The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1900-03-08

man around Spider however, would
hear Of no sucn 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, wheh you want every
man You en- get, an more, too, Z said
he. '"Them chaps ain nobody's+ look
ont but mine, an if like such jokes as
them, why. them jokes goes, that's all.
I don't ask nobody ter look aftercmy
quar- Is fer me Yon ain gonter bounce
Pug Hollis. -. .-.-r...
I mildly differed from this last state
ment. ~ a*eS'
emo, You ain'-you can't do nothin
erbout it at all, persisted Spider II
tol' you bout them chaps myself, so you
can't. You said you wouldn' do nothin
bout nothin what tol' you IT,
had never said anything of the kind.
But, nevertheless, in inviting Spiders
confidence I had certainly implied a
promise to make no use of it. His posi-
ton, therefore, was unassailable, and I
had to retreat from mine with what
grace I could. Hollis was allowed to
stay.
Besides, just at this time we needed
men more than eyer. The river fell
somewhat, and it was decided that we
should attempt to cross it with the cat
tie and pursue our journey toward the
railway. The water was still so high
that there was considerable danger that
some OF the cattle would be swept away
and drowned as they crossed, but on the
other hand the rasturage where we then
were was nearly exhausted, and it was
impossible to say how long we might
have to remain it we neglected to avail
ourselves of the opportunity this fall
offered me. At that season of the year
the water might rise at any moment
and keep us from crossing for an in
definite time Therefore it seemed far
better in every way to expose some of
the cattle to this chance of drowning
rather than to run so large risk Of
starving them all where we were.
Before reaching the conclusion there
was an earnest debate, which Spider
followed most anxious]y. When the de-
cision was reached, Spider, knowing
that every hand would be required in
the herding, begged to be allowed to
form one of the force, and, after consul
tation with the foreman and the Ballet
Girl, consented, and as Temporary
measure Spider was taken on as A COW
boy.
This was a season of joy to Spider
AS the glad tldings reached him he be-
came so exultant that be was unendur-
able. AT our earnest request he subsid-
ed somewhat after awhile and after he
had gone about from man to man trv-
ing to borrow the necessary equipment
horse and saddle-for the crossing on
the following morning We thought we
had heard the last Of him and were
just about to turn in when sputter-
ing howl from Hollis was followed by a
volley of bad language that was I'M
mistakably directed at Spider The gist
OF this language seemed to be that he
(Hollis) was poisoned The investigation
that Immediately followed proved that
this was not true. 1t was only that
Spider had discovered in some way the
hiding place of a carefully boarded bot
tie of whisky belonging to Hollis. Emp
tying the whisky on the ground, Spider
had filled the bottle with mixture Of
his own invention, the nature Of which
did not transpire, except that kerosene
was one of it's more prominent features.
Consoling himself in advance for the
hard work that the next day would
bring, Hollis had taken some swallows
Of this mixture before he discovered
what it was that he was drinking. Then
followed the remarks to which l have
referred.
To these remarks Spider made an
swer, averring that they were entirely
uncalled for, as the quality of the liquor
had been rather improved than Other
wise, but that he supposed that Hollis
must be incapable Of judging.
Hollis became annoyed at this and in
dulged in further language, which was
only hushed when at last Spider was
captured and expiated his crime by a
frantic dance, inspired by well piled
lariat end. Then the camp was at peace
for the night.
CHAPTER II.
IN WHICH SPIDER SAVES HIS ENEMY S LIFE