The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-11-30


where in particular and did amazing
things with bit of rope, sending it
through the air with snaky undula-
tons after flying cattle. The rope,
taking on lifelike coils, would pursue
the flying beast like an aerial reptile;
then the moose would fall true, and the
thing was done. A second later a cou-
pie of cowboys would be examining the
disputed brand on the prone animal.
The smell Of burning flesh and hair
rose from the branding pen and min
gled with the stencil Of the herds in
one noisome compound. The yells of
the COW punchers, each having it's diff
ferent bearing on the work in hand
We're all but lost in the dull, steady
roar Of the cattle, believing in a cho-
rus of fear. rage and pain. And still
the work of sorting, branding, cutting
out. went steadily on. Though an out
slider would not have perceived it, the
work was as crisp cut and exact in it's
methods as the work in counting
house.
The beef contract called for a thou
sand steers four and five years old,
and, these having been we'll and duly
counted and some dozen extra head
added i'll case Of accident, they were
Immediately started on the trail, as
they could accomplish some seven or
eight miles before being bedded down
for the night. Hamilton, who had
crossed to the beef side Of the roundup
to have necessary word with the Cir
Gle Star foreman, was amazed to find
Simpson making ready to start with
the trail herd. Peter inquired, with
few explosives, how long he had been
COW man in good and regular stand
ing.
LAS far as the regularity is concern
ed, that would be a pretty hard thing
to answer, but he's had an interest in
the Xxx since-since'-
HE drove Rodney's sheep over the
cliff"
"Ain't you little hard on the be-
ginning Of his cattle career? It usual
" goes by q more businesslike name,
but'-he shrugged his shoulders-t:it's
up to the Xxx. We wouldn't have
him help to pull begged cattle out of
creek
The beeves, hidden in a simeon OF
their own stamping, were gradually
being pressed forward On the trail, a
huge pawn, ignorant Of it's own
strength, manipulated by a handful of
men and horses. It's believing, like the
tuning Of a thousand bass fiddles,
shook the stiffness like the long, sullen
roar of the sea as out Of the plain they
Numbered to feed the multitude.
well, there goes as pretty a bunch
Of porterhouses as I'd want to put
tooth to. If get away from here with
in the next two months, as I'm ex-
pecting, doubtless I'll meet some of
you again with your personality some
what obscured by reason of fried
onions"
The foreman of the Circle Star waved
his hand after the slowly moving herd
that gradually pressed forward like an
army in loose marching order Out
riders galloped ahead, like darting in
sects, and pointing the numbering mass
that trailed it's half mile length at
snaips pace.
After supper came general relaxa-
ton around the campfire. The men,
who had all day been strung to a keen
pitch of nervous energy, lounged in
loose, picturesque uncouthness, while
each began to unravel his own lively
nf inf
ton. There was jest, laughter, spin
ming of yarns, singing Of songs AS
Peter lay in the freight smoking his
brlerwood he noticed that the man
next him spent a great deal of time
porting over letter, holding it close to
the blaze, now at arms length, which
was hardly surprising, considering the
penmanship of the more common va
riety Of billet-doux. The man was
plainly disappointed that Peter would
not notice or comment. Finally he
folded 1t up and with sentimental sig
nifcance returned it to the left side
pocket Of his flannel shirt and re-
marked to Peter, Its from her."
Indeed" said Peter, who had not
be. LET me congratulate you"
Eyes, sir" and there was conviction
in the cow puncher's tone; "it's from old
man Kinson's girl, up to the Basin,
and the parsons goin' to give us the
life sentence soon. A man gets sick
o helling it all over creation" He
rolled a cigarette, lit it, took a puff or
two, then turned to Peter. "Is it that,
or is it that we're getting on, little
long in the tooth, logy in our move
ments? If thought it was because I
was getting on I'd stampede this here
range. It don't seem fair to a girl to
allow that you're broke, tanned and
know the way to the corral when it's
just that you're needin' to 20 to an
old mans home"
"Now this is really love-" said Peter
to himself, with interest. '"This is hu.
mility." A sympathetic liking for the
self distrustful lover surged hot and
generous into Peters heart, and he
continued to.himself, "Now that's what