Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-22

a jar to find myself right in the mid de of old Frosthead's gang, the drums bloom blipping" and those forty odd red tigers "hyah-hyahing" in a style that made my skin get up and walk all over me with cold feet.
 How In blaZes I'd managed to slip through those Injuns I don't know. 'Twould have been wonderful piece of scouting if I'd meant it. You can most always do any darn thing you don't want to do. Well, there I was, and, oh, doctor, but wasn't in q love ly mess! That war song put crimp into me that Jack Frost himself couldn't take out.
 It was as dark as dark by this time. The moon just stuck one eye over the edge of the prairie, and the rest of the sky was covered with cloud. A little light came from the Injuns' campfire, but not enough to ride by, and, be- sides, I didn't know which way I ought to go.
 Says to myself, Billy Saunders, you are the champion all around, old fash toned fool of the district. You are a l jackass from the country where ears less'n three foot long are curiosities. You sassed that poor swatty that want ed to keep you out of this, footing your bazoo like man peddling soap, but now it's up to you. What are you go- ing to do about it?" and I didn't get any answer neither.
 Well, it was no use asking myself cOnundrums out there in the dark when time was so scarce. So wraps my hankercher around Laddy's nose to keep him from talking horse to the Injun >nies and prepared to sneak to where I'd rather be.
 Laddy was the quickest thing on legs in that part of the country-out of a mighty spry little Pinto mare by our thoroughbred Kentucky horse-and I knew if I could get to the open them Injuns wouldn't have much of a chance to take out my stopper and examine my works-not much. A half mile start, and I could show the whole Sioux nation how wore my hair.
 cut for the place where the Injuns seemed thinnest, lifting myself up till didn't weigh fifteen pound and breathing only when necessary. We got along first rate until we reached the edge of 'em, and then Laddy had to stick his foot in a gopher hole and walloped around there like a whale trying to climb tree. Some darn cuss of an Injun threw a handful of hay on the fire, and as it blazed up the whole gang spotted me. I unlimbered my gun, sent the irons into Laddy, and we began to walk.
 didn't like to make for the ranch, as I knew the boys were short handed, so I pointed north. praying to the good Lord that I'd hit some kind of settle ment before I struck the north pole.
 Well, we left those Injuns so far be- hind that there wasn't any fun in it. slacked up, batting myself on the back, and as the trouble seemed all over I was just about to turn for the ranch when I heard horses galloping. and as the moon came out little l saw a whole raft of redskins a-boiling up a draw not half a mile away. That knocked me slabsided. It looked like got the wrong ticket every time the wheel turned.
 I whooped it up again. swearing I wouldn't stop this deal short of dead sure thing. We flew through space, Laddy pushing a hole in the air like q scared coyote making for home and mother.
 Always down the valley spotted little shack sitting all alone by itself out in the moonlight. I headed for 1t, hollering murder.
 A man came to the door in his un- derrigging.
 Hi, there! What's eating youT' he yells.
 "Injuns coming. pardner. The couE- try's just oozing Injuns. Better get wiggle on yOu"'
 "All right-slide along. I'll ketch up to yOu." says he.
 looked hack and saw him hustling out with his saddle oa his arm. Hes a particular kind of cuss." I thought. Bareback would suit most people"
 Taking it a little easier for the next couple of miles, I gave him a chance to pull up.
 We pounded along without saying anything for a spell. when I happened to notice that his teeth were chatter ing.
 Keep your nerve up. pardner" says |. Don't you get scared-we've got a good start on 'em."
 He looked at me kind of repro1ch- full
 Scared be derned-7 says he. "T reckon if you was riding around this nice cool night in your drawers, your teeth 'ud rattle some too"
 took a look at him and saw. sure enough. while he had hat. coat and boots on, the pants was missing. We'll. II HId Deen me last acr, TQ nave mad tO iauGA.
 Couldn't find 'em nohow," says he. Hunted high and low. jIck. Jack and tie game-tust comes 10 my mind now that had 'em rolled up and was sleep ing on 'em- I don't like to go around this way-I feel as if I was two men and one of 'em hardly respectable"
 Did you bring a gun with youT
 He gave me another stare Why. partner. yOu must think have got light and frivolous disposition says he, and with that he hasves up the ereat cran1uucIa of all tbe six shoot