Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-01-22

060fLot "A WAAtC eAoAN J
beetle, and was swallowed up by the
foliage. Presently it crawled into view
again as it labored up a steep hillside,
scarce a mile off. AS it turned on to
the crest something slipped to the
ground and lay m%otionless.
The stage passed over the hill. Har-
din's eye became fixed on the point
at which it disappeared, expecting to
see some one return for the lost bun
die. In this he was disappointed. At
ter a little the object in the road
moved. Hardin became keenly curl
Gus. CHANGING quickly around to make
sure no danger threatened, he picked
his way to his horse. hid in a mat of
~manzanitas, mounted and galloped
toward the road.
As he neared the spot it suddenly
flashed on him that this might be a
trick of the enemy to tempt him into
the open. He wheeled his bronco into
the dense underbrush and ~dismounted.
Holding his Winchester before him,
he crept stealthily on. He had pro-
ceeded but a short distance when a
faint cry, as of a young animal in dis
tress, foated to him from the direc-
ton of the road.
"a young wolf or bear cub,'' he
thought, 'that has tumbled over
board" But he would not turn back
now. Life of late had been too mon
Otonous for him TO easily forego the
prospect Of diversion. Reaching the
road, he stopped and listened intently.
No sound broke the stiffness but the
faint wailing from the roadway. He
took a quick glance about him. his eyes
resting obviously on the patch of road
where the stage had disappeared, then
he parted the foliage and ran noiseless-
~ to where the bundle lay. He stopped
over and threw aside the covering that
concealed it; then he stepped back and
gave vent to a low whistle. A baby
blinked up into his face. 1t stopped its
crying suddenly with an indrawn sob.
and the next second greeted him with
a friendly "ghoo-oo," as it proceeded to
kick itself free of its swaddling
clothes.
Blame my cats, young unr be ex-
claimed, his eyes hard on the road
where it wound over the crest of the
hill; We amt the kind of proposition
l was lookin' fer. I can't stand we're
in the road an entertain We, an it
don't seem like jest the proper thing to
leave We; but / amt never went back
on a Teller yet as 'uz in a hole. Shorely
yer friends'n miss We an turn up fer
you fore long. But if a loafer shud
happen this way, it nd be the last of
you, an jest likely as rot I'd git the
credit of kidnapping We, for my tracks
is goin' to give me away. Well. they've
credited me with most everything else
a Teller oughtn't be proud of-an' we're
goes, fer better er worse; it can't make
much difference" He slipped his arm
beneath the baby, lifted it to his breast
and stepped into the brush. Here he
made sundry maneuvres to conceal his
tracks, regained his horse, and spurred
for his hiding place. Meantime he had
kept the baby quiet "boo-booing," tick.
ling it in the ribs with the muzzle of
.his'revolver, and addressing to it spec
ulative remarks AS to the outcome of
their blamed uncommon pickle"
Safe again within the protection of
his lookout, he made the baby COM
Portable on an old coat, laid it in the
thin shade of a ledge of rocks, and, Sit
ting down opposite, began to regard it
with a %quizzical air of perplexity.
We'll, young I'm. I've been guilty of
many a fool thing in my day, but this
caps 'em. What I'm goin' to do with
yes more'n I can savvy-'
1000! goo.g. cooed the baby, seem
ingly delighted with this new arrange
ment; and. indeed, as Hardin thought,
it was a more comfortable one than
the brownsville s~tagecoach.
I'm afraid you'll change yer tune,
cub, when yer feedin' time comes,.an
then whatll come of me amt hard to
predict. Guess ye'd.hartHy take things
SO easy, no-how, if yes able to know
that we're a guest of Hardin, as has a
price on his head. Well, them's the
facts, an eft | don t manage to git We
often my hands, | wouldn't give a pin
fer my chances. Don't yeAdare yell,
young un, er I'll be tempted to choke
ye," he broke off, as the baby puck
cred up its mouth in a tentative whim-
per. la =
There, that's all right, young nm,
Wen manage somehow and he
chncked 1t under the chin. The baby
was not wholly treasured, and contin-
ued spasmodically 4 sob which threat
ened at any moment to burst into a
wall. Hardin took it on his knee. jog
gled it vigorously, and got it interested
in his watch chain, which the baby
continued to clutch desperately till it
got hold Of one Of Hardfn's fingers
Thisit persisted in carrying toward its
mouth.
I'm sfraid we're goin' to be disap
pointed. young IN. You'll find that
finger oye strong; amt felt the tech
Of water fer ten days, but jest have
yer way eff it amuses you anil keep
yer mouth shet.v
The baby frowned In frank disgust
as its mouth closed on the unsavory
morsel. but it chung to it determinedly.
Blame me-. but I like yer grit, an, eff
it's any satisfaction, make the most of
1t. We may git on better'n I expected.
I've got nine more we're, just as ripe as
that un.1 Hardin went on. pouring a
few drops of muddy water from an al
nest empty canteen on to bis finger