The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-07-11

think of it: Since there's only you
and We can make ourselves very
comfortable. But l do hope the crea-
ture will be all right in short time.
l am anxious to be in Fremont to
study the collision of the comet with
my colleague there"
Collision of the comet" I repeated
Strengthening up. There's nothing so
tiresome as rubbing sprain."
Certainly! That brilliant comet
to which l have called your attention
for several nights, will surely collide
with the earth, in few days at far
thest. The phenomenon will prove a
rare and wonderful one, though as
tronomers have often expected such an
occurrence. Unfortunately, something
always seemed to interfere"
MAY the interference continue" I
said, laughing. Il don't believe this
old world will be smashed up yet
awhile"
Il did not say it would be smash
ed" returned the professor with some
dignity. "The most advanced theorists
agree In saying that the comet itself Is
now only in a gaseous form, and that
now only in gaseous form, and
that"
"Hallowell." interrupted, go and
make the coffee. We can discuss case
GUS comets while we eat"
Three days passed, and the black
was no better. AS miseries never
come single, his mate, a pretty mare,
having the undue curiosity of her sex,
experimental with tempting weed,
and was in a very serious condition
when found her. I dosed her with
several remedies, getting little help
from the professor. He was so busy
watching cloud that lay along the
horizon that l was tempted to smash
his telescope in order to bring him
down to mundane affairs. Having
done what 1 could for the poor mare,
came back to the wagon.
Il don't believe she'll pull through"
l said savagely.
The professor squinted one eye up
a little tighter.
Amazing" he murmured. "It trav-
els with scarcely the sped of locomo-
tive. marvel the velocity is no
greater-doubtless the earth's gravity
exercises a controlling influence at
present" Then, in different tone,
Curtis, there's a buffalo calf coming
toward us. 1 suppose you would not
be interested if I told you of the ar
rival of something really important"
took the glass out of his hand.
Its not a calf, Hallowell. It's a
man-riding like the deuce. What do
you reckon is the matter?"
Hallowell was from the east and was
not used to southern localisms.
1T is impossible to reckon anything
on SO slight basis" he answered Sc
riously-then made wild dive at
something that foated by. When he
turned to me there was shining bub-
BILE in his hand.
THE comet" he shouted 1.-THE col
lision has occurred"
do you call that thing comet?"
1 asked contemptuously. II might
say to you with Festus-'Much learn
ing hath made the mad"
1T is detached fragment from the
main body of the gas" he replied,
dancing triumphantly around. "The
comet as a whole is that faint cloud
you see yonder."
''The deuce it is" I said anxiously.
I'VE shall smother or be blown away.
l remember you said something about
its travelling like a train
"Not blown away" corrected the
professor. eve can take refuge in
the hole by that hemlock yonder. AS
to our chance Of smothering, wonder
you can mention such a trife in the
face of material Of such overwhelming
scientific interest. I think"
We were interrupted by cry from
the advancing horseman. l saw that
he was using whip and spur on his
mount, and that the latter instead OF
responding was evidently played out.
Indeed, as he reached us, the poor
brute went down. His rider staggered
up before could lend my assistance.
"For Gods sake let me have a
horse!" he exclaimed entreatingly. 81
am on my way from x, to Fremont
with pardon for my brother. If ]
do not reach the town before IL to-
morrow, the best man that ever buck
led will die for no worse fault than
putting bullet through that hound
Pistol Pete 1t is nearly now!"
"You shall have the horse and well
come" I replied, for the young fellows
manly face was haggard with an awful
grief. "but one is dead lame, and the
other is too Ill to stand"
He made a rush for the horses to
satisfy himself, and came back with
gesture of despair that went to my
heart
Look" he cried wildly, drawing
out an envelope. There's q life in
that paper-and I have ridden-ridden
and met with one hindrance after
another"
The professor looked at him pity