The Princeton union., 1900-03-22


Il wouldn Be 40 liyin ii Tie Il. .,.s T. 81
i with i'm. But he scared me, th:,t M u I,
Il fact. That reelly why ! thunlped i tl
i I'd be mighty sorry il that kid :,,1t
4 hurt, an he was tixin ter get hurt the
i very best he knowed. Here he comes
now, GRIMM so the grin runs ever his
face all down his back. =
4 Them rIstlers was a-waitin fer ,ne,s
was they 2 called Spider as soon as lie
got close enough. We'll, JUS YOU look
over there once. '' He pointed to Sa
moonlit space between two deep shad.
ows nearly a mile away. Three men 81,
horseback were crossing it rapidly,
going in the direction Of Aqua Caliente!
There was no doubt about their being
the thieves. No other men would have
been likely to be in that deserted place
at such a time. or, if they had been,
they would have shown themselves he.
fore when Spider was firing distress
signals. LIE ss
''Do you suppose that those fellows
will go after more men and then come
down on us2" asked Lee as Spider re-
turned to his work #~ G
''Nope, replied the cowboy. They
can't afford ter take no chances, er
they'd "a staid an fought it tout It amt
no joke fer a man ter get ketched liftin
cattle roun here. You en- raise the
country ter go after i'm, an if he's
caught he don't get ter Jail alive. Them
fellers was gonter take these here cattle
across the line into Mexico-it amt
more n 90 miles from Aqua Caliente-
an sell 'em there. Better get them cat
tie over the divide an movin lords
home. though, as soon as we kin. It's
mos sun up now. = #sS
Tine cattle, tired and thirsty, started
willingly enough toward our camp BY
the river, but they moved very slowly,
after the manner of cattle. We had our
hands full in hurrying them, all three
of us. +:- $f
| AS Lee had said, it was nearly sun
rise. The cattle had hardly crossed the
low ridge when the SUBMITS of the
hills were Redeemed by the first beams
of the sun that shot UP over the level
edge of the desert This reminded me
Of the foreman's threat concerning
Aqua Caliente and it's inhabitants
had forgotten it until then. }
"How far do you think we are from
the Campo asked Lee. @
''Our camp2 Ten er 'leven miles.
More maybe" he replied *s1
1--WE can't get there in an hour,
then. l said. "Perhaps I had better
send Spider on ahead to tell them we're
all right. IN
Lee objected. He could see no reason
why we should send any one away
There were only three of US as it was,
and there was plenty of work to keep
US all busy. Evidently he had not heard
what the foreman had said, so told
him. 1t did not seem to alter his opin-
ion, however Spider threw up his hat
and shouted. The hat fell beyond his
reach, but he picked it up without dis
mounting and evinced a decided in
clination to depart Immediately for
Aqua Caliente. Isternly restrained him.
$50 the foreman said he'd go over to
Aqua Caliente for visit, did he2 Well,
unless we meet up with the boys as
they go. them thieves what holds forth
in the town will see an awful lot er fun
by two hours from now. When the fore
man says he'll do thing. that's the
thing he does every trip commented
Lee. grinning delightedly ''But we're
sure to meet up with the boys-we're
right in their track he added. with
reassuring nod.
The foreman was even better than his
word. Hardly had Lee finished speaking
when cloud of dust that had been
rapidly moving over the desert proved
to be the wake that followed our men
Except Hollis, every one of them was
there, even the Ballet Girl He had
screwed the spike that decorated, the
end of his artificial leg into the foot
rest OF his wooden stirrup and was rid
ing straight and well, his long gray
beard blowing back over his shoulder.
The heavy pistol that always hung in
his belt was re-enforced by another, and
across his saddle rifle was balanced.
While the boys noisily greeted Lee
and Spider the foreman rode directly
up to me and without preamble began
to explain the suddenness of his appear
ance.
~"You see, didn' say wouldn' start
off before the time set, - said he. 81
didn' mean ter, though, when you left.
but the boys they got dead anxious.
Theirs been lot er them rustlers f'om
Aqua Caliente hangin roun the place,
an we all thought you mighter stacked
up agains some trouble So the bows
got kinder scared up for you. Why,
even the Bally Curl, he starts out an
gives me fits fer lettin you go without
the lot Of us back er, you. He saddles up
horse an gets out his guns an swears
he'll lead the boys himself if don't
start'out. He's dead game, the Bally
Curl u.s. an I tell you these boys is a