Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1906-11-29

more moral courage than he possessed
TO ride over and make confession. In
this emergency he haunted the spring
until he found out from Martha, the
oolored woman, that on certain day
and date Miss Rose and the sergeant
We're to take Il rwo hiiiiie walk to ;;ii'ccer
tain limestone cave Oh the banks of the
river. -....
Livery man has Il friend somewhere
If lie will only hunt him up. Afte,
thinking things over Joe decided TO "a
TO old man barnes, who kept a saloon
eating house and sort of menagerie
in town, and when his case had been
stated the old man replied:
Easiest thing in the world my boy
You want TO run that sergeant off the
ranch and make hero of yourself al
the same time"
But he don't look like Teller who
could be run was protested.
Make no mistake, my boy. You can
run his coat tails out straight if only
you go about it right
But how can | make u hero of my
self"
h'N IsNit VI Inv &NON
listen 10 me
Three days later the sergeant rode
up to the ranch with his chest puifel
out and Il complacent look on his face.
He felt that he was winner. He was
going to honor the ranchman's daugh-
ter by taxing her into Uncle Sans
service.
His welcome wasn't quite as genial
as it might have been. as Miss Rose
was beginning TO feel conscience strck-
Ell about Joe Whitman. She had found
on mature consideration that she liked
Joe very much and when girl viii
admit that and be sorry that she tiirtcd
with another man at the same time she
is very near the point of loving.
The horse was left ut the stables and
the pair started for the cave on foot
ON the way the sergeant got ready to
propose, but Il ratilesuake created Il
diversion. He maze ready a second
time, but II stray steer had to be
dubbed away, and 50 the river was
reached without recruit being added
TO the army.
The cave contained three rooms and
was accounted Il wonder. A torch that
had heen prepared was lighted, and the
couple entered the dark mouth. but
had hardly reached the center of the
first room when they We're saluted by
such Il growing ana clawing and roar
ing as held them suellbound for Il mo-
mcnt. Then as monster bear came
rushing ut them from one Of the inner
rooms the doughty sergeant broke for
daylight and fed ut his est pace The
calls OF the girl We're unheeded. lie
hadn't served twelve years in the army
to become bears meat He wanted a
wife, and Company G wanted second
laundrcss, but he would try to find the
woman in town. He covered the mile
to the house without Il break and then
mounted his gallant steed and set Off
for the fort. lie even forgot TO leave
best wishes behind
Meanwhile Miss Rose had stumbled
and fallen aud tainted away. 1t was
as good a chance as Il bear ever had,
but this particular animal failed to
take advantage of the occasion.
In the first place, he was muZzled,
ana, in the next, Joe Whitman was
hanging on to the end of long rope
fastened to his collar When he had
fulfilled his mission he was tied up,
and Joe went out and shoudered the
still unconscious girl and had borne her
nearly home when she revived.
AS she opened her eyes and won
dered how she had tasted to the bear
Joe pointed out the sergeant riding
away He also displayed his bloody
hunting knife.
"Oh, Joe, but the bear-the bear"
gasped the girl on his arm.
Il came along just in time to Kill ii. |
Thank heaven, you are not hurt. Here
you are at home. l am glad ! was of
service 10 you. hut ! can't come in.
After what was said the other day
You will come in, of course. There
may be another bear around
There wasn't, but during the next
hour Joe had talk with the colonel
and both OF them shook hands at the
end of il and said they were glad. |
That night when Joe led the bear back
to the town and his cake the owner
gruttly quered:
We'll, did it work?
Beautifully"
"Then hand over the ten. When you
want a second wife come to me and
we will put up some other job to get
her"
n,.s tha porse Love His Mnstcrf