The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-02

Spider ,cos sobbin9 as though his heart
acould break.
spirits rose amazingly, even though
their wet clothes steamed more than
the scalding coffee that the cook poured
into the big tin cups It was all in the
days work-of cowboy.
We had nearly finished supper when
noticed that Spider was not there. 1t
was so unusual for him to absent him.
self from a meal that went in search
of him, fearing that something might
be wrong. It was some time before
could find him IN the darkness; but.
hearing an odd sound from behind my
tent, I followed it. With his arms
thrown around the neck of the horse
that he had ridden that day, Spider
was sobbing as though his heart would
break. stood still for moment, sur
prised. He had not heard ne, and
knew that be would be terribly morti-
fed should he find that I had been a
witness Of his weakness, so coughed in
a discreet manner to warn him OF my
approach. The effect was Instantaneous
Spider Strengthened up Immediately and
began to hum little tune to himself,
while the horse locked around at him
with an expression of mild surprise at
his sudden change of mood
/ asked. him why he did not come to
supper. He answered that he ''didn
seem ter want none jus now somehow.
This was 7ery startling. When COM
menaed his bravery and magnanimity
in doing what ne had done to save the
life of an enemy. he observed that sit
WASH 20 great shakes nohow, and that
as he intended to square matters with
Hollis sooner or later he didn't want
Hollis drowned, as that obviously would
prevent any such reckoning
It was like Spider to attach the low
est possible motive to any thing that be
might do. but I knew better. There
was no use in saying anything more.
held out my hand Spider WINGED as ne
took it. Then found that his right
palm had been cut almost to the bone
bv the rope that had been pulled through
it. | took him lack to the camp and
dressed his hand as well as was able
with the limited resources at our COM
mand, and at last he rolled up in his
blanket and fell into the deep sleep Of
utter exhaustion.
had returned to my own tent and
sat under the fy, looking out at the
dismal landscape aud feeling very blue
indeed. There was nothing. as far as
the eve could reach, but rock. cactus
and sand. How the cattle We're to live
I could not see Something must be
done. was about to call the foreman
for consultation when | saw HIN
coming toward me.
.SEvenin. he remarked as though he
bad not seen lie before that day
Thought I'd come over an see what
we'd best do with them there critters
while the rivers goin down We can
etay here.
didn't in the least know what tc
do. Furthermore the river was not
going down 1t was rising
"Yaas. SO It's. That's what made me
think that maybe. after all, We'll have
ter take the herd ter oil Lorena S range
fer bit. Cant do 10 better as CT
see
..Whera is Loreua range" | asked
..Is there feed there:
Bout 10 mile down the river Oh
yes. there grass there. al rish
enough. He s2ol:e 50 dub;oasly tia
I asked for an explanation Oh. yeS
there's grass taeresaIl right enonsh.
he repeated ~bae silsa Lorei'a. iie
there too dom like Lefe '3a i!e'i
TOO well Hes grease. all ;Eefe am
10 worse one nowhere. }1c ) got an q;
fred bad lot aroun him, too. down 1heI.
to Aqua Caliente You'll have ter "a,
fer the use er the range, OF course an
-ecg<jr, i3le;j2-..e 20 60. -" e 'rn''