Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-03-29
ON THE
FORT KANE
TRAIL. BY cls.ry
Allen
By Ciceiy
Allen


against the snow incrusted side Of
Grow peak. Santa Claus had failed TO
strike the Fort Kane trail. Teddy and
Freddy. the Squire twins, bad listened
with blinking eyes 10 their mothers
faltering explanation that the old chap
could not get across the range. but
when they had cuddled beneath their
own buffalo robe and nj safe dis.
lance from the maternal eye could In
dulge In few unmanly tears they pri.
Yately exchanged the opluon that
I something else was wrong. What rein.
/ deer could not breast the drifts OF the
Fort Kane tralll
Nevertheless for two days after
Christmas they watched the trail with
/ eager eyes. Today hope fairly died
within them. A gray pail seemed TO
fall upon the narrow gulch and the
mountains. Even the flames in the
deep fireplace refused 20 dance. and
the logs sulked blackly. Mrs. Squire
had been called 20 the nearest ranch
by the illness OF the one nelghbor she
had known In this desolate western
home. Her husband had gone away.
ostensIbly in search OF deer meat. Per
hnps In reality he wanted 10 get be-
You'd sight OF those four pathetic. ques-
tionlng eyes, for there was absolutely
not dollar IN the house with which 10
placate Santa Claus. Indeed u was
grave question how the Squire estab-
llshment would be run until spring.
There was the hole IN the next gulch
which Squire had been guarding hero
lcally from prylng eyes, but even II Its
prospects were known would any one
advance him ready cash?
The afternoon shadows were begin
ming to fall when Freddy was called
from wrestling with the unruly ire by
an exultant shout from Teddy. who
chung desperately 10 his watch az the
window.
"They's somcthln' comm. Ted! !
hear IL"
Their hearing. sharpened by long
days and nights In mountain sllences,
caught the distant PUNK. PUNK Of an
approaching horse. There ought 10
have been bells and reindeer, but any
sort OF vehicle or animal would do n
only Santa Claus held the lines They
were wild 20 rush out to the trail. but
the horrors Of billiards. had been
drummed into their small brains until
they were quite willing 60 obey the pa
rental injunction 10 stay indoors.
Nearer and nearer came the sound.
The boys stood on tlptoe NJ the win
dow. An. he was turning IN from the
trail! There were two OF him ana on
horseback.
The twins threw open the doors and
stood barehcaded and expcctant rs the
two horses stopped and their riders
finally entered through the narrow bar.
red gate. At sight OF the visitors Ted
dy could no longer hold back the tears.
The disappointment was too great
nothing but cowboys and rough look
Ing ones nc thatl
Freddy pulled himself together and
with innate western hospitality told
the men 20 come In.
"Ef you want 90 see pop. you'd hetS
ter watt" he volunteered. Hes gone
TO track n deer. but he'll be bone bout
supper time"
The taller man OF the two punched
up the logs until brilliant dame illu-
minated the room. furnishing the tow
colorcd hair OF the twins until II shone
like gold. As he Strengthened up he
caught sight OF Teddy's brlmmlng
eyes
Hello kid! You amt afraid. are
your" he said gruiliy, but not unklndly.
The second man sat down on the far
side Of the fireplace, breathing heavily.
Teddy shook his head.
II amt 'fraid. but ! thought you was
Santa Claus. Nom says he's block
AIDED somewheres along the trail, but ]
guess he amt comm"
"Pshawr' said the tall man. looking
from one boy to the other. This
storm was most unhandy fer the ole
gent" Then. I'm whecdling tone:
But ef you was ter give US somethin'
ttI tat u hlH We hAiNhA hfAH AAN VIC
chap out n biz 81 we come acrost him
up the trail. Now. ef you could show
me where the coffee was. an some ba-
con, we could do the rest"
Freddy was all Importance on the
instant. He hauled out the tin can Of
coffee and ground away until the big
man babe him stop. He found the
bread. too, and some cold beans and a
small slab OF bacon.
II was the tall man who did all the
work. His partner sat by the fireplace
detected and unlnterested. but not UNI
watched Under the heavy brows Of
the would be cook anxious eyes kept
guard on the aillng one. The two
children prattled on. enjoying the I'M
usual opportunity Of playing hosts.
At last the scnnt meal was set forth.
and the two men slammed their chairs
before the table, covered with oil
cloth.
II certainly seemed 20 the twins that
never had they seen men eat as did
these strange guests.