Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1905-02-03

bru ln2rd fln3l!y said.
I'm going TO leave this place before
that horse tLief proyok-s NE into
shooting him. III 90 il if he
Budd couldn't finish, for the Kid was
il our midst and at the door ahead OF
any one. lie just looked over Budd's
shoulder and said:
We've decided TO raise funds 10
build Il meeting house in Eouutree. We
need il bad, boys, for the back room OF
the Yellow Coyote is small. and il
wont hold our audience much longer"
This naturally provoked Coyote Nike
to anger, for he would lose trade But
before he could speak up his opinion
the Kid had him 10y the hand.
You'll help. for you have prohted
more than anybody in Rountree over
the sinfulness OF man. Well let you
off with 500 now. but We'll come back
for more later. Next"
Coyote Nike never protested, for the
Kid had him down for the full amount,
with his signature at the foot, before
he could recover from his astonish-
ment. Budd Brainard once more start
ell for the door, saying under his
breath; Hang him. He'll befuddle me
next with his tomfoolery"
The Kid replied sorrowfuily enough,
holding open the door for Budd: Well
take your subscription for the new
meeting house asother time. The Lord
can bide his time"
so can r. snapped Budd. And
when my time comes We'll settle all
past scores. Understand
After that the Kid had opposition in
building his new meeting house Roun-
tree didn't need such an institution. for
IL hadn't thrown of It's swaddling
clothes, and II was In heed OF more
saloons than churches But the Kid
showed his peculiar inherited traits by
not being downheartei over the failure
of his scheme 10 save the souls of the
Rountree citizens in real. genuine
church. There were of course, some
who followed him and believed In him.
but not many.
When things didn't come fast enough
IA' Nds IN Vi III sdlNA oOtnNlAluS dOOul
'buekling on the armor OF the Lord
and fighting for the right" We took
this sort OF talking fgurativey until
one day he waylaid Mexican Pete and
toted him off to his house to convert
him. Pete was sinner II there ever
was one-horse thief, drunkard and
gambler II the Kid could convert him.
along with Buck Grey, he would prove
better man than any of his prede-
cessors In the ministry.
Pete didn't show up again for week
Some said he was dead drunk, and
Others limited that the Kid had made
way with him. But he was all right.
except that lie looked scared and pale
when he appeared at the Yellow Coy
ote bar~again.
Have one, Peter said Budd Make
it anything"
Mexican Pete shook his head and
whispered, ''l-do you mind If we call
il sdrsaparilla: z"
| thought Budd would fall TO the
floor but he just gasped and turned TO
Coyote Mike. You hearf'
Then when Coyote Mike gurgled out
an inarticulate reply Budd added
wrathfully: This is going too far!
What's the matter with us. anyway, to
let that little reformed horse thief come
here and henpeck US? Why don't you
close up his mouth. Mike, II you don't
he'll close up your saloon Well. you're
the finest lot of blasted, idiotic dunn
mics that ever see. III be hanged II
| don't shake OF the dust Of Rountree
for good. Its too preachy here for me-
I'm sitting, asphyxiating. Sarsaparilla
for Mexican Pete! Huh. Take him
home and give him the nursing bottle
III 90 camping on the trail Of that Kid
He's horse thief. self confessed one,
and ought to die"
Usually Budd lived up TO his word.
and we expected Developments But in
RountEee you can never tell where
lightning will strike. 1t was an even
gamble on Budd and the Kid.
Considering everything, was little
confused when both turned up as Sc
renely unconcerned as ever. Budd said
nothing about the Kid, and the Kid al
ways purposely avoided speaking Of his
old side partner Of the days before the
measly little preacher chap brought
trouble to Rountree.
Then the best citizens began to lose
horses, stolen from right under their
noses. A horse thief hadn't been hung
in Rountree for six months. Every one
felt himself self constituted commit.
tee to run the thief to ground. but some.
how he was too wary for us, and we
just bucked our heads against q stone
wall in vain.
Budd Brainard swore over the bar Of
tie Yellow Coyote that If the thief
touched his horse he'd run him to
ground within forty-eight hours Then,
just to show how little he cared for
Budd's threat, the thief trailed behind
him that night and led his horse of to
parts unknown.
We'll have the moose around him
this time" some one says. knowing
Budd for bad man when outraged.
But the excitement didn't come off.
About half the horses Of Rountree
We're stolen before the citizens organ
ized. Then they held meeting to
consider things. 1t was the Kid who
first let light IN on the subject After
all tbp pt hpI.s had had their Say ha rut