The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-06-06

know what, for he was warned, con-
found him, not to bring his sheep
here. A good many of them were
killed and he promised to go back.
But, Parson," and his voice which had
taken on an angry tone, became
troubled, ''Dick's missing"
Mr.. Wills looked his inquiry, and
Charlie continued
Everyone was supposed to go
home after it was over, and know
nothing. The shooting was very
lively for a few minutes on both
sides, before Mason would stop to
talk. When Dick didn't show up at
daylight, I rode round to places
where he might be; but no one had
seen him. Then I went to the scrim-
mage ground, but he's not there.
When 1 got back his horse had come
in. The sheriff's on the ground by
this time. See?"
Yes, he saw. It would not do for
Charlie, or any of the other men, to
be out looking for Dick; so he said,
significantly:
MY morse is fresh.
Charlie reached out his hand. Mr..
Wills grasped it, and they separated
without another word. The red
bronco was quickly saddled, and it's
rider soon on the scene of the con-
fict. The sheriff and two of his
men from the county seat were there,
but not native was in sight. Dead
sheep were scattered all about on
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 for
two weeks" was the reply. Then
looking the officer in the eye, he con-
tinued, st was at home from sun
down yesterday till within few min
utes ago."
"Oh, of course" the sheriff re-
sponded rather bitterly, as he saw
that no information was to be had
from this source.
They talked few minutes longer,
then Mr.. Wills began to hunt for
some sign of Dick. He found moth
ing, and rode off few miles one
way at venture. 1t was fruitless,
and he returned to ride in another
direction.
He had gone about mile up a
trail leading to a mountain park"
when he saw the tracks of horse
at one side. Following these, he no.
ticed that they were irregular, as
though the rider was unsteady in his
saddle, pulling his horse this way
and that. His heart beat rapidly, for
the tracks led to precipice. A half
mile farther they ceased at the edge,
with the deep imprint of the fore
feet, as if the horse had stopped sud
denly in refusal to go on. Has
tily dismounting, he peered over.
There lay Dick in plain view on a
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 the
shoulder. The arm instantly dropped,
and he realized at once that it would
be useless for him to stay there any
longer. His thought was to get
home as soon as possible, according
to the plan. Taking the rein in his
right hand, he started at lope. But
his head grew dizzy, and in the dark
ness he took the wrong road. After
a few minutes he was obliged to bring
the pony to walk. He continued
for quite while, Keeling in his sad
die and drawing his horse about in
zig-zag fashion. All at once he
pitched forward and lost conscious
ness.
When he revived the sun shone hot
in his face and it was sometime be-
fore he could understand the situa-
ton. AS he got it unraveled, he rec
ognized the locality and knew that
it might not be visited in three
months, unless some youngster came
to trout in the stream below. He
tried to get up, but found that it
was impossible, his whole left side
seemed to be paralyzed. He was
weak from loss of blood and in
raging thirst. Was he going to die?
He, Dick, who had never known a
sick day, and once had ridden 35
miles with leg which was broken in
the turmoil of roundup hanging
at his side, and when he got to the
doctor made him set it without u.s.
ing a drop of chloroform? But he
did not feel then as he did now.
Everything was looking queer. The
pines were dancing, and once in a
while a rock would swell and swell
until it was ten times it's right size.
Then it would suddenly grow small
again and give him a sinking sensa-
ton, as if he were being let down
in a narrow place with the sides
constantly rising higher. 1t he were
going to die, he wished the Parson
was with him.
Then he thought of the Tesla
ment. Wasn't he all right while he
had that? But Mr.. Wills had wanted
him to read it. He could use his
right hand, and finally got the Book
out, hitching himself up against the
bank so that when he held it open
the page was in sight. The process
threw his left leg over the ledge and
it hurt; but what was the difference?
He could follow the Parsons direc-