Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-08-06
ottumwa, Iowa,

liiAl5 sol lue WONDER OF the eternal
mystery was numbing his spirit. The
sick woman's means grew fainter, only
the cry of the babe persistently reach
ed him.
At last the missionary came to him:
Nat-u-ritch was asleep; he would so.
he explained. and hurry along Ne
Indian woman who was coming with
Big Bill to the ranch The ory Of the
child seemed to become more pitiful.
Jim tiptoed to the door Of the inner
room. On the cot lay Nat-u-ritch. He
softly crossed to the small bundle Of
life rolled in the blanket and lifted it
in his arms. The warm. appealing
little body lay limp against him. He
began swaying to and fro until the
| Cry grew fainter. Soon the babe slept
but Jim still stood rocking his son n
his strong arms.
CHAPTER XIX.
One year slipped into another, until
five had passed since the birth Of
Jim's son Hal. The cattle did we'll and
Ill by turns but mostly III. The trusts
were making their iron paws felt by
the grasp in which they held the
ENTHUSIASTICALLY debating their
|
augmented the disaster Of .im's ven
lures. Without repining he fought on,
with only great-hearted Bills advice
and confidence to help him through
the wearing time.
Green River, which had been the ex
cuse for Carston's ranch, was in low
spirits this sizzling summer afternoon.
Throughout the long day the allkali
| n ino hn1 lid
Inc sun, until the entire place lay
covered with heavy powder of dust.
Even the struggling scrub-oak and
natures imitation Of asbestos, SO per.
sistently were they radiating the heat
OF the past week. The abode stable
glared at the low abode dwelling
opposite. Neither gave evidence of
ANY life within. A decrepit wagon
with It's tongue lo1ling out lay like a
tired dog before the stable. beside It
was heaped the dusty double harness
with its primitive msnding OF rope
and buckskin, while near the house a
disordered hummock Of pack-saddles
and camp outfits further increased
the disorder of the place An unsteady
bench. holding to tin basin, a dipper,
and bucket Of water, and solitary
towel on a nail near by, we're the sole
tributes to civilization.
Big Bill, whose eyes were accustom.
ed to the place seemed Indifferent 10
the unsDeakable desolation of the
ranch. He sat on log that lay be-
fore the door of the hut and was used
for social intercourse or wood splitting.
He was intent on braiding strands OF
op {of, !, - =
I by little Hal, who had grown into a
winsome little lad and was the pet Of
all the men and his fathers constant
companion.
Across the river, towards. the west,
the same desolation met the eye.
Even the sagebrush and gcrub-oal,
seemed to have abandoned life in des.
pair, and the Bad Lands Stretched life.
less to the foothills of the snow.cap.
ped Uinta peaks. Even more poignant
than the cruel ugliness Of the place
was the feeling that the great gaunt
bird of failure brocded over the en-.
tire ranch.
AS Bill clumsily twisted the braid
the child eagerly watched him.
| rs It for me, sure. Bill?" he asked,
as he slid close to the big fellow
| CD. Oiu Ildjl. Dill answered. dS NGs
stopped to pat the dark head. "This X
going to be for you. and there amt
any old cow-puncher can beat Bill
making quirt. No. Stree"
While he talked lightly to the child
his mind was busy with unpleasant
thoughts The boys were about 10
strife for their money. Their wage
had been overdue for some time. anil
! fhn hpc an J,f,r i, ~ (.
disease among the cattle. had been
unable to satisfy them So far there
had been no outbreak, but Bill expect
ed 1t every moment.
For days Jim had hardly spoken.
That there was some important deci.
lsion about to be made by him. Bill
guessed. He sat and played with the
child but in reality this was only a
ruse by which he might keep close 10
the place and await developments.
| From down the road he could hear the
men coming and calling to him but he
! the strands and steadied little Halls
holding the quirt
Shorty was the first to arrive. carry
ling his Mexican saddle and lariat. On
1 his diminutive face was stamped an
4 aggressive pugnacity He was follow
ed by ANDY: Grouchy slouched in lar
whiting at piece Of wood. AS Bill
surveyed them he knew that they had
been talking things over and had ar.
rived at some ccnc'-eion. They had
been good worfo-s :, their time with
him. and he knew or-en now. at heart,
that thev were not bad. but that life
had tried them severely with its fail
ures. There was moments silence
then Shorty as he flung himself down
on the bench. said:
Say. Bill, s'pose you know the
boys is gettin' nervous bout their
money, don't your"
Bill just looked up, and then went
! on with his work as he answered,
] "To.morrow's payday He would not