it's all right, amt it? Ye
didn't walk into it, and l can't see why
We should kick up SIGH a row. Lordy,
but We seem to be mighty pertickler
man"
1t was a bit OF job to get my rife
free of the jaws, and | then dumped
the old trap into a ravine and warned
Potts that if he showed his face in
camp I'd fusillade him. He waited
for two or three hours and then came
in with an injured expression on his
face and started up the fire for supper.
BY that time l had got over my desire
to shed his blood, but l couldn't over
look his carelessness. We ate and
smoked and sat around in silence, and
next day would have seen the partner
ship dissolved for sure but for an in,
cident of the night. Soon after mid
night a grizzly came skulking around
0nd almost stampeded our mules, and
Potts showed his gamencss by bIuffing
the old fellow back into the thicket
without waiting for me. This broke
the ice and made us friends again. and
it was agreed to give old Ephraim
hard run for it next day. When morn
ing came, | had about taken old Potts
under my wing again and was secretly
glad that | hadn't reached him with
my club. As soon as breakfast was
dispatched We started out The bear
had left tracks as big as Il house and
in going away had headed along the
mountain. We could reasonably hope
to hole him up somewhere within
mile, provided he had satisfied his
hunger and got home in the due sea
son. When we finally came to a likely
spot, went to the right and Potts to
the left to investigate an opening in
the rocks. | made a slow advance,
realizing that the bear might be in
ambush behind any of the big bowl
ders, and | was crouching alongside of
one, with neck stretched out. when
there was a whiZ and Il spat. and |
was blinded for n moment by particles
of stone flung into my eyes. Potts was
carrying Il rifle that day. and as its
bark followed the spat of the bullet l
knew what had happened. While
had my hands to my eyes | heard him
shout ut the top of his voice:
Hey, colonel. I've got him-got him
fur sure"
Half Il minute later he stood beside
me, prepared to finish off the game"
l think he was really surprised and per-
haps considerably disappointed when
he found a living man instead of
dead grizzly, and lie hadn't word to
say. He sat down near me on a rock,
and it was five minutes before | had
my eyes cleared enough to make him
out. Then | brought up my Winches-
ter and said
"PottS, I'm going to shoot 1G holes
into your jackass carcass! Where do
you want the first one?'
$50 it was We instead of a barr" he
queried in reply.
ut was, and you knew it was. You
meant to murder and rob me, you old
villain! Talk fast, now, for you haven't
got 60 seconds to liver'
''Look here colonel" he protested
but only mildly, sit was a mistake any
body might have made, and, bein We
wasn't hurt, don't see why We should
kick up Danl. Fact is, colonel
$50 on! Go on! You have 20 sec
onds morew | said as he halted
''Waal, the fact of it is I'm goin to
quit. | never was out with one of We
newspaper men before, and dang my
hide if ever | want to be ag'in. The
boys said ye was a crank and kicker
and that I'd soon cut my job, but We
talked smooth and give orders fur
plenty of grub, and | was willin to
take chances. Howsumever'-
"Howsumever what, you nearsight-
ed, squint eyed, dunderheaded pot
hunter?"
"Howsumever, colonel, the boys was
right, and, bein | can't do nuthin to
MI 7 10
l guess I'll resign, and We kin run the
circus yerself."
Next day we started the outfit for
home. Potts might have reconsidered
his resignation, but | wouldn't give
him chance. | couldn't stay up there
alone, but it was death to stay with
him. We made the journey of 80 miles
without word. When we reached
home, paid him off and said:
Potts, you-yOu-you are an unhung
IDIOT
what fur colonel?" he innocently
asked.
Because you can't help it."
"Waal mehbe | am, but if We could
only have held on to that crankiness of
yers we'd have got at least four bars
and five or six lions, to say nuthin of
wolves and wildcats. Day to We, colo
mel. Awful sorry We can't help yer
meanness."
The COwpea Moving Northyy0rd.
The cowpea is moving northward at
a rapid rate. Five years ago it was
not known whore thnre nre NOW ncrnS