Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-07-04
SPIDER s CHAPS.
By WoI,UoTT LIE CLEAR BEARD,


[copyrighs 1899. by American Press Asso.
- ciation.l
Do you suppose that those fellows
will go after more men and then come
down on usY" asked Lee as Spider re-
turned to his work.
Nope, /" replied the cowboy. ssThey
can't afford ter take no chances, or
they d a staidan fought it out. 1t amt
no joke fer a man ter get ketched liftin
cattle roun here. You en- raise the
country ter go after i'm, an if he's
caught he dom get ter Jail alive. Them
fellers was gonter take these here cattle
across the line into Mexico-it amt
more'n 90 miles from Aqua Caliente-
an sell 'em there. Better get them cat
tie over the divide an movin lords
home, though, as soon as we kin. It's
mos sun up now"
The cattle, tired and thirsty, started
willingly enough toward our camp by
the river, but they moved very slowly,
after the manner of cattle. We had our
hands full in hurrying them, all three
of US.
AS Lee had said, it was nearly sun
rise. The cattle had hardly crossed the
low ridge when the SUBMITS of the
hills were Redeemed by the first beams
of the sun that shot up over tile level
edge Of the desert. This reminded me
of the foreman's threat concerning
Aqua Caliente and its inhabitants. I
had forgotten it until then.
"How far do you think we are from
the campf" asked Lee.
"Our camp7 Ten er 'leven miles.
More maybe" he replied.
"We can't get there in an hour,
then" said. perhaps l had better
send Spider on ahead to tell them we're
all right"
Lee objected. He could see no reason
why we should send any one away.
There were only three Of us as 1t was,
and there was plenty Of work to keep
us all busy. Evidently he had not heard
what the foreman had said, SO told
him. 1t did not seem to alter his opin-
ion, however. Spider threw up his hat
and shouted. The hat fell beyond his
reach, but he picked it up without dis
mounting and evinced decided in
clination to depart Immediately for
Aqua Caliente. Isternly restrained him.
$50 the foreman said he'd go over to
| Aqua Caliente for visit, did he3 Well,
unless we meet up with the boys as
they go, them thieves what holds forth
in the town will gee an awful lot er fun
by two hours from now. When the fore
man says he'll do thing, that's the
thing he does every trip" commented
Lee, grinning delightedly. "But we're
sure to meet up with the boys-we're
right in their track" he added, with
reassuring nod.
The foreman was even better than his
word. Hardly had Lee finished speaking
when cloud Of dust that had been
rapidly moving over the desert proved
to be the wake that followed our men.
Except Hollis, every one of them was
there, even the Ballet Girl. He had
screwed the spike that decorated the
end Of his artificial leg into the foot
rest Of his wooden stirrup and was rid
ing straight and well, his long gray
beard blowing back over his shoulder.
The heavy pistol that always hung in
his belt was REINFORCED by another, and
across his saddle rifle was balanced
4 While the boys noisily greeted Lee
and Spider the foreman rode directly
up to me and without preamble began
to explain the suddenness of his appear
ance.
"You see. didn' say wouldn start
off before the time set, said he. 81
didn' mean ter, though, when you left,
but the boys they got dead anxious
Theirs been lot er them rustlers f. om
Aqua Caliente hangin ronn the place,
an we all thought you mighter stacked
up agains' some trouble So the boys
got kinder scared up for you. Why,
even the Bally Curl, he starts out an
gives me fits fer lettin you go without
the lot of us back er you. He saddles up
a horse al gets out his guns an swears
he'll lead the boys himself if Isdon't
start out. He's dead game, the Bally
Curl is, an tell you these boys is a
mighty good lot er boys"
"But told you particularly that you
weren't to attack Aqua Caliente," said
reproachfully. "You weren't going
to do that, were your" The foreman
looked somewhat dubious.
Dunno" lie said candidly. 'tThe
boys was kinder mad, an if we hadn't
found you reckon they'd "a give Aqua
Caliente little shake up, whether I'd
let 'em or not. MINI" he added, with
his usual scrupulous regard for the
truth, 81 didn't say wouldn't er let
EN-. Where's Hollis7''
had no idea where Hollis was; was
about to ask the same question myself.
The foreman went about among the
men, making inquiries. but no one had
seen him or apparently felt much trou-
bled about his absence
che drawed all the pay that was
a-comin to him, didn't her" asked one
Of the men. "Well, then, he JUS took
an skipped over to Lorena an his gang,
where he belongs; that's ALL" That
seemed to be the general opinion, and
there was decided feeling of relief
that he was no longer with u.s.
The cattle moved along merrily, each
man doing his best to hurry them.
Never before had l imagined that a
wooden leg could be used to advantage
In driving cattle; but, when welded
by the Ballet Girl, I found that 1t had
wonderfully accelerating effect.
! When at last we reached the camp.
was thoroughly tired out. My ankle
and wrist ached, and there was nothing
l desired SO much as rest started at
once for my tent, and as did so Spider
rode up to the foreman and asked what
orders there were for the day.
"Orders'f Why, you little fool, your
pony can't hardly stand on his legs an
you'll tumble outer the saddle in lit
tie more, I" replied the foreman, with a
gruffness assumed to cover his approba-
tion of the boy. "Go'n turn your pony
out an turn yourself in. Quick, now,