The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-04-18

y II
er holster an belt that'd do fer awhile,
an the bride all but the bit. The gun
an spurs l can't make, ner the horse. "
For awhile Spider stitched on in ST.
lence; then he looked up and said.
"Meybe it's like yer say, an nobody
wouldn' take on kid like me, outfit
or no. But if l ain got the tools |
sure won get the job. So there ain
no way outer gettin the outfit that en-
see. y He paused for reply. but his
logic was so unanswerable that 1 had
none to make, and Spider went on.
"Cappy Lee, he give me these here
oil chaps what I'm cuttin down. He
give me my rope too. Him an Pug
Hollis was scrappin ter see which be-
longed to it, an Cappy. he settled it like
that Pug was dead sore, but it didn'
do him no good. so now he tries ter take
it outer my hide every show he gets.
Las night he says how l cut the lacin
er his stirrup feathers. an when say
didn' he says l lie an he licks me-
ain got no use fer Pug Hollis.
TO tell the truth. I didn't have "no
use for Pug Hollis either. He was
sullen. unpleasant sort of person, and he
abused his horses. would have dis.
charged him long before but for the
fact that we were short handed. Help
was scarce and getting scarcer; so.
though disliked this man, had to let
him stay.
When Spiders chaps were nearly fin
ished. he devoted every moment of his
leisure time to them. The whole camp
was made aware of this fact by the nm.
wonted quiet of the, evenings.
Ordinarily, as soon as supper was
over and Spider had finished the dishes,
one might hear the rush of galloping
horse, then shouts and oaths coming
from the owner of that horse, followed
by what was known as "language"-
that is, very bad language indeed
from all hands. especially the cook.
This language would always take the
form of threats and of comment on
spiders manners, morals or personal
appearance. and would always be of a
most uncomplimentary nature. By these
signs would know that Spider was
practicing.
II got ter keep my ridin up" Spider
exclaimed when l demonstrated with
him. II wouldn' stan no sort er a show
fer job-a kid like me--if I couldn
ride. Then I ain got no horses er my
own"
Still. as said.. for two or three even.
ings there was quiet, and then the
chaps were finished. Spider wore them
continually, to climber 'em up some,"
he said. Truly they needed limbering.
for the leather. when made into tubes
OF 30 small diameter. was so stiff that
Spiders knees could not bend it in the
smallest degree, and he was obliged to
walk in much the same manner that
one steps off distances on a map with
pair Of compasses The report circu-
lated through the camp to the effect
that Spider slept in those chaps of his
was without foundation. but it is Ger.
tain that they were never far from
him.
The Ballet Girl, with a grin, confided
to me that when Spider rolled himself
mp in his blanket for the night he
stood the chaps up against post at his
feet. so that he could see them as he
first opened his eyes, Of course the
men chaffed him about them continu-
ally. They compared the chaps to a
couple of small stovepipes. but said that
Of the two the stovepipes were the
more flexible. Spider stood their chaff-
ing good naturedly enough in the main,
but at first he resented this allusion to
the stiffness of his chaps. so for long
time the men called him Stovepipss in
stead of Spider.
But. like most pleasant things of this
world. Spiders chaps were too good to
last. One morning he. appeared without
them and went about his work very So
berly. Never before had seen him in
such detection. l inquired as to its
cause. Without word he brought me
the blackened and shriveled remains of
what were once his proudest possession
and laid them before me.
lit was that ther Pug Hollis what
done it. he said at last in reply to
my repeated questionings. "He took
the chaps when was sleepin las night,
an he propped 'em up with rocks like
as though they was stovepipes. what
the boys had called 'em. an then he
built fire under 'em. They didn't
smell none too good when they was
a-cookin, an the smell woke me up. It
was too late then-they was like you
see here That's what he thinks is
joke.
Hollis notion of a joke did not at all
appeal to me. SO thoroughly disgusted
was that expressed my intention of
discharging him at once, much as we
needed help. | did no. care to have such
man around. Spider. however. would
hear of no such thing.
"You wanter bounce him JUS cause
he burnt up them chaps er mine, an
that's the only reason you wanter
bounce him now. when you want every