The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1908-04-22
"Was twas 1t Matthews?"

Complete bewilderment spoke from
Lancaster's wide open eyes and mouth.
He whirled about upon the evangelist |
and seized the reins. Shadrach came |
to a squatting stop, his ears turning |
round to catch a command. "Thet's it! |
Thet's it, cried the section boss. AN
how d. you know?"
The two men looked at each other in
silence. Lancaster's face was dark
with distrust; David Bonds pale with
alarm.
"HowT exclaimed the latter, when
his tongue at last answered his WILL
How? Because Matthews came north
with me yesterday"
If Shadrach possessed the sense his
master claimed for him he must have
concluded then and there that the hui
man beings in the pung had gone
stark mad. For after some excited
shouting. the one to the other, they
brought him square about and sent
him scurrying back toward Brannon.
They did not retrace their way. but
steered due south. thus saving the few
miles that could take them again
through Clark's. Shadrach approved
the change in direction. which pointed
to snug corner beside the friendly
bull calf, and fairly skinned the hard
snow. He had already gone forty long
niles since morning. Yet. undaunted.
he took up the return with good zest.
holding a smart pace unwearily. He
breathed deep. and his long Roman
fhrnCf
rocking back-smoked like an eager
chargers.
In the first half hour that followed
the evangelists disquieting admission
he listened to a wild, profane TRADE
against himself for having failed to
speak of Matthews, against Dallas for
being in such tarnal hurry, against
Lounsbury on general principles. The
section boss found only one person
wholly exempt from blame--himself.
So he cursed, threatened, he wrung
his hands, he grabbed a crutch and
leaning forward, poked the straining
TANKS of the white horse.
Gentle, gentle" admonished David
Bond. HE goes fastest who goes
steadily. l have driven Shadrach nine
| ty miles in twenty-five hours. And II
we are patient with him now he will
get us home by reveille."
But Lancaster only groaned un-
gratefully and continued to ply the
crutch.
| On they went AS the short day
ended and darkness came they steered
farther to the left, for there was a
possible danger of pitching over the
river bank. When they approached
the coulee the same peril again met
them. Shadrach, however, insured
them against accident He struck his
own trail and knew it. At once he
quickened his speed, pulling the reins
taut. Behind him his master, though
utterly wearied, kept awake to, watch
their course and commend him kindly.
Not so che section boss. His anger
finally spent, he put up his crutch and
made himself comfortable. Then, sway
ing as the pung swayed, he slept.
Far away at Fort Brannon the coun-
ell was at an end. Lanterns were
whiskinR to and fro like giant light.
ming bugs about the long garrison
slanaty anu tie quoh eei nuoseei anu
commissary warehouse, where wag-
ons were being loaded with tents, am.
munition, rations and forage-enough
for sixty days. The library window
at headquarters was bright. Colonel
Cummings and a surgeon were re
spectively commanding and persuad
ing young Jameson to await his moth.
er and sister at the post. Nick Mat