Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-04-28

s; 49,: ::: FL III: i; 4: !:
y dered on the
Union Pacific track. His train, also
carrier OF commerce, rolled in lesser
thunder Oh tho wagon.road, which
was obscured by the smoke OF the en-
CINE. The six mules snorted and
plunged; the looming front wagon
iurched after them with louder jan
Cling of chains; the trail-wagon jerked
in quick connection on its 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 tue 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 trail.wagon, detached
swing and leaders, and set his wheel
ers to backing in the front wagon I'M
til the rear end struck squarely
against the platform. Then Hi swung
from tue saddle and up beside his
father.
"I'm afraid I'll have to weaken
this trip, Ill.," said his father. This
rheumatism's got such hold. 1t
keeps its grip like Oleson; he's hold
ing me to the contract, and his goods
must CO."
"I eau make the trip alone" re-
tured Hi. II reckon know the road
most as we'll rs You do"
cts not that" said his father.
"There's some talk about the Utes.
But reckon you can catch ur with
Grayliug. His outfit pulled out for
White River just before you came III.
He told me the Utes were wild about
their new agent. That tenderfoots
plowed up their race ground for a
wheat. patch, and keeps on rubbing
their hair the wrong way. Graylins
says they're sure to make a break.
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 1 reckon. pap,
tho mules can tako that up this side
Bear River" said Hi. "Rod and I'll
load up, aud II pull out in jiffy."
But His "jiffy" 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 "ran" 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 tho collar.
And as he's to do the freighting, he'll
do the signing"
Oleson fixed his neutral colored
eyes on the young freighter. sop
he said. "Der boy grows pretty high
now, but I hat some t'ousand dollar in
dem two wagons. .
"And I'm backing up the boy"
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 last plea. 20 pap, let me
20. I'd be big help about the team.
Say, wouldn't I now, HIP"
But Hi, watching his fathers face,
RETAINED from saying yes, and Rods
pleading availed him nothing. In q
fury of disappointment, the boy
rushed to the saddle.pony, which was
his own pet property, jerked loose
the halter, jumped into the saddle,
and was off down the track in an
instant.
ut don't matter, pap" said Hi. 81
don't need the pony. The mules
never go far hobbled, aud come back
for their grain. Don't worry, pap,
Good.by! Take care Of yourself!"
The white.sheeted wagons trailed
off to the south. Not until twilight
did Hi 90 into camp, at o green.
trimmed spring by the trail, and the
landmark OF Elk Mountain was blul
in the darkness when his sage-brush
fire flashed up its light. Squatted by
it, busy with frying-pan and coffee
pot, Hi missed two companions Rcd,
aud the ride forgotten in his hurry OF
preparation.
From the meadow, he heard the
challenging neigh of the vigilan'
mules; an answering counter sign was
whinned from out :ne darkness, and
presently Rod came riding gaily in OIL
"Mousc," the pony.
Gust fill up that frying pan, Hi!
cried Rod. "I'm hungry as a coyote.
Pap wouldn't let me wait minute
when he came home aud found out
you'd forgot to take the Winchester.
Here It's. Hi. I'm going with you!
"Did pap say SOP" Hi asked.
"Well, he didn't say no. and he
wouldn't say yes" Rod answered,
honestly. "But reckon he knew il
I got this far, I'd keep ON to the end
OF the road. Aud then he sort of left
II to you.
"Then you'll 60 back homo in the
morning." returned Hi, promptly.
But restraining Rod was like biting
fractions colt, and in the morning,
when . range rider passed oppor
tunely, Hi sent back note to his
father giving his pledge for the boys
safety. Rod was duly grateful, and
honestly took his share Of the work
At the break OF day he rounded up the
mules for an early start.
The mountain meadows were ye'
spongy, and the rail was beset will
chuck holes torn hub-deep by Gray
ling's great wheels. But when they