Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-05-22

Tleu ana reared chlldren without ever
having attended divine service. 1t
was exceedingly difficult to lead them
to a conception of spiritual relations
between God and themselves. He
now asked for the Book, and finding
that it contained the Psalms, he
marked the fifteenth verse of the
fftieth Psalm, and the third chapter
of John, sixteenth verse. Handing
it back, he said:
Il wish you would read what i
have marked"
"All right, / will, sometime" Dick
promised, putting the Book away in
its resting place.
Before Mason gets here?"
Don't like to take medicine before
Pm sick. If it should go hard with
me, I'll look it up"
On a day of the following week,
word was circulated that Mason
would probably drive his sheep
through during the night. Mr.. Wills
slept little and did not undress, that
he might be ready in case he was
called; yet he did not expect to
receive any word until daylight
perhaps not then. The wise thing
was to stay away and refrain from
questioning; and he had learned this
kind of wisdom.
1t was just after noon when Dicks
brother Charlie rode up. The, Par
son saw him coming and was out.
side.
"Well?"
"Of course no one knows anything
and we have to suppose what took
place. So we think that Mason and
his men were stopped, and that
they'll drive over the other TRAIL
Charlie answered. But he was uneasy
Mr.. Wills noticed it and continued
ANY one hurt?"
"One of Mason's men was shot
and died about an hour ago. Another
of them got away and rode owe tc
the station to wire. The sheriff start.
ed at once. l don't know how it will,
end. Guess some other way ought
to have been tried; although I dom
know what, for he was warned, con
found him, not to bring his sheer
here. A good many of them were
killed and he promised to go back
But, Parson,' and his voice which hat
taken on an angry tone, became
troubled. Dicks missing"
Mr.. Wills looked his inquiry, ant
Charlie continues:
Everyone was supposed to &c
home after it was over, and know
nothing. The shooting was very
lively for a few minutes on boil
sides, before Mason would stop t.
talk. When Dick didn't show up a
daylight, 1 rode round to places
where he might be; but no one hat
seen him. Then / went to the scrim
mage ground, but he's not there
When l got back his horse had com,
in. The sheriff's on the ground by
this time. See?"
Yes, he saw. 1t would not do fol-
Charlie, or any of the other men, tt
be out looking for Dick; so he said
significantly:
"My horse is fresh"
Charlie reached out his hand. Mr.
Wills grasped it, and they separated
without another word. The rec
bronco was quickly saddled, and it,
rider soon on the scene of the con
fict. The sheriff and two of hi
men from the county seat were there
but not a native was in sight. Deat
sheep were scattered all about OF
the sand, and among the stunted ce
dars.
When Mr.. Wills rode up, the sher
if, who knew him, asked:
"What do you know about this?"
81 have not been on this spot TO,
two weeks" was the reply. Thel
looking the officer in the eye, he con
tinued, Il was at home from sun
down yesterday till within a few min
utes ago."
"Oh, of course" the sheriff re
sponded rather bitterly, as he say
that no information was to be hat
from this source.
They talked a few minutes longer
then Mr.. Wills began to hunt TO.
some sign of Dick. He found moth
ing, and rode off a few miles on
way at a venture. 1t was fruitless
and he returned to ride in anothe
direction.
He had gone about a mile up
trail leading to a mountain park,
when he saw the tracks of a hors'
at n side. Following these, he no
ticed that they were irregular, al
though the rider was unsteady in hi
saddle, pulling his horse this wa.
and that. His heart beat rapidly, TO:
the tracks led to a precipice. A hal
mile farther they ceased at the edge
with the deep imprint of the fore
feet, as if the horse had stopped sud
denly in a refusal to go On. Has
tily dismounting, he peered over
There lay Dick in plain view on
shelf of rock about ten feet from
the top, and with one foot hanging
out over the chasm.
When he was shot Dick felt the i'm
pact at his left side well up to thu
shoulder. The arm instantly dropped
and he realized at once that it woult
be useless for him to stay there an,
longer. His thought was to ge
home as oon as possible, according
to the plan. Taking the rein in hi
right hand, he started at a lope. Blu
his head grew dizzy, and in the dark
ness he took the wrong road. Afte.
a few minutes he was obliged to bring
the pony to a walk. He continued
for quite a while, Keeling in his sad
die and drawing his horse about il
a zig-zag fashion. All at once hi