The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-04-27


ER% behind him thun-
Y dered on the
Union Pacific track. His train, also
q carrier of commerce, rolled in lesser
thunder on the wagon.road, which
was obscured by the smoke OF the en-
gine. The six mules snorted and
plunged; the looming front wagon
iurched after them with louder jan
Cling OF chains; the trail-wagon ierked
in quick connection on it's short
bobbed tongue, and the mouse colored
saddle pony, led behind, stepped
knowingly up on slackened halter.
Train and team on parallel roads
came into Rawlins, and drew up on
opposite side of the freight-house.
On the platform His father stood
waiting. The old freighter's power
full figure leaned on stout ash stick /;
but his eyes followed Hi while he
threw off his ail-wagon, detached
swing and leaders, and set his wheel
ers to backing in the front wagon un-
til the rear end struck squarely
against the platform. Then Hi swung
from the saddle and up beside his
father.
'Im afraid I'll have to weaken
this trip, Hi," said his father. This
rheumatsm's got such hold. 1t
keeps its grip like Oleson; he's hold
ing me to the contract, and his goods
must 60"
81 can make the trip alone" re-
tured Hi. II reckon know the road
most as well as you do"
"Its not that" said his father.
"There's some talk about the Utes.
But / reckon you can catch ur with
Grayling. His outfit pulled out for
White River just before you came III. g..
He told me the Utes were wild about
their new agent. That tenderioots
plowod up their race ground for u
wheat patch, and keeps on rubbing
their hair the wrong way. Grayling
says they're sure TO make q break q.
He heard they'd picked off stray
COW -puncher on the Piceance, and
lowed this was his last trip to White
River"
"Grayling won't get more than
half days start, and / Ireckon, pap,
the mules can take that up this side
Bear River" said Hi. "Kod and I'll
load up, and III pull out in lilfy."
But His "iiffy" had grown into
hours when the wagons were loaded,
and Hi went with his father to Ole
sons store to sign the bill of lading.
Oleson, the astute scandinavian
who iran" several stores in western
Colorado and Wyoming, pushed over
the paper to Hiram senior to sign.
"No, no, Oleson, said the old
freighter, with pathetic pleasantly,
"I'm turned out to grass now, and
Hi, here, is coming into the collar.
And as he's to do the freighting, he'll
do the signing"
Oleson fixed his neutral.colored
eyes on the young freighter. "So?"
he said. DER boy grows pretty high
now, but haf some t'ousand dollar in
dem two wagons"
"And I'm backing mp the boyw
broke in Hiram the elder. He'll do
the signing, Oleson."
So Hi set his big fist to the bill of
lading, and became bound for the
goods in transit
The wagons were coupled, and Rod
put in a last plea. 80 pap, let me
go. I'd be a big help about the team.
Say, wouldn't now, Hip"
But Hi, watching his fathers face,
refrained from saying yes, and Rods
pleading availed him nothing. In a
fury of disappointment, the boy
rushed to the saddle-pony, which was
his own pet property, jerked loose
the halter, jumped into the saddle,
ani was off down the track in an
instant.
"It don't matter, pap said vi. 81
don't need the pony. The mules
never go far hobbled, and come back
for their grain. Don't worry, pap,
Good-byl Take care of yourselfl"
The white .sheeted wagons trailed
of to the south. Not until twilight
did Hi go into camp, at green
trimmed spring by the trail, and the
landmark of Elk Mountain was blur
in the darkness when his sage.b brush
fire flashed mp its light. Squatted by
il, busy with frying-pan aud coffee.
pot, Hi missed two companions-R Rcd,
and the rifle forgotten in his hurry Of
preparation.
From the meadow. he heard the
challenging neigh OF the vigilant
mules; an answering countersign was
whinned from out the darkness, and
presently Rod came riding gaily in OF
Mouse" the pony.
''Just fill up that frying pan, Hil'
cried Rod. I'm hungry as a coyote
Pap wouldn't let me wait a minut,
when he came home and found ou
you'd forgot to take the Winchester
Here tbs. Hi, I'm going with youl'
"Did pap say SOP" Hi asked.
"Well, he didn't say no, aud h
wouldn't say yes" Rod answered
honestly. "But reckon he knew i
got this far, I'd keep on TO the en-,
of the road. And then he sort OF lei
IL TO you"
''Then you'll 60 back home in th
morning." returned Hi promptly.
But restraining Rod was like bittin
q frsctious colt, and in the morning
when . range rider passed oppor
tunely, hi sent back n note TO hi
father giving his pledge for the boy