Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-06-27
snider Followed as hetorc


Just what Spider was trying to do /
did not know. 1t was plain. however,
that he was in some need of assistance,
as there were three men opposed to him.
Twas about to start at full speed down
the hill when Lee stopped me.
"Hol' onl" he whispered excitedly,
catching my horse by the bride.
"Don't start ter run down this yer
slope-you'll only break yer nech,. an
then you won't be no good to nobody.
Theirs plenty er time That kid, he's
jus worryin them three chumps into
fit-without no danger to himself too.
Don't you SEQ how he keeps JUS outer
pistol shotS Take it easy down the
slope. Once we're on the level, then
We'll rush EN-.
Our horses picked their own way
down the dark, bowlder strewn hillside.
When we reached the plain, there was
an instant's pause. Lee drew his rifle
from the beckett that rested under his
left knee.
"Readyf" he asked. was quite as
ready as l was likely to be, but he wait
ed for no reply. Dropping the reins on
the neck Of his horse, he sent home his
spurs and dashed ont into the moon
light, yelling like an Indian and pump
ing his repeating rifle with both hands
as he went. AS we came Spider swery-
ed his horse and drew his pistol Then
he recognized rs.
"Hoorayl" he yelled at the top Of his
shrill voice II knowed you'd come.
We got 'eml Whcopi Zip. zip, yipi
Come onl I ben a-follerin them thieves
all night.
Lee and I were riding eide by side.
Spider was some little distance ahead,
shouting these remarks over his shout
der. He intended to stay ahead, too, for,
ride as we might, neither Lee nor l
could catch him. The three men who
We're driving our cattle did not wait for
us. Firing IN ineffective shot or two
they turned to one side and vanished in
the shadow of the hill. Spider turned
his horse in pursuit
"Come backl" called Lee. "Come
back here, you kidd You crazy2"
Spider paid no attention whatever,
but rode on at the best speed his pony
could show.
"Come back, I say, or I'll rope your
pony an throw him" shouted Lee
again.
"Have ter get within cast first, an
you can't do it," returned Spider de-
family. What he said was quite true.
We were losing ground at every stride
We were well into the shadow now.
"Come backl" 1 called in despair.
"Will You obey orders or nota" Spider
stopped instantly.
Course. If it's an order it goes" he
eaid. "But what d'you wanter pull up
fer when we JUS got er chance ter get
them thieves7" Lee had no words to
waste at the time. He took Spider by
the collar of his flannel shirt, lifted
him half out of his saddle, shook him
soundly, cuffed his ears and then re-
turned him, with a thump to his seat.
"S'pose you wanter get er hole shot
in your fool little hide jus because you
think it's smart, said Lee, when he
had completed these operations to his
satisfaction. "You couldn't tell where
them rustlers was a-waitin fer you in
the dark there. Now get them cattl.
movin fer home er I'll take off yer
chaps an spank you with 'em." To my
great surprise Spider took these correc-
tions and cantered away to obey his
orders without word. But, then, Lee
had always been very good to Spider.
"S'pose ! REILLY oughter not q shook
i'm SO, /" the cowboy went on regretful-,
ly when Spider had left. 81 couldn't
let i'm get SO uppity. though. Their
wouldn' be no livin in the same camp
with i'm. But he scared me, that's a
fact. That's REILLY why thumped i'm.
I'd be mighty sorry if that kid got
hurt. an he was fixin ter get hurt the
very best he knowed. Here he comes
now. GRIMM SO the grin runs over his
face all down his back"
"Them rustlers was a-waitin fer me,
was theyr" called Spider as soon as he
got close enough. "Well, JUS you look
over there once" He pointed to a
moonlit space between two deep shad-
ows nearly mile away. Three men on
horseback were crossing it rapidly,
going in the direction of Aqua Caliente.
There was no doubt about their being
the thieves. No other men would have
been likely to be in that deserted place
at such a time. or, if they had been,
they would have shown themselves be-
fore when Spider was firing distress
signals
To he continued.