The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-02


ts would break.
Qirits rose amazingly. even though
their wet clothes steamed more than
80 scaIding cofIee that the cook poured
Into the big tin cups Il was all In the
Any's work--of . cowboy.
We had nearly finished supper when
! noticed that Spider was not there. II
vae % tnusual fo- him to absent him.
esk from meal that went in search
- him. fearing that something might
b wrong. IL was some time before
could 6nd him In the darkness; but.
hearing IN odd sound from behind nv
tsnt followed It. With his arms
thrown around the neck of the horse
That be had ridden that day. Spider
was sobbing as though his heart would
break ! stood still for a moment, sur.
prised. He had not heard me, and
knew that he would be terribly morti.
ned should he fnd that had been a
witness OF his weakness. 80 I coughed in
discreet manner to warn him of my
approach. The effect was instantaneous.
Spider Strengthened up Immediately and
began Go hum little tune to himself,
while the horse looked around at him
with an expression Of mild surprise at
bic sudden change Of mood.
asked, him why he did not come to
supper He answered that he "didn
seem ter want none jus now somehow
This was very startling When com.
mended his bravery and nagnanimity
In doing what he had done to save the
Me OF an enemy. he observed that ''it
.,wasn' DO great shakes nohow, and that
% ne intended 10 square matters with
Hollis sooner or later he didn't want
Hollis drowned. as that obviously would
prevent any such reckoning.
Ii was like Spider to attach the low.
est possible motive to anything that he
might do. but knew better. There
was no use In saying anything more. !
held ont my hand. Spider WINGED as he
took H. Then found that his right
palm had been cut almost to the bone
by the rope that had been pnlled through
It. l took hi,D back TO the camp and
dressed his hand as well as I was able
with the limited resources at our com.
mand. and at last he rolled mp in his
blanket and fell into the deep sleep of
utter exhaustion.
bad returned TO my own tent and
sat under the fly. looking out at the
dismal landscape aud feeling very blue
indeed There was nothing. as far as
the eye could reach. but rock. cactus
and sand. How the cattle were to live
! could not see. Something mcst be
done. was about to call the foreman
Tor consultation when l saw him
coming toward me-
"Evenin. he remarked as though he
had not seen me before that day
"Thougbt I'd come over an see What
we'd best do with them there CRITTERS
while the rivers goin down We can I
stay here
1 didn't In the least know what 70
Do Furthermore. the river was not
going down. Ii was rising.
"Yaas. sd 'tis. That's what made the
think that maybe. after ali. we'n have
ter take the herd ter oil Lorena's range
fer bit Can't do no better as en-
see
"where Is Lorenas ranger" asked
''Is there feed theref
Bout 10 mile down the river Oh,
yes. there's grass there. all right
enough. He spoke 40 obviously that
asked for an explanation. "Oh. yes.
there's grass there, all right enough.
he repeated. "Bnt then Lorena. he's
there too. ] don't like Lorena none
700 well He's a greaser. an there ain
no worse ono nowhere. He's got an all
fired bad lot aroun him. too. down there
60 Aqua Caliente You'll have ter pay
Ter the use er the range, of course. an
RECKON marie yvc .-~r's t~-o No iron.