Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-29

often went to sleep, with the kittens clasped
in his arms, but Ned was not there.
Will look about the corral" she said;
and away she ran.
but no little brother answered her anxious
calling ""N''''
He must have gone to meet his brother
instead INST OF you,' said Mrs. Mcpherson.
There canes John across the prairie now;
we shall soon know" "O"'
he must have followed Joe,'' remarked
Annie, looking anxiously into the faces Of
her parents, who were beginning to feel n
thorough alarm.
Then he will probably meet our little run.
away, and bring him back" replied Mr.. Nc.
f.herson, striving to overcome the apprehen.
sion that was fast taking possession of his
mind.
Joe was coming up from the pasture lands
slowly driving the large tocks homeward.
hide out and ask him, john" said the
father, as mother and sister searched here
child
John needed no second bidding, and the
strong and willing horse went dashng over
The smooth, green sward as if partaking OF
the anxious haste of his rider
Ihe brother soon returned and with trem-
bling lips announced the fact that baby Ned
was not with Joe.
1t was already sundown, and every face
blanched with dread, for they well knew
the danger from the prowling denizens of the
Wilderness, when night came down and dark
ness favored their stealthy steps.
Joe now came up and told of Ned's request
to co. and that was the last time that he had
been zen seen by any member Of the family
The parents, brother and sister immedi-
ately started out, and hastily securing the
flocks, Joe constructed several torches, which
he carried to the Others, and then joined in
the search.
Hither and thither they went, alternately
calling and listening; but only those who
have endured similar anxiety can compre-
hend the terrible fear and agony of their
hearts as hour after hour went by, and still
no trace of the missing child, and no reply
to their anxious calling save the cry of the
startled night-bird, or the ominous howl Of
the coyote.
The red light was just tinging the eastern
horizon, when the poor mother sank upon
the earth in a state of utter exhaustion and
despair
The other members of the family gathered
about her, scarcely less distracted than her.
self, for they had reinquished all hope Of
ever finding their darling alive, and dreadinp
the coming day, lest its lights should reveal
something too terrible for their eyes to rest
upon, when two shots from a revolver, fired
at an interval OF few seconds, then three
reports in rapid succession, came family
borne upon the still morning air.
Courage! courage! There's tidings al
last" exclaimed the father, starting off al
the top of his speed in the direction from
which the sound came.
Just then Joe appeared upon the top of q
distant hill, shouting and gesticulating wild
with less terror and excitement, and more
system, he had followed every bypath
branching off from the main trail as far as
he thought il possible for the little fellow tc
wander retracing his steps each time, and
returning to the next, and Just as the sun
rose above the horizon, a childish voice in
Hello, Joel Have you found the sheepY'
and there, nestled down in a little hollow
with a wild rose nodding over his haxen
head, and a kitten curled' up on each side
of him, the blue eyes just unclosed from a
sound and restful clumber, was the object
of all that night-long search.