The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-08-16
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BALKY BURRO.
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BY Herbert F. Coolidge.

from the timber and shouted the
words simultaneously.
1.-TWO men, ladies? Which way
from, and what like are they?
zones a tall, Mexican-looking fel-
low" replied the youth. His pard-
ner is stubby and red-headed, the same
two that the Vigilantes chased cut OF
camp-and there hasn't been any
sluice-box robbing since"
"They offered us SIS for Donk'
added the youngster.
and you refused it?" said the
mother. severely, but with eyes twink
ling.
"A thousand dollars in gold would
not touch our Donll," ayerred the
youngster
The elder brother nodded his firm
approval Of the small boys remark,
then queried, What do you suppose
those toughs are shopping around try
ing to buy burros for. mother?
They want to rush to Coarse Gold
Creek with the rest of the ninnies !
reckon. Or If they're the sluiee-Dox
robbers, maybe it's a cache OF gold
they've come for. But jump down from
that thousand-dollar Donk of yours
both of you, and get ready for sup
per"
Early the next morning the youth
with his fathers rifle on his shoulder
and the youngster carrying Donk 5
bride, went up the canon through the
deserted camp. Donk was needed 10
drag a log to the wood pile, and II a
squirrel could be knocked from pine
top the bacon would last just so much
longer
The burro was nowhere to be found;
but at the company's corral, his favor
lite haunt, the boys came upon tracks
-Donk's tracks, and tracks made by
long, French-heeled boots and short
wide, hobnailed shoes
They've stolen him. said the youth,
sorrowfully, and the youngster began
to cry.
Go back and tell mother I've gone
after Donk, said the youth.
Tm going with you--after Donk, >
declared the youngster, suddenly dry
ing his tears and setting his jaws with
a decision which his brother accepted
as final
Along the dusty trail up the canon
they followed the tracks. They were
covered by the lace-like tracings Of
creatures that crawl by night.
"Theyve hours the start" observed
the grave youth, sternly
The trail divided at sluice Valley,
and the tracks and the trailers turned
northward. About the middle Of the
forenoon the youngster broke a long
silence. He had need Of all his breath,
for he had to walk very fast, when
not trotting to keep up with his
brother
But Donl will balll, said he, not
very hopefully. 'Donl always balks,
and nobody but us knows our system. y
Hes travelling right along" the
youth replied, impassively.
An hour later when the youngster
had fallen some distance behind, the
youth again broke the silence:
Feet gettin' sore. brother?'
"Ye--no, not very
Hungry"
"You bet Good and hungry"
Were getting a good piece from
home, and Donk is still travelling
right along Maybe you'd better go
back and tell mother where I've
gone.
The youngster promptly closed the
gap between him aud his brother, I'm
going with you-after Donk
About noon the trail l0st Sluice
Valley and began switch-backing up
ridge And at the foot Of the switch
back the trailers found signs Of much
trampling. Donks tracks, the front
rims cutting sharp half-circles. were
everywhere Inc French-heeled boots
and the hobnailed shoes had scraped
and slid MS if from much pulling and
hauling. A little farther on they found
in the dust the mold of shaggy
coated, outstretched burro.
"Goody!" cried the youngster.
"Donks balked!"
Then from mp the mountain came q
mufiled whack whack whack! And
the youngster shuddered and almost
cried. for he remembered how Donk
had looked when first they bought him
"a sorely beaten burro that had
baked.
With beating hearts the brothers
stole upward through the timber. They
gained the first ascent, and there on
the backbone of low, brushy ridge
between two gullies. they saw a tall
Mexican, and a stunted, red-haired
man mauling the burro.