The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-09-11
CHAPTER
FIVE 'ss,. ss l.
Merrifleld
Copyright. l.OS. BY t. C. Mcclure

Half way between the Crescent ranch
and the schoolhouse lay the western
border of the Black Hawk range. IL
Don Easton happened to ride to the
ridge of low. ragged buttes above the
little valley trail he could catch
hat with the violets on it when little
Sammie Trent took her to and fro In
the blackboard from the ranch to the
school
One day Sammie rode out on the
range on his own pinto. Buckeye, and
told Don the news.
We've got the new teacher at our
place, Don. She's a Jim Dandy too.
Pop let me go to school with the rest
Of the kids just because she said l was
wasting my talent hoeing round, She
amt a real teacher either. She's study
ing us folks. Jumping Moses. Don. you
ought to hear her talk. And she's going
to study you pretty soon. You're chap
ter Son herders."
"Is she homely, Sammief" Don asked
gently.
Sammie shut one eye and clucked
his tongue hungrily.
Gimme two crackers and a dried
herring and I'll tell" he said.
Don bargained and handed over two
crackers with the herring laid be-
tween. Sammie munched contentedly.
1t was long way from the ranch.
Her hairs kind of pretty. Ii don't
curl up exactly, but II kinks a little
when the wind blows. And it's brown,
kind of. And she smiles sweet as any
| thing. and her eyes are blue, kind Of.
and she's awful gritty. She's learning
to ride. and she fell or once and never
yowled a bit"
/ A week after this the blackboard was
discarded. and Don saw Sammie ride
by ON the pinto. while the schoolteach-
er was on a small lightweight black
and white pony. Sometimes she went
by alone, as the days passed and her
confidence grew. Don would leave the
sheep with the dogs and watch for her
at sunset. lying face downward In the
soft. thick grass on the edge Of the
buttes- He could see her from the
time she passed the cottonwoods that
II
corner OF Big Butte far down the val
ley. and beyond the way was clear to
the ranch
/ There was a secret satisfaction to
him in this self imposed sentinel duty
| over her lonely ride. 1t was welcome
break In the monotony OF his life, and
he dreaded the time when the grass
and water would give out and he
would have to move farther on to new
| range.
When the spring days came and the
wild flowers lay like a royal carpet for
the feet of the black and white pony
the schoolteaeher would dismount and
gather them on her way through the
valley. Then came a day when the
sentinel saw from his post that she
was In trouble. The black and white
pony had wandered ahead OF her, crop
ping the grass and new clover, when
suddenly he pitched forward. one fore
leg sinking deeply into a beaver hole.
/ With his heart afiame. Don had gone
to the rescue and pulled the pony out.
The ankle was sprained. and she limp
ed badly. Flushing beneath his tan. be
had told the schoolteacher who he
was. Just one of the Crescent herders,
and had offered her his horse to ride
home on She had accepted thankfully,
and Sammie was sent after the lame
pony the next day.
Amt she thoroughbred, though -
he asked, chewing on bit OF flag root
he had found down near the creek.
Her names Marjorie Allan"
when is she coming to study chap
ter 5Y' asked Don carelessly.
Guess she hasn't got that far YET
returned Sammie seriously. "She's
studying flowers and bees and birds
and things now."
Sammie'-the herder's voice was
gentle and persuasive-'don't you wan,
job herding sheep along about sun.
| setl'
What you got that's better than her.
ringsT asked Sammie In mild interest
"A whole nickel a day
I'll come tomorrow" said Sammie.
The new arrangement lasted month
Every afternoon at sunset SammIe
herded faithfully. while Don and the
schoolteacher rode slowly from the
Il NottohWoouS W Dig Dulle- nen one
day Don told him he need not come any
more. and his face was grim and hope
less Sammie looked at him shrewdly
while he cracked n. switch at a few
mosquitoes that were feasting ON the
pinto's mottled hide.
shes just n girl. even IL she die
come from Kansas City and writes
books and things" he said pleasantly
did she throw you down. DonY'
The herder was silent
"'Cause you're just n hertierT'
go home" said the other gently
without looking at him. but Sammi,
, saw the clinched hands and he rods
away whistling.
: Three weeks later there came new.
to the ranch. The herier on the Blacl
: Hawk had moved his sheep eigh
miles northward toward the Big HorI
country. and there We're growing
among the eattlemen mp there over hi
encroaching on their territory.
'But isn't the range freeY' asked tn,
!, schoolteacher when Sammie explaine,
: matters to her.
"You dassent say so nowadays less I
I you've got gun to hack II up" sal,
! Sammie. "Pop thinks Don will get al
; the trouble he's looking for"
Miss Allan looked at him. her blu
4 eyes grave and anxious.
"what will they do to hinT'
4 "Chase him or and scatter the sheep