Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-09-25

killed his mules and used up a dozen
oxen Ole smiled at their simplicity
and told them they didn't know what
Norwegian mules could do on land.
Ole followed the olt trail over to
Richland and met with some trouble
on "measly Brule Creek marsh. "
where he began mixing brush with
mud. He had bad time getting
north OF Richland and made fair time
until he struck the famous Pattee
slough or as some called it ''profanity
nat.' Ole went in all right but the
mules loved water and wanted to take
a bath lie finally got the mules out
by building a bit of corduroy. FraZe
Gilman heard Ole's lecture to the
mules and came over to see if Buck
w Wheelock hadn't turned preacher.
Fraze had a helping-hand heart full
of human kindness and with 10 oxen
got Ole's safe on firm ground. Things
went fairly we'll until Ole reached the
Beaver below Canton where ne cut
brush for two days and then the big
mules made dash across. Ole talk
ed kindly to the mules and got them
out but he consigned the safe to an
awfully hot country. Capt. Harlan,
Bill Cuppett and John Hewitt got al
the horses in town and a few oxen
and pulled Charlie Howard's big safe
out of the mud. Mr.. Hegge rested
two days in Canton and fed his mules
for the last dash. At nine mile creek
Ole found little water and good bot
tom and he passed along full of hope
but short of cash, but with plenty of
grit and broken ropes and busted log
chains. He reached the river at
Sioux Falls and examined the ford
carefully as there was no bridge, in
fact there was only one bridge across
the Sioux at that time and that was
the Moody governments structure near
Sioux City.
Ole gave the mules all the water
they could drink before making the
last and final dash for victory hoping
they would have no desire for bath
in crossing, but in this he was sadly
disappointed. just as ne reached the
middle of the river the mules stopped
and wanted to enjoy refreshing bath
and then OleS patience busted wide
open. "Lie down and drown you dod-
gasted sons of Missouri" said Ole as
he climed down off the wagon and
waded ashore. "Drown you meaSly
long cared imps of Darkness" said
Ole as he turned and walked up to-
wards Howard s store on Phillips Ave-
nue..
"Hello, Ole, where's the safe?"
shouted Howard as the safe hauler
entered the store.
Ole sat down and looked at Howard
for half a minute wiping the water
and mud from a face that was child
like and bland, but full Of suppressed
emotion.
where's the safe you, measly dried
I'D Yankee?" You want to know
where it is do you? Well, its in the
river and | hope it and the long-eared
asses are half way to China by this
time" as he pulled off boot full of
water and threw it at one Of Charities
bird dogs.
"The safes down here in the river
and l hope it's on top Of the blasted
mules" and then Charlie roared.
Howard got a bunch Of oxen and
hauled the mules and wagon and safe
across and up to the store and there
was a peaceful glance in Ole'S eyes as
he looked the mules over and found
them alive.
Charlie Howard paid Ole 800. and
set 'em up like prince and wanted
to know how he liked the job. ''JOb,
said Ole, II wouldn't haul that big
chunk of iron back to Sioux City for
$1,000, and then he fed the mules and
went down to see if he could find a
bed in Harry Corsons little Cata-
ract.
THAT was the worst dose L ever
got in all my freighting," said Mr..
Hegge last Saturday in the Corner
Drug Store as he asked the editor to
smoke. Il hauled the first safe for
Lincoln county" said Ole, but it
was easy money and a small box in
comparison to HOWard's.
MY son, Henry, is running the old
hom estead down in Highland and my
other son will soon have charge of my
Fairview farm, because I'm going to
move to Canton where fish are cheap
and game wardens sleep, and he smif-
ed a smile of contentment as he
glanced into the future.