The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1907-10-18


coming back without me- Well that
bull outfit will stop for me-and they II
get me or get pay for me. That's
their orders. And it isn't train of
women and babies, either. They 'resuch
an outrageous rough lot, qulck-tem-
pered and all that that they wouldn't
believe the truth that | had an acct
dent-nOt if you sWOre it on a stack
Of Mormon bibles topped off by the
life of Joe Smith. They'd go right out
and make AMAZON look like a whole
cavayard of razOr-hOOfed butfaloes had
raced back and forth over it. And the
rest of the 1000 men on Ezra Calk-
ms pay roll would come hanging
around Fostering you all with Win
chesters. They'd make you scratch
gravel, sure.
"Now, lets get to work. I see you'll
be awful careful and tender with me.
I'll bet l don't get even a sprained
ankle. You folks get him, and I'll
show you where he sad the place was.
Two hours later FOllett came run
ming back to where Prudence lay on
the saddle blanket in the warm morn
ing sun.
The wagon train is coming-hear
the whips? Now, look here, why don't
we go right on with it, in one of the
big wagons? They're coming back
light, and we can have a j. Murphy
that is bigger than a whole lot of
houses in this country. You don't
want to go back there, do you?"
She shook her head.
No; it would hurt me to see it
now, | should be expecting to see him
at every turn. Oh, | couldn't stand
that-poor sorry little father"
We'll, then, leave it all; leave the
place to the women, and good rid
dance, and come off with me. I'll send
one of the boys back with pack mule
for any plumber you want to bring
away, and you needn't ever see the
place again"
She nestled in his arms. feeling in
her grief the comfort of his tender
ness.
Yes, take me away now"
The big whips could be heard plain
ly, cracking like rife shots, and short
ly came the creaking and hollow
rumbling of the wagons and the cries
Of the teamsters to their siX-mule
teams. There were shouts and calls,
snatches of song from along the line
then the rafting of harness, and in a
cloud Of dust the train was beside
them, the teamsters sitting with
rounded shoulders up under the bowed
covers of the big wagons.
A hail came from the rear of the
train, and bronzed and bearded man
in leather jacket cantered up on
small pony.
Hello, there, Rool! I'm whoopin'
glad to see you.
He turned to the driver of the fore
most wagon.
"All right, boys! Well make lay.
by for noon"
Follett shook hands with him heart.
lily, and turned to Prudence.
This is my wife, Lew. Prudence,
this is Lew Steffins, our wagon mas
ter"
"Shoo, now!-you young cub-mar-
ried? Well, I'm right glad to see Mrs.
Rool Follett-and bless your heart, lit
tie girl"
did you stop back there at the set.
tlement?"
Yes; and they said you'd hit the
pike about dark last night, to chase
a crazy man. l told them I'd be back
with the whackers if l didn't find you
| was afraid some trouble was on, and
here you're only married to the sweet
est thing that ever-why, she's been
crying! Anything wrong?"
mo; never mind now, anyway.
We're going on with you, Lew"
Bully proud to have you. There's
that third wagon"
Gould l .ide in that?' asked the
girl, looking at the big, numbering con-
Veyance, doubtfully.
1T carried 5000 pounds of freight
to Los Angeles, little woman" an.
swered Stef1ns, promptly, and
guess you to heft over 20 or 80 at the
outside III have the box filled in
with spruce boughs and lot of nice
bunch grass, and put some comforts
over that, and you'll be snug and
tidy. You won't starve, either, not
while there's meat running"
And, say, Lew, she's got some stuff
back at that place. Let the extra hand
ride back with a blackjack and bring
it on. She'll tell him what to get"
Sure! Tom Callahan can CO."
And give US some grub, Lew. I've
hard'J had a bite since yesterday
NOR Iing."
An hour later, when the train was
nearly ready to start, Follett took his
wife to the top of the ridge and
showed her, little way below them.
the cedar at the foot of the sandstone
ledge He stayed back, thinking she