Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-07-26
1nE RANCH BUoS.
pY MRs. ". L. RAYNE.

A l.
Iikod him and NJ. systematic wavs and
sfraioht honest aealifg ana fbe men whc
fad learned ~ re.reet a,d abev rim, ammo.
ciafi,tg ~ yoodness ana unseldsbness ,eere
ALIKE .yorried ard di.l.eartened over bis AZ.
They mad sent 30 miles for doctor w.o
came ard wtr Ind was not doino rim bis
III good st feyer yas sar,nipg XII III,
and The men knew thai fbe doctor did M
understand his illness and was not helpine
him. Then tne youngest one Of the gang.
known only by his sobrfquet OF Tender.
foot" suggested getting a new doctor. one
who had a great reputation for skill. but BE-.
fore they could decide the boss heard Of il
and sent for him.
"Tenderfoot. he said. holding ont lean.
feverish hand. cts Of no use. I'm booked
for a long journey: I'm going far and I'm
going alone. I'm NOT afraid. but want you
to help and not hinder me. You must stay
by me to tho last. for. Tenderfoot. | sadly
need friend.
PERHAPS the boss did not feel the tear that
Cell on his face or hear the stiaed sob in
Tenderfoots throat. but the two clasned
hands. and 80 solemn compact was silently
made. And tie noisy ranch became as Quiet
Ia the vicinity Of the boss as if It had been
the aute-chamber of sick room Not one of
the men took advantage Of the situation
They had fought and rioted until one day
this smooth-faced chap walked in among
them, said; Men, I'm your master, made
contract with them for their fealty, and
saw that they kept IT, too. One look from
under bis level brow- brought the toughest
man there 10 terms. Tenderfoot became his
shadow aud adorer
r. boss had c,nauared by kindness and
4tlcv. He wrote pheir letters home for
men. read TO tcem and kent them ont AZ
ue mischief. Tsey aid not wholly ac.
capt hihI at first. Tbev we're keen readers
OF human nature. and his constant wafcbfrI.
ness did not escape their vipilant attention
They were suspicious that he had committed
some crime and WAS = fugitive fron, instice
always On tie alert for ! sunrise He fas.
tened the door Of his cabin 81 niqbf 1ile
barricade and had to be approaehed Ike an
army general in his tent. And he never oct
over way he had of looking off "a fine east
listening and starting a. stags do when tbev
smell the sea. The men we're annrehnns;ve
that some day he would STAMPEDE i,,stas tbe
stays do and thew ,vonld meyer SOC Mn,
again Aud no Didn't In \ differant ,rav
~ A.. oo.,,,1, i t,,rr;.... =.
the rarcl ana ,s.e5 ~ rost All 49, H..
t5ere TBe hos bad been nn and . r1,,me'
but when Tenderfoot sopgbt ~, Ia - ILL oe,,Id
not he found whore Ia lad heon - roart
before tbe advent If tie strar,ar, Tbn ~,
ven ~ fannd M 'laar1 "e ~
He called and ~. Omitted
scan,,,,n,. s;r . sa 'sa;J ,,.lo,
side ~ vas -
TIE hoss t,rro5 d. ,.b;.o d,,.., f..a a.
hir, ..yes yos he .a35 ,,,t,'ta,,ti,. ~
v,;s, ,oo,,Ie v,,nid Iat ~ - ~. -,
derfoot. give them the best We bave-and
don't-don,t-lef them in 1ere
Are You worse. SIR
yes | am feeling wretche3lv ill., Ten.
derfoot, notice wat they talk about. wi M
he saws, but keep them away-keep t5em
away"
Tie boss could not have had befter lien.
tenant than Tenderioot. VINO showed the
pair--a man and his wife-everythmg OF in.
terest on the ranch. and wen thew von.I
have approached tae picture,uue cabin built
against the mountain side. wi eedle.lt EN-
off in a contrary direction wit a co1,.fp,r,.,ta
tact And they did not see the wan and
weary face pressed against the lattice pane
To one al least il would have been distinct
shock.
When they were gone late in the afternoon
Tenderioot hurried to the cabin and found
the boss lying face down in his bunk. tic
curtain closely drawn.
They are gone, sir.
"Who are they" The boss drew the
curtain aside and looked out, white and
rigid.
''Oh, sir, just a man and his wife, reckon,
but they are still sveetheartng. ANYWAY,
he was, but the woman didn't seem to care