Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-03-01
CHAprE1, VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
One bright winter morning the British
outpOsts on one of the many highways
leading from Philadelphia were tramping
down the snow and dancing in little
circle to keep their feet warm. They
We're two young men, and evidently great
gallants, for they managed to get up a
Irritation with every pretty country girl
who passed along the road.
"Zounds! Digory." exclaimed one,
striking the butt of his musket on the
ground with such force as to make the
bands rattle, ''this is a pesky poor coun-
try for one to enjoy life"
"Do you wish you were back In India,
Dobson?"
"Aye, that do"
''Do you prefer the dusllyfaced girls o
the Orient t. the rosy-checked girls o
America?'
"Egad! you've touched tender cord in
my heart now, Digory," Dobson declared.
''These American beauties are truly
enough to drive one distracted, especially
those who dwell in the country. Aye, the
saucy little rebels; more is the pity that
we have to shoot their lovers and broth.
"Speak of angels and we hear the
Tapping of their wings, for behold! one
approaches"
Dobson, looking up, saw curious
sight approaching. A ramshacSle old cart
drawn by q horse that was as lean as
QuiXotc's famous Rozinante The har.
ness was in keeping with the stced, and
SO rotten it had broken in places and
been tied with strings. The only thing
youthful about the vehicle was the driv'
er. fair, plump, pretty young woman,
who might be anywhere between twenty
and twenty-five. The cart contained
hay, a few frozen cabbages, fitch OF
two of bacon, and an old man so bundled
up that one could see but little of him
except long, white beard.
Stop, lass-be not in such hurry"
said one of the pickets, stepping in front
of the horse.
Git out O. my way, can't yer, when ye
see it's cold enough t. freeze cows
horns off II me tryin' t. git gransir t.
town t. TIL doctor for his lumbago"
We'll, you're a winsome lass, but you
don't pass this post without the counter
sign," declared Digory.
What be that?" asked the young dam
sci, her great, blue eyes opening in as
tonishment.
ut be kiss"
Gee up, Bony; ha' no words for such
rs hc." The poor, old horse had taken a
step or two, when Digory, in a spirit of
mischief set his musket against tree
and sprang on the fore part of the cart
The old man under the covers began to
utter feeble groans, but the stout lass
planted her hand with resounding
smack on the face of the young Briton,
sending him spinning in the snow. 80
much for not havin manners" she cried,
and Bony continued his slow pace toward
the city.
Its smart lass she proved" said
Dobson, as soon as he regained his
speech.
"Egad! it's smart hand she has, Dob
son." groaned Digory. II thought an ar
tillery 'orse had kicked me from the
cart"
you got your reward" Dobson contin-
ued.
81 felt it,
Next, the cart met party of dragons
under command Of spruce, young lieu
tenant, who was as gallant as the sol
OleIS uAu Uecus az uISs SllLupSe VI Iu0
pretty, saucy, young face, the jolly young
trooper drew rein and called out:
"'Ello! Sorreltop! Where you bound 2"
Where find people with more man
ners than are on the road" she answered.
"You are pretty maid, and I've q
mind to kiss you"
You had better change your mind.
Gee up, Bony; we must take gransir to
the doctor; he's got pleurisy and lum-
bago."
mo, my sweet one; you don't escape
without paying tribute" cried the officer,
squirting his horse alongside the cart.
"Gee up, Bony" the country maid said
calmly, and, STOPPING to the bottom Of the
cart, she seized frozen cabbage and
hurled it with such precision that it
struck the gayly caparisoned officer in the
pit of the stomach with sufficient force
to double him over on the pummel of the
saddle. Then she clucked again to Bony.
tapped him with the long switch and in
creased his pace to what approximated
q trot.
IT. br