The National tribune., 1902-07-24

made of bits of store boxes, with the mer-
chants names still on in lines of flowing
iampback. Inside this were the Winter
remains of a fairly-kept garden. The roof
of the house looked as if it would really
turn water, there were green paper cur
tains to the windows, and there was an
unusual evidence of housewifery i'll the
board steps, which were clean, and the
mop, used industriOusly upon them, stood
beside the door.
On half of barrel-head. nailed cross
wise of the door-pOst, was scrawled with
charcoal:
..Washin & Mendin Dun Hear"
Just as / expected" said Sandy. "a
poor, hardworking woman has the best
house in the settlement. It's not as good
as the Irish who work on the grade have
some of the Others"
A stout girl of IA or IL came to the
door, apparently looking for the COW,
whose mooing she had heard. She had
some crIsts of corn-bread and few tur-
nips in her hand, for the cows supper.
There comes the COW, sure's you're
alive" calculated Pete. delightedly, as a
rangy animal came into view and made
for the girl. Lets rush her right down
to the boat, for them children are simply
starving"
Say, Sis. we want this COW for little
while" said Sandy. I'VE need her awful
bad, and right away. There's 50-cent
can't stop to argue with you, Sis You'll
get your COW back all right Drive her
along, Pete"
Go along bossie," said Pete, clapping
the COW on the rump. You're needed at
the river, right away"
Apparently, this familiarity from a
stranger was the thing of all others the
ho loI hn, icrhf
hind like swift piiedriver, caught Pete
fairly in the nsighborhood of the U. s.
on his belt-plate, and landed him in a pile
Of rusted-out tinware and brickbats in
front of the house.
WHATS that? Going to take my COW
away. | reckon not" screamed the girl,
seiZing the mop, and with n ell-directed
swipe laying Sandy low.
STEAL my COW, will you, you scamps?"
she screamed, rushing over to Sandy, with
the mop brandished for another blow.
Cit up and skeet outen heah. afore !
pound you down into the ground. Go off
an steal somebody else's COW that kin af
ford it. You can't have mine. It's our
only one"
Hold on there; don't hit me again."
said Sandy. Il wasn't going to steal your
cow-only borrow her for a little while.
I'll bring her back. l swear l will"
Sandy was worse scared by the uplift-
ed mop and the girls vengeful eye than
he had ever been since he entered the
army.
You'll bring her back?' echoed the girl,
derisively. you're a bigger liar than you
are thief. I've heard fellers like you
talk afore You can't have her for min
ute, even while I'm a-lookin' at you. Git,
l tell you. Don't you attempt to stand up,
or I'll knock You down agfn. Go off on
your, hands an knees till you git out O.
reach O that thar cow"
Humiliating as this order was, she
looked SO wicked that Sandy started to
obey it, which did not save him from a
vindictive swat on that part which was
most prominent in retreat. She was pre-
pairing to repeat her blow, when Pete, in
stantly recovering from his own disaster,
in mirth at his partners discontinue, ran
up behind her and caught her arms. "Get
the cow and take her off, Sandy, while l
hold the GIRL" he shouted.
The cow seemed to think that she had
something TO say in the dispute, and made
such n wicked charge in defense of her
ycung mistress that Pete incontinently
broke away and ran.
This diversion gave Sandy an opportu-
nifty to regain his feet and take a safe
distance frcm which to plan a renewal Of
operations.
The girls screams had brought out her
two younger brothers. Apparently the
whole family had only lived by vigor-
GUS assertion of their rights, for the boys
had pile Of pebbles near the corner Of
the house, which they began throwing
with much skill and force.
Say, Sandy, we must have that COW.
We can't go away without her." said Pete,
as, lodging the stones he joined his part
ner in the shelter of clump of brush for
n council of war.
'Indeed we must" decided Sandy. "We
need her. and we'd be laughed to death if
we let slip Of girl and two brats of
brothers drive us off"
"That's so. But I'd heap rather at
tack a hornets nest than that outfit"
There's no heap rather or don't like
to- about it." said Sandy, decidedly.
We've simply got to. You slip around !