Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-09


cellar, down comes the roof atop of
me. So it was this day. Old Johnny
Hardluck socked it, to me, same as
usual.
Gosh almighty! The liquor died in
me after awhile. and l went sound
asleep in the saddle and woke up with
jar to find myself right in the mid
die of old Frosthead's gang, the drums
boom dipping and those forty odd
red tigers ''hyah-hyahing' In a style
that made my skin get up and walk
all over me with cold feet.
How in blazes I'd managed to slip
through those Injuns l don't know
'Twould have been a wonderful piece
of scouting IL I'd meant It. You can
most always do any darn thing you
don't want to do. Well. there l was,
and, oh. doctor, but wasn't In love
ly mess! That war song put q crimp
into me that Jack Frost himself
couldn't take out
1t was as dark as dark by this time.
The moon just stuck one eye over the
edge of the prairie, and the rest of the
sky was covered with cloud. A little
light came from the Injuns' campfire,
but not enough to ride by. and. be-
sides, didn't know which way I
ought to go.
Says TO myself, 'Billy Saunders. you
are the champion ali around. old fash
Toned fool of the district. You are q
jackass from the country where ears
less'n three foot long are curiosities.
You sassed that poor swatty that want
ed to keep you out of this, footing your
baZoo like q man peddling soap, but
now it's up to you. What are you go
ing to do about it?" and / didn't get
any answer neither
Well, it was no use asking myself
conundrums out there in the dark
when time was so scarce. So wraps
my Handkerchief around Laddy's nose
to keep him from talking horse to the
Injun >nies and prepared-to sneak to
where I'd rather be.
Laddy was the quickest thing on legs
In that part of the country-eut Of a
mighty spry little Pinto mare by our
thoroughbred Kentucky horse-and I
knew if l could get to the open them
Injuns wouldn't have much OF chance
to take out my stopper and examine
my works-not much. A half mile
start, and 1 could show the whole
Sioux nation how | wore my hair.
I cut for the place where the Injuns
seemed thinnest. lifting myself up till
l didn't weigh fifteen pound and
breathing only when necessary. We
got along first rate until we reached
the edge of 'em. and then Laddy had
to stick his foot in a gopher hole and
walloped around there like a whale
trying to climb tree.
Some darn cuss of an Injun threw q
handful of hay on the fire, and as 1t
blazed up the whole gang spotted me.
l unlimbered my gun. sent the irons
into Laddy. and we began to walk.
didn't like to make for the ranch, as
l knew the boys were short handed. SO
pointed north, praying to the good
Lord that I'd hit some kind of settle
| ment before struck the north pole.
Well. we left those Injuns so far be
| hind that there wasn't any fun in It
I Stacked up, patting myself on the
| back, and as the trouble seemed ali
| over I was just about to turn for the
ranch when I heard horses galloping
| and as the moon came out a little
saw q whole raft of redskins a-boilins
up a draw not half a mile away. THAI
knocked me slabsided. 1t looked like
l got the wrong ticket every time the
| wheel turned.
| 1 whooped It up again, swearing
wouldn't stop this deal short of dead
sure thing We flew through space
| lady pushing a hole in the air Xix,
a scared coyote making for home ant
mother.
Always down the valley I spotted
little shack sitting all alone by itsel
out in the moonlight. headed for ii
hollering murder.
| A man came to the door In his TN
derrigging.
Eli, there! What's eating you?" h
yells.
"Iniuns coming. pardner! The coun
try's just oozing Injuns! Better get
wiggle on your
"All right-slide along. I'll ketch III
to you," says he.
/ looked back and saw him hustlin
out with his saddle on his arm. He
a particular kind Of cuss,' l thought
Bareback would suit most people,"
Taking 1t a little easier for the mex
couple of miles, gave him a chanc
to pull up.
We pounded along without sayin
anything for spell, when 1 happene,
to notice that his teeth were chattei
ing.
1 Keep your nerve up, pardnerr say
1. Don't you get scared-we've got !.
good start on EN-
He looked at me kind of reproacf
full
I Scared be dernedr' says he. %
reckon IL you was riding around thi
nice cool night in your drawers, you
teeth 'ud rattle some too''
/ took a look at him and saw, sur
' enough, while he had hat, coat an
boots on, the pants was missing. Wei
II it had been the last act, I'd have ha'
to laugh.
Couldn't find 'em nohow," says hi
| &<,I ;axg. La 4s<i- In IN