The National tribune., 1901-01-17

Wreatn OF mlStsbehlnu SHORTY had come Il
ghoSt-hke form. that announced its ar
rival with a resonant bray, that conveyed
mules heated views on variety of sub
jects conneeted-with the war The sight
and sound We're too much for Joe Wheel
ers already shaking nerves He had not
found the cove the haven of peace he
sought when he separated from the main
herd. He would now go back to them by
the quickest and shortest route. He
echoed Abednego's bray with a resound-
ing below. and with head and tail up
started off on trail leading to the right.
which would eventually take him back
! into the road which he had left miles back
The rest of the herd went crashing and
| gathering after.
Hi. COrpril Elliott. Where are you?
| Where are you?" called Pete's shrill
| voice, from Abednego's back There's a
sneaking bushwhacker up here, trying to
| get the drop on you"
| y shot answered this. aimed at Petes
voice, but it went wide of the mark, and
Pete trotted mp to Shorty just in time to
| see him tear the revolver from the strug-
Cling rebel, and take all the fight out of
| him by Il couple of terrific kicks in the
| ribs.
Todd. who had gotten an imperfect
| but sufficient view of what was happen
| ing from little distance, now fired a wild
shot with 4 view of expressing his feel
could carry him.
Where in the world did you come
from. Pete" asked Shorty, as he mounted
again. ''Aint you lost?"
No: but come purity near being this
time. You see. | run back to catch Abed-
| neso, and when l got him and mounted
and was coming back / saw you turn uu
| into this road. and | followed you. 1 had
quite time with AbednegO, who wanted
to go straight ahead, instead o turning af-
| ter you. That's what made me so far be-
hind. He's nice mule, but he wants his
own way"
We'll. get off him and get on that reb-
els horse there, and Wen follow up these
cattle. They're going the right way. If
| have the lay o the land straight. and
will soon run into the other herd. Wen
Keep behind, and see that none o them
struggle off into the brush
But Pete would not abandon his mule
lie whipped the saddle and bride off the
horse. and on to Abednego, and remount-
ed. His short legs would not reach the
I-surrups. however, and he had no time to
shorten them. for Shorty. fearing that Ike
and Reub would be somewhere. attempt
ing to turn the herd, slipped the revolver
INTO his OvercOat pocket, picked up his
hickory pole, and started off on a sharp
trot after the herd, followed by Pete with
his stlrrupS gathering against Abednego's
suggestion, followed.
Shorty was not mistaken. Out of Il
left-hand by-path little ways ahead came
Reub and Ike. shouting.
'Hyah. yo' internal fool, who air yo',
an what air yo' a-doin'? Don't yo' see
70 air a-rnnnin' them thar critters right
over ter whar the Yankees is? Come
acrost this way. an head 'em off
Shorty changed his pole to his left and
charged Reub's midriff as he had Pollock's,
but with a force that seemed to actually
cave him in. Shorty refined up a little,
and, half-turning, settled Ike with
sweeping crack over the head. Then he
and Pete swept on after the cattle.
81, riding with Shad ahead of the now
regularly moving herd, had come across
little lunches Of steers which had Outrun
the main body a mile or so before stop
ping. and gathered them Up until they had
p altogether, but Shad refused to be con-
soled.
Its true that we're only p short now"
he said, but that's all we can possibly
get, and % are worth over 81 500. It'll
take me is years to pay it at 500 year,
or six years at $500 year, which is the
very most could save. You're very good,
81, but it's scarcely notifying my trouble,
not curing it. I'd better stood court
martial for disObedience of orders in not
receiving the brutes at ALL"
JO w uetItT tdIlle uOWH Il size
road through the thick brush on hill to
the left, halted an instant to look up and
down the main thOroughfare, saw his late
companions pouring over the hill to his
right, gave Il sounding sigh of gratifca-
ton, and started on Il slow, tired walk in
the direction the herd was pointing, as
summing his customary position as leader,
as if nothing had happened. Behind him
came his % companions of the cove, with
Shorty, Pete, Abednego and the rebels
horse bringing up the rear.
why, there's 10 Wheeler" said 81,
delghtedly Where in the world did he
come from: And counting the others, as
they filed down through the BRUSH there's
your % lost steers, Shad. And, great
Scott, There's a lot more, some with G. s.
brands on 'em. What does this mean?
20 with L. S. and so with C. S. Why,
Shad, we're 30 ahead of the game. Hello,
Shorty, where did you find EN-, and what
We you been doing?'
20. me and Pete have been back there
a little ways transacting business with
some gents who seem to'ye been going ,
into stock at the expense of the United
States and the Southern Confederacy.
They seemed to be neutral sort o cusses,
who didn't care who they stole Il steer
from so long as they got him.
Yes, piped up Pete, land you ought
tive seen Corpril Elliott poke em in the
SlZZard with that long pole. 1t was more
fun than Il circus. I'll bet it turned their
StomachS and bent their backbones And
I've got this horse for Sandy
fine other cattle now coming up, began
to sniff, shy off and plunge.
Here, Pete said 81, that dumbed
mule o yours is soaring the cattle again.
Take the blamed ghost away and kill him.
Make sure he never comes near the herd
again. Take him away, | tell YOU
aitx-Dy hA
Pete, as he disappeared in the brush.
always blaming me for ever him.. be-
cause I'm Il boy. faint my fault, nor
Abednego's. It's because the cattle are
such blamed fools. L amt going to kill
him. He's going along, if L go along, and
nobody shall hurt him. I'll ride him, and
Sandy'll ride the horse"
He went back in the wods out of sight,
and waited for his partner to come along
Say, Shad," said Shorty, after they had
rounded up the cattle for the night, and
were eating supper. Il aint taking no
credit for bringing that herd in. It's just
what | ought to've done, and I'm mighty
glad l had the good luck But | want
You to have the benefit of them extra cat
tie. How much are they worth to the
Government"
about So, 80" answered Shad.
''Well. the Government ought TO give
you a nice house for your mother, or that
other lady. This morning you stood to