The Forrest City times., 1904-03-11


 Charley Hickman over cards one night III the bunkhouse. cattle gone astray. and even the pollution of one of the wells. which had been laid to the sheen herders. She had never thought of connecting Rocky with the ill luck. lraVers had laughed over il in his happy way, but she had heard the boys talking of the old hoodoo. and now she worried over her suspicious until she could stand the suspense no longer.
 IL was daybreak. The gray light stole duly in at the two small windows She wrapped a heavy shawl about her. and stepped out into the woodshed that was punt close against the back of the house.
 The three dogs parked and whined in chorus of greeting at sight of her. and she unloosened their chains and let them romp into the house. All at once the largest, Travers' favorite, stopped snort on the door sill. with uplifted nose and forepaw and howled anxiously. The other two had crouched gratefully beside the stove.
 uo III, Tramp, said Betty.
 Tramp howled louder and longer. and turning rom the door, pushed her out ooors and plunged into the snow.
 For an instant she hesitated. her heart beating fast with dread. then slip ping on the high rubber boots which Iravers had laughingiy insisted be- ionged in the rousseau of a North Da. kota bride, she followed the trail of Tramp.
 Inc snow had stopped falling. It lay In huge drifts around the house like a frozen sea. The air was sharp and bit terIy cold. It stung her face like the cut of whip, and left a path behind. NOW and then he stopped lifted his head. and sent out the long howl that found echo in her own heart. He was making his way steadily towards the northeast division At first she kept up with him, but before they had covered a mile the dog was far ahead. and she traced him by the tracks he left for her
 Suddenly his howls ceased, and she heard him barking Struggling on with glzzy brain, and numbed body, she found him standing over body half buried in the snow, licking the icy hands and face with frantic joy.
 "Don.' she cried. Don, husband. an- swer me"
 It was Travers. From head to foot he was bound with his own lariat, and in an instant the truth flashed on her. Rocky had lied about the herd and had taken his revenge, leaving Travers helpless at the mercy of the blizzard. as his brother had met his death
 She knelt beside him, her head on his breast to catch the futter of life. It beat faintly and irregularly, and when she pressed her lips to his with eager, ten- der pleading there was a drowsy lifting of his eyelashes
 The sharp crack of pistol broke the stiffness of the frozen prairie AS it came again Tramp set up an answering howl of alarm and there came a long, drawn shout.
 'Tra-vers."
 "Here!" called Betty
 Through the drifts came two ponies. breasting their way sturdily. and the riders were Charlie dickson and Bunny Pierce, standing in their stirrups. and letting out yells of joy when they saw the group in the snow.
 Tt was Rocky who did it, though he didn't just exactly do it with any good intentions" Bunny said later, when they had reached the ranch and the color was creeping back into Travers face.
 Did he tell you what he had done" demanded Betty, passionately. What did you boys do to him? think l could have shot him myself
 She bent over Trayers with the fierce protective love of a panther mate, and Bunny looked at her approyingly.
 We didn't have to do nothing to him, ma am, he said, respectfully. He was all done for He must have struck out for Sunrise with the two horses and lost his way but the horses knew theirs. and they landed him safe at the north division bunkhouse.'
 "Alive?" It was Travers who spoke.
 Bunny bent to rub of some snow that was melting on Tramps brown coat, and he did it gently. as to a comrade.
 No. Deader'n dead" he replied, slowly And he didn't stay in the sad- dle, either. He just dropped over one side, with one foot hung in the stirrup. and his pony dragged him along. We knew Chance, and came looking for what was left of you
 Travers' arms closed around Betty closely, as she knelt beside him. Neither spoke, but Bunny put in a last sentiment that was an epitaph to Rocky Davis.
 The hoodoo of the Crossbars sure done up for good this time
 Trapping the Andean Condor.
 Anyone who has ever watched a heavy