Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-06-14

Gosh a. mighty! The liquor died Fl
me after while, and I went sound
asleep in the saddle, and woke up
with jar-to find myself right in
the middle of old Frosthead's gang;
the drums ''boom- dipping" and those
40 odd red tigers "hyah-hayahing" in
style that made my skin get up
and walk all over me with cold feet.
How in blazes I'd managed to slip
through those Injuns I don't know.
'Twould have been a wonderful piece
of scouting If I'd meant it. You can
most always do any darn thing you
don't want to. Well, there was, and,
oh doctori but wasn't I in a lovely
mess! That war song put crimp
into me that Jack Frost himself
couldn't take out.
It was as dark as dark by this time.
The moon just stuck one eye over the
edge of the prairie, and the rest of
the sky was covered with cloud. 4
little light came from the Injuns'
camp fire, but not enough to ride by,
and, besides, didn't know which way
ought to go.
Says I to myself, "Billy Sanders,
you are the champion a1l-round, old
fashioned fool of the district. You
are jackass from the country where
ears less'n three foot long are curl
osities. You sassed that poor swatty
that wanted to keep you out of this;
footing your bazoo like a man ped
ding soap; but now it's up to you.
What are you going to do about it?
and I didn't get any answer, neither.
Well, it was no use asking myself
conundrums out there in the dark
when time was so scarce. So wraps
my Handkerchief around Laddy's nose
to keep him from talking horse to
the Injun ponies, and prepared to
sneak to where I'd rather be.
Laddy was the quickest thing on
legs in that part of the country, and
I knew if could get to the open them
Injuns wouldn't have much of a
chance to take out my stopper and ex-
anime my works-not much. A half
mile start, and could show the whole
Sioux nation how I wore my back
hair.
cut for the place where the Injuns
seemed thinnest, lifting myself up till
didn't weigh IS pound, and breath
ing only when necessary. We got
along first-rate until we reached the
edge of 'em, and then Laddy had to
stick his foot in gopher-hole, and
walloped around there like a whale
trying to climb a tree.
Some darned cuss of an Injun threw
handful of hay on the fire, and, as It
blazed up, the whole gang spotted
me.
unlimbered my gun, sent the irons
into Laddy, and we began to walk.
I didn't like to make for the ranch,
as I knew the boys were short-handed,
so I pointed north, praying that I'd
hit some kind of settlement before I
struck the north pole.
Well. we left those Injuns so far
behind that there wasn't any fun in
it. I Stacked up, patting myself on
the back; and, as the trouble seemed
all over, was just about to turn for
the ranch, when I heard horses gal
Looping, and as the moon come out a
little saw whole raft of redskins
come a-boiling up a draw not half a
mile away. That knocked me slab
sided. It looked like got the wrong
ticket every time the wheel turned.
I whooped it up again, swearing
wouldn't stop this deal short of a
dead sure thing. We flew through
space-Laddy only kind of tickling
the high spots with his toe nails.
A ways down the valley I spotted
a little shack sitting all alone by it
self out in the moonlight. I headed
for it, hollering murder.
A man came to the door in his I'M
der rigging.
chi, there? what's eating you?'' he
yells.
'Injuns. coming, pardner! The
country's just oozing Injuns! Better
get a wiggle on you!
Call right-slide along, I'll ketch
up to you," says he.
looked back and saw him hustling
out with his saddle on his arm. 'eHe's
particular kind of cuss,' thought;
bareback would suit most people,
Taking it a little easier for the
next couple of miles, I gave him a
chance to pull up.
We pounded along without saying
anything for spell, when happened
to notice that his teeth were chatter
ing.
Keep your nerve up, pardner!"
says I. Don't you get scared-we've
got good start on 'em."
He looked at me kind of reproach-
full.
Scared be darned!" says he, ST
reckon if you was riding around this
nice cool night in your drawers, your
teeth'ud rattle some, too"
I took a look at him, and saw, sure
enough, while he had hat, coat and
boots on, the pants was missing.
Well. if it had been the last act, I'd
have had to laugh.
Couldn't find 'em nohow,'' says he,