Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1907-11-21

| Little Loo had declared that ii
would not be Thanksgiving without a
turkey and her brother had "swiped.'
wEicE means taken without leave. his
fathers gun and started out to get her
enc. 1t was not exactly the place for
buying turkeys. as the family, with
all their worldly possessions, were in
the Indian Territory on their way to
Texas, where Ned had an uncle with
whom they expected to make their
home till their worldly prospects inn
proved.
Before starting he left for his
mother, who was just then acting as
sick nurse to his father, this note of
explanation:
Ned has gone to catch a turkey for
Loo. It's necessary"
His mother looked quickly into the
wagon and e glance at it's usual
place told her that her husbands
breech-loading shotgun was gone.
She looked where the horses were
picketed and found one missing. Their
only saddle and bride were absent
too. The poor worried mother turned
pale and cried little, but never said
word of the missing boy to her sick
husband. and succeeded in quieting
the too curious Loo. But the morning
passed slowly away and there was no
sign of either Ned or the turkey.
At early daybreak the lad had
slipped from his nest of blankets on
the ground beneath the wagon and
struggled out with a determined
heart. He had come to the conclusion
that this was one of the necessary
occasions on which he was to be al
lowed to leave the trail and prospect,
as 1t were, on his own account. Loo
was crying for proper Thanksgiving
dinner; he would try to give it to her
in some measure. His father could
not eat that coarse food; the white
breast of fat turkey would tempt
his appetite. There was no doubt this
was necessary occasion.
Far off on the never-ending plain he
rode on his fresh and willing horse,
the gun resting, both barrels loaded,
on the pommel before him. The chill
of the morning air was speedily soft
ened by the rays of warm sun. The
boy began to feel the real glory of the
plains as the wind swept past him
and the galloping hoofs of his horse
made music in his ear. His checks
flushed: his uncut hair floated behind
him; his eyes shone. and he shouted
with the novel delight. But he saw
no turkeys. If he had known more
he would have got up at night and
"potted" them from their roosts in
the branches Of the scanty trees-un.
sportsmanlike, but effective. Now
they were far abroad feeding. Ned
stopped shouting, but he did not halt
in his pursuit. At length his eager eye
noticed flutter amongst a clump OF
tall dead sunflowers and his Wyoming
learning taught him that these birds
were feeding on the fallen sunflowe1
seeds. but he did not want prairie
chicken; he wanted turkey. Once
again he looked and there was heavy
flutter and movement among the tail
sunflowers. They were turkeys
big covey. Shaking with excitement
the boy picketed his horse and crept
on foot near the busy birds. He was
afraid they would hear his hear
thump and take fright, but still he
got nearer and nearer with his fingel
on the trigger. Then an old wise
gobbler got alarmed when Ned wa.
within thirty yards and the cove!
started, half-running, half-fying in I,
great state of excitement. Ned fire,
almost blindly into the midst of them
both barrels. He saw somethin,
drop and ran to it. Turkey it was.
. whopper, and something was floppin
away among the sunflowers. Ned raj
to that and killed it with blow Of hi
gun. Two! He sat down and laughed
gleefully. Then he thoughtfully said
. Now, If only one could have been
: big mince pie, Loo would have beel
n happy"
Speedily he fastened bird on eacl
side of his saddle, and mounted to g
home. But that was easier said thai
;: done. His father had been right whel
he had warned him how easy it is t,
get lost on the plain. After half al
hours riding, and recognizing none O
the ground he had galloped over II
the morning. and after doubtfull
studying where his shadow had been
~~~Ae~~~~~~~~.~~