The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-03-26

of the trail. The horses, which had
been attached 10 it browsed upon the
weeds
\ campfire had been started beside
the wagon. and near it. his hands hold
ing his head and his elbows on his
knees. was a flannel shirtcd and TN
kempi iran
lie did not look up until the boys
called to him. and then he raised n
Worn, anxious. hopeless face
Anything the natter" Joe asked
Yes. something's the matter. It's
thc little one" He motioncd toward
the wagon
sick" asked joe
yes, and maybe dying. Eve come
for days from the west. calculating to
take the child home to the old folks in
Missouri, but the little codger couldn't
stand the journey"
The boys slipped to the ground and
by the light OF the fire approached the
back part of the wagon They drew
aside the cover and let the freight
into the interior.
A child hardly more than a baby was
moaning on the bed Of straw within.
Cant We help you?" asked Joe anx-
lousy.
Il don't know. I've tried to find a
doctor, but l don't seem to make out
Maybe the folks are afraid of me- Any
how they don't seem 10 want me
around, and now I've clean lost my
way"
IN tell you what Wei do" said Joe,
Wen take you home. Papa can doc
tor people"
But the harness, Joe:' said Give.
That's 50. l forgot it. Well, I'll
tell you-you drive home with the man,
and III go to the store. I amt afraid
In a few minutes the emigrant was
on the road toward the Mangold cabin
with Give While Joe, his courage just
a little weakened by he appearance Of
the still darkening sky. was riding rap
idly in the other direction.
MY goodness, who's this" exclaim-
ed the storckeeper as he was putting
up the blinds Of the lonely prairie store
for the night He could hardly believe
his eyes when the young rider pre-
scented himself.
And you've come all this way
alone?" he said when he had heard
Joe's story. well, my boy, you must
be a good one. Look here, I'm going
home with you"
He put on his overcoat and wrapped
a shawl about the slender boys shout
ders.
Come" he said, picking up a bundle
which Joe thought was certainly too
large to contain nothing more than the
piece Of harness, lets go"
Together they mounted the horse,
and through the falling rain the two
rode on mile after mile, the steady
swish of the horses feet through the
dead grass being the only sound to
break the stiffness of the night
At last the faint light in the cabin
of the Mangolds shone across the plain,
and few moments afterward the
storckeeper and the boy had entered
the house.
L tell you what" said the storekecp-
er the next evening when a group of
settlers had gathered about his fire, "it
wasn't a pleasant sight There was
the baby moaning and suffering, while
the little woman was trying to com
fort it. Over IN the other corner was
Mangold himself"
THE old man, eh:' said the squire,
"He's sick, boys-pretty sick. He's
been Il kind Of doctor in the east, but
was ordered out here for his health
He hasn't been able to go about any
since be came, and his brave little wife
and the two boys have looked after ev-
erythinG."
"That's it, eh?"
Yes And, besides that, out of all
of Us they were the ones to take care
of the camper The poor fellow was
about discouraged, and it was a god