The Virginia enterprise., 1900-11-30

sand such a dead weight as | was
enough to stop even Chesapeake. |,
more dead than alive. lay stretched out.
a bedra ggled, nerveless object.
The cattle didn't go into the river at
ali. Whether my pistol shot halted
them or whether the watcry channel had
turned their course, l could not say.
But the fact is that when l stood again
on my feet. there they were. believing
and tossing their horns on the bank: and,
as | watched them, by some unknown
signal. they turned and started with one
impulse back as they had come. heads
down and tails up-not nearly so ttrrify-
ing sight now that they were gcing
away as fast as they could run.
l was naturally uncomfortable. but
didn't know just how to improve my
situation at once.
Why didn't make a fire and dry my
self? l have heard Of burning sand
They have it in Africa, out this wasn't
that kind My teeth chattered little
accompaniment to the tenor of my
thoughts, and the water dripped off my
feet. sc that | had to move at intervals
to keep from getting any wctter. while
Chesapeake stood idly by, waiting for
something to- turn up-thc blackboard.
proba bly-and wondering if it wasn't al
most time for lunch-and pie.
/
equine companion, as | spat some sand
out Of my mouth. Turkey? cranberry
sauce? Not for your Uncle Smiler this
year Chesapeake. we'll 90 on; and the
trSt house we come to, even be it Il one
room dusoHt; there: we will spend the
camp tomorrow. My dinner will consist
of sour bread and fat pork with the bris-
ties on: yours will be wet straw
After this melancholy hcmily, driving
Chesapeake and the front wheels before
me. and postponins the rescuing OF my
Mtlong7ngs untll some more Favorable
time. / started across the sand and up
the low bank: as reached the summit /
eagerly cast my eyes about for the cx-
pccted dugout.
What was that I saw a mile or so
away? One, two, three windmills rising
out, of what looked like a city in the
earlier stages of it's growth There
seemed to be barns and houses and sheds
and corrals enough for all the people and
all the cattle in the county. l cogitated
a moment; then an idea-a pleasant idea
struck me. and l directed my course
toWacd toy, the newly discovered goal.
s@ by xBeG MsG of re1e5 e1'najqn fhj TO to
hear. so much about. We're right in one
of his pastures now. and / didn't have
sense enough to know it, This was ev-
identity satisfactory to Chesapeake. for
he pricked up his ears and moved on at
a good gait. Perhaps he smelled pie.
in that part of the country His ranch.
the largest anywhere around. embraced
thousands of acres Of fertile prairie over
which wandered myriads of cattle. His
beautiful residence in Hays l had frc-
quently seen. and had heard the Wild
est accounts Of the elegance of his rural
home
1--WE shall see,' thought I, whether or
not l shall get the entree to his select
circle. | don't suppose l do look very
inviting"
l tied my long-suffering quadruped to 4
fence post. and. with JOY in my heart and
icewater in my boots, passed up the walk
to the largest of the houses-a big.
square, buH-colored structure, with broad
piazzas which at another season might
have been described as inviting.
"Please tell Mr.. Birch I would like to
see him. | said to the housemaid. who
answered my vigorous ring at the bell
walk in, Sir. was the response, and
I was conducted INTO little office or re-
ception room where blazed cheerful fire.
It certainly did feel good to get close to
gloves, and, untying my scarf. removed
my hat. l unbuttoned my coats and al
lowed the grateful warmth to penetrate
the rest of my garments, and 4 vapor ris-
ing from the damp clothes made me look
like an emaciated cherub riding in a
cloud.
A door opened and Mr.. Birch entered.
A short, thick-set man he was, with a
sun-tanned face, a little gray mustache,
and small, twinkling eyes. He shook my
hand with a heartiness that made me
feel at home Immediately, and as soon as
he discovered how wet and cold 1 was,
a room, gallons of hot water and a whole
layout of dry clothes We're at my disposal
in iiffy.
1t is true. the clothes were from the
wardrobe of Mr.. Birch himself, who
measured eleven inches more around the
waist than I did, besides being foot or
so shorter. But what did I care for
that? l put them on and went down to
the parlor, where the family were as
sembled, and the hearty reception they
gave me made me feel quite happy. even
if my collar was a II and my makeup
altogether ludicrous.
Faithful old Chesapeake had heaping