The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-15


blazed up, the whole gang spotted me.
numbered my gun, set the irons INTO
Laddy and We began to walk.
| didn't like to make for the ranch, as
l knew the boys were short handed, so |
pointed north, praying to the good Lord
that I'd hit some kind of settlement be-
fore | struck the North Pole.
Well, we left those Injuns SO far be-
hind that there wasn't any fun in 1T. I
Stacked up, patting myself on tho back;
and as the trouble seemed all over, l was
just about to turn for the ranch, when I
| heard horses galloping. and as the moon
came out little I saw whole raft OF
| redskins a-boiling up draw not half
mile away. That knocked me slab-sided.
1t looked like l got the wrong ticket
every time the wheel turned.
l whooped it up again, swearing l
wouldn't stop this deal short of dead
sure thing We flew through space
Laddy pushing a hole In the air like a
scarf kiyote making for home and moth
err.
ways down the valley l spotted lit
tie shack sitting all alone by itself in
the moonlight. / headed for it, hollering
murder. A man came to the door in his
under-rigging.
Hi, there. What's eating you?" he
yclls.
"Injuns coming. pardner! The country's
just oozing Injuns! Better get wiggle
on you
"All right-slide along; l ketch up to
you says he.
l looked back and saw him hustling
out with his saddle on his arm. He's
particular kind of cuss" thought;
bareback would suit most people,"
Taking it a little easier for the next
couple of miles, l gave him a chance to
pull up.
We pounded along without saying any
thing for a spell, when / happened to
notice that his teeth were chatterng.
keep your nerve up, pardner!" says I.
Don't you get scared-we've got good
start on EN-"
He looked at me kind of reproachful
Scared be derned." says he. 81 reckon
if you was riding around this nice cool
night in your drawers, your teeth 'ud
rattle some, too"
| took a look at him, and saw. sure
enough, while he had hat coat and boots
on, the pants was missing. Well. if it
had been the last act I'd have had to
laugh.
Couldn't find EN- nohow," says he;
hunted high and low, jck, Jack and the
Same-just comes to my mind now that
L had 'em rolled up and was sleeping on
EN-. l don't like to go around this way
/ feel as if l was two men, and one of
EN- hardly respectable.
Did you bring a gun with you?"
He gave me another stare. 'Why
pardner, you must think I have got a
light and frivolous disposition" says he,
and with that he heaves up the great
grand-uncle of all the shooters | ever
did see 1t made my forty five long look
like something for a kid to cut its teeth
on That's the best gun in this country"
he went on.
Looks as if it might be- says I.
Has the foundry that cast it gone out
of business? I'd like to have one like it,
if it's as dangerous as it looks"
When I have trouble with a man."
says he. Il don't want to go pecking at
him with a putty blower, just Irritating
him, and giving him a little skin COM
plant here and there; l want something
thatll touch"
He had it, for a broadsde from that
battery would scatter an elephant over
a township
We Hoped along quiet and easy until
sun up. The Grindstone Buffers lay about
mile ahead of us. Looking back we
saw the Injuns coming over a rise of
ground way in the distance.
Now" says my friend, 81 know a
short cut through those hills that'H bring
us out at Johnson's. They've got enough
punchers theer to do the United States
army up, starched and blucd. Shall we
take it?''
Sure" says l. I'm only wandering
around this part Of the country because
this part of the country is here-if it was
anywheres else I'd be just as glad"
SO in we went. 1t was the steepest
and narrOwest kind of canyon, looking as
if it had been cut out of the rock with one
crack of the ak. | was just thinking:
Gee Whiz. but this would be a poor
place to be snagged in" when bang! says
rifle right in front of us, and m carr!
goes the bullet over our heads
We were off them horses and behind a
couple of chunks of rock sooner than we
hoped for, and that's saying a good deal.
'Cussed poor shot. whoever he u.s." says
my friend. "Some Injun holding us here
till the rest come up, presume"
That's about the size of it and I'd
like to make you a bet that he does it.
too, if I thought I'd have a chance to
collect
ooh, you can't always tell-you might
lose your money" says he, kind Of
thoughtful.
Il wouldn't mind that half as much as
winning" says l. But, on the square,
do you think we can get out? I'll jump
him with you if you say so, although |
amt got what you might call a passion
for suicide
Now, you hold on bit" say he. 81
don't know but what we'd have done bet
to stick to the horses, and run for it, but
it's too late to think of that. jumping
him is all foolishness; he'd sit behind his
little rock and pump lead into us till we
wouldn't float in brine-and we cant back
out now
He talked so calm it made me kind of
mad
We'll" say I, Gin that case, let's play
Simmons says thumbs up till the rest
of the crowd comes"
sgTboro ,,o,1 eavc no GT,,c+ IN.