The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-04-19

preaching Oklahoma Belle, who stood
haughtily by the roadside with the re-
served, sad expression of one who has
Deen misunderstood. William Eazed
nonchdlantly nearby. The aide-de-
camp, seated in a bunch of cactus-of
which as yet he seemed oblivious-Was
rocking back and forth in the silent
agonized Contortions peculiar to one
who has stubbed his toe or struck his
funny bone. And, in truth, the aide
de-camp had a funny bone in every
joint But little Private Bill lay still
and motlonlesS, his brown eyes staring
vacantly up at the sky-he felt that
there was no use to move He was
convinced that he was dead
II was with the greatest difficulty
that the captain persuaded his demor-
allied command to continue the expe-
dition. Only by passionate exhorting
and sacred promise to ride in the rear
and keep William in a walk could he
prevail upon the aide-de-camp. Only
by threatening to leave him behind
alone on the prairie all night could he
move Private Bill.
SHUTDOWN was near when they
reached their destination for the night.
a small railroadless burg, wisely chosen
as safest from discovery Near a creek
skirting ii they decided to dismount
and take look at the place, leaving
the mounts to Craze; then return and
establish camp. With eclat the can
tain hobbled William; with ire Okla
hOma Belle. The process was new to
both animals, and to Belle was dis
tasteful as well. The aide-de-camp
suggested attaching her to a tree in
stead, but the captain scorned such an
unmilitary proceeding.
only street, the captain swaggeringIv.
the aide-de-camp stiffly. Private Bin
still more stiffly. The captain SURVEYED
the city with the critical air of an out
of-town guest. He spat judiciousIy.
/ Bum town." he remarked
They passed the blacksmith shop.
the livery stable. the grocery, the bank.
Adjoining the bank stood the most pre-
tentious structure the street presented.
Across its front it bore the legend
Royal cafe" from il issued the odor
of coffee and cabbage. Private Bill
pegging alphabetically in the rear. sud-
denly began to take notice.
"Whenre we gOin' to have supper?"
he inquired interestedly.
A startled look came into the cam
tain's eye. The plans for the commits
sary department had been pleasantly
indefinite. Nineteen cents had been
appropriated for original supplies. thew
had an air-gun and fishing tackle-and
the Lord provides.
But there had been no time for prov
ess of rod or gun as yet, the shower of
mamma had evidently been belated. and
the only things of sustenance the com
mssariat boosted were three battered
ginger cookies, taken from home bv
the aide-de-camp, and cents worth of
unground cOffee-the mince pie, all
day-suckers, and popcorn bricks Dur
chased with the remainder OF the ap-
preparation having been consumed.
with the optimism Of youth. at the
midday repast. With a queer feeling
at the pit of his stomach the captain
realized these facts.
oh. keep still. faint suppertime
yet" he snapped irritably.
But whatre we goin' to have when
Ii tsp" persisted Private Bill. There
amt nothin' left We ct it all up"
Along the horizon the west light on
an Oklahoma September evening
famed gorgeously. The sun rolled
down through it in that big, awful,
mighty way that always made one feel
such a little boy even when one was
going to have chicken for supper and
sleep in a house when ii got dark, with
cle's mother in the next room. Some