The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-04-07

standing still at the wheel IN the
highway; but now, at the instance Of
the Conductor, lac was released from
the yoke and, with long, heavy rope
about his horns, he started along at
the heels of the teamster under whose
lash il had been his lot 20 serve, step
ping slowly and reluctantly from his
place IN the team up TO the precincts
of the little smithy, where he was to
be treated 10 a set Of new shoes.
By this time, however, the Indians
had somehow become aware of what
was going on and, curious to see the
outcome Of the undertaking, fell into
line at the heels of the OK, forming
long procession OF several hundred per-
SONS, including not few women and
children.
Just at this iuncture an incident
occurred which invested the a.oye-
ment with many Of the truest elements
Of ridiculous hdmor.
The swarthy multitude was moving
along slowly In the wake Of theox and
his leader, all apparently wrapped IN
a spell Of speechless anticipation Of
the interesting scene which, as they
thought was soon to be enacted with
IN the Jurisdiction Of the smithy, when
a knot Of rollicking youngsters, in a
remote quarter Of the crowd, turned
loose upon their fayorite piece, the
refrain Of which, when rendered in
free English, ran nearly as follows
"And now we are of TO the Arkan-
saw,
"'Cause we could not stand the
Georgia law" The incident somehow
struck up a flame Of humor in the gen
eral mind, apd the strain became con-
tageous. In no time the whole pro-
cession was engaged IN the chant, Civ
ing the occasion an appearance not
unlike that Of crowd OF Egyptian
deyotees marching and singing upon
some gala day In honor Of their ma
tional bull-god. They persisted in
the demonstration throughout the
march, coming down frequently and
with peculiar emphasis, upon the re-
fraln above mentioned.
By this time, old Broad had begun
70 realize and appreciate the unusual
nature OF his environments. lie be-
gan 10 suspect trouble ahead Of him,
and his steps became more reluctant
than ever and his progress was decid-
odly wayward. Physical excitement
took possession Of his immense frame.
The exhalatlons roared from his nos
trils and his eyes blaze like balls Of
black ire.
On reaching the place OF business,
the leader threw the rope around the
trunk Of a blackjack tree and made Il
fast IN al indissoluble knot, leaving
the beast only q few inches OF the cord
70 play upon.
The conductor and The smith met
tie procession. the latter with tools
and material In hand. ostensibly ready
for the final step in tho job. The
noisy red men became quiet, out of
respect, We viii say, for the official
presence Of the Conductor, III fact,
however, only on the principle that q
calm naturally precedes a storm. The
smith drew up cautiously toward the
steer, but at distance which his
sense OF safety seemed TO suggest, he
stopped suddenly and, looking Al him
for some moments with an air Of seri-
ous contemplation, turned 10 tie con-
ductor and said, with shake Of the
head; Il dunno about shoen' that
animal, cap'n. ! Idon't b'lleye he's
goln' 20 stand IL.
The Conductor, though lord aud
mastcrof old Broad, had never formed
much Of a personal acquaintance with
him In fact. was quite ignorant Of
his private character and special hab-
It's. ITO know nothing, is to fear
nothing, says the old adage. Accord.
ingly, TO assure the doubling workman
aud brace him 70 a proper measure Of
the JOB before him. the Conductor
stepped boldly up 20 the side Of the
steer and, with a show Of much conf
dence, laid his hand on the animals
wlthers, At the same time artlculat-
ing, whoa, Broad 2 IN a very friend
Is and patfonizing manner Broad
cfinged at tile touch, and expressed
MS resentment with lurch Of bis
whole body In the Of direction But
the rope about his horns was unrelent
Ing, and the tree 10 which Il vas az
tached was equally stubborn. Reallz-
ing the great disadvantage Al which
he was taken, Bread submitted at
once 10 the indIgnlty wlth phllosophic
resignation, and seemed AZ the same
time 20 give assurance that any other
4