The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-10-13
JOHNSON'S TRIP.

! lhey called nm Tough johnson at the
post and he answered cheerfully to the
name with a candid appreciation Of its fit
ness.
Not that he boosted of his toughness ex-
cept in its physical aspect. On the CON
trary, he always asserted that he was the
unfortunate victim OF circumstances when
marched before any of the constituted au-
thorties OF the regiment, and his plausible
explanation of the circumstances saved him
terms IN the guardhouse almost as often as
lid his undeniabe value as mule.skinner.
He would have been drummed out of the
regiment, or belted out of it, a hundred
times had it not been for the fact that the
wagon boss could not get along without him
when it came to pinch.
Tough" Johnson's besetting weakness
and the root of most Of the evil he wrought
was his fondness for strong drink. If he
could not get any of the ardent frontier
whisky dear to his heart he still was not
discouraged or cast down. Lemon extract,
painklller or Jamaica ginger would serve his
turn almost as well and at Pena Colorado he
was seldom reduced to these substitutes
At that time the regiment had several de-
tachments of 20 or more men patroling
the Rio Grande at various points to inter
cept smuggers and their supplies were
sent out to them from Pena Colorado
monthly by wagon. One bright May morn
ing johnson was detailed to take load
over to the detachment at the mouth of
Green river, with warning from the quar-
| termaster to behave himself
Yes, sill" sand johnson, saluting grave
ly. I've ben extry careful to keep out of
trouble for some time. ! never did hunt
fuss with anybody, but Pm onlucky some
times. As fer drinkin', | don't b'leve I'd
take a drink if you was to offer me one"
He looked wistfully at the quartermaster
as he spoke and his eyes grew moist and his
lower lip dropped in peculiar manner.
I'm not going to put temptation in your
way, so don't be uneasy" said the quarter
master, reassuringly. "As for keeping out
OF trouble, | think that is principally be-
cause the Mexicans have got shy. This is
going to be heavy load and you will take
team of those big mules from Marysvile,
if you think they are hard enough by this
time, and one of the new wagons. You can
start as soon as you get loaded"
johnson saluted again and hurried off to
the corral for his mules, exulting at the
thought of driving the big Missouri beasts
that had heen squealing and kicking out of
the fullness of oats in their stables for the
past week
1t was about three-days' trip to Green
river and back, but when three days had
passed there was no johnson. The three
days grew into a week and still he did not
return. Then the quartermaster grew un-
easy and scouting party was sent out
along the Green river trail. 1t was found
that johnson had arrived at the camp in
good time and had delivered the supplies
and started back for the post. Since then
no one had seen or heard of him. So the
scouting party returned to the post and re-
ported.
1t was six weeks later that the quarter
master, riding out along the Rio Grande,
saw approaching wagon that seemed to
move in some mysterious way without mo-
tive power. He stopped and wondered, and
then, getting out his field glasses, surveyed
it long and intently. at looks something
like a government wagon" he observed to
the orderly "but can't yet make out what
is pulling it. 1t looks like a mardigrass
float. | guess we'll investigate this"
They rode to meet it, and as they got
nearer they saw that the quartermaster's
guess was right. 1t was a government
wagon, nearly new, and attached to it were
six Mexican mules not much larger than
goats. Their harness was much too big for
them and had been tied on to them Mount
ed on one of these little animals, with his
knees drawn nearly up to his chin to keep
his feet off the ground, was Tough" John
SON
Tough" with two black eyes surround
ed by halo of touseled hair and a six
weeks stubble of red beard, pulled up his
team, Strengthened himself into military
rigidity and saluted.
is that you, Johnson" exclaimed the
quartermaster.
1T certainly are, sir" returned johnson
in melancholy but resigned voice.
Where have you been for the last six
weeks and what have you done with those
mnlesy"
"Wel, SIR" said johnson, it's long
story got my load to the camp all right
and started back in good shape, but | was
in too much of rush to get back, an
took short cut and came out on Alkali
creek. l made fair days drive, an along
about shutdown | found place to camp
good wood, grass and water. hobbled them
mules out an got myself some supper"
Il don't care a hang about your sup
per-" shouted the quartermaster What
did you do with the mules?'
johnson looked injured. 81 hobbled EN-,
sir he answered, but | hadn't thought o.
that tender alkali grass, an they jst filled
up on it. That's where my trouble began
You never seen such cases of alkali collie as
them mules had, sir, an when some got
better the others got worse, an had only
grain for one day an had to let EN- go
on eatin' the grass to keep EN- from starv-
ing. ! worked like beaver, sir, an put
in them six weeks doctorin an nursin
them mules. You see, sir / didn't"
DO you mean to say they all died?"
asked the quartermaster.
Why, no, sir; nary one of EN- died
These are the same mules. They've shrunk
some with the collie, but they're birds an
they're cured of the collie, sir."-Chicago
Daily News.
He Got His Pass.
The recent return of Gen. Kitchener 70 |