Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-03-06

baZoo Ike Il man pcddlinE soap, but
now it's w 10 YOU. What are you 60
Ing 10 ,lv about IT," and didn't get
any answer neither.
We'll. 1t was no use asking myself
conundrums out there In the dark
when time was so scarce So I wraps
my Handkerchief around I.addy's nose
TO keep him from talking horse to the
Injun mics and prepared to sneak to
where Id rather be-
Laddy was the quickest thing on legs
In that part Of the country-out Of
mighty spry little Pinto mare by our
thoroughbred Kentucky horse-and 1
knew IL I 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 l could show the whole
Sioux nation how 1 wore my hair.
cut for the place where the Injuns
seemed thinnest, lifting myself up till
didn't weigh fifteen pound and
breathing only when necessary. We
got along first rate until we reached
the edge Of 'enl, and then Laddy had
to stick his foot ir gopher hole and
walloped around there like whale
trying to climb a tree.
Some darn cuss Of an Injun threw n
handful Of hay on the fire, and as It
blazed up the whole gang spotted me.
unlimbered my gun. sent the irons
into Laddy, and we began to walk.
didn't like to make for the ranch, as
knew the boys were short handed. so
I pointed north, praying to the good
Lord that I'd hit come kind Of settle
ment before I 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 Us the trouble seemed all
, over I was just about to turn for the
ranch when I heard horses galloping,
| and as the moon came out a little i
| saw q whole raft Of redskins a-boiling
! up draw not half a mile away. That
knocked me slabsided. 1t looked like
l got the wrong ticket every time the
| wheel turned.
whOoped 1t up again. swearing l
wouldn't stop this deal short Of dead
| sure thing. We flew through space.
| Laddy pushing n hole in the air like
a scared coyote making for home and
| mother.
Always down the valley I spotted
little shack sitting all alone by itself
| out in the moonlight. headed for it.
| hOllering murder.
| \ nan came to the door in his un-
derrigging.
"Hi, there, What's eating your" he
yells.
| "Injuns coming. partlner! The cOun-
try's just Oozing Injuns! Better get
wiggle on your
| "All right-slide along. I'll kctch up
to yOu." says he.
looked back and saw him hustling
out with his saddle on his arm. lies
| a particular kind Of cuss," thought
Bareback would suit most people"
Taking 1t little easier for the next
couple Of miles, l gave him n chance
to pull up.
We pounded along without saying
anything for spell, when l happened
to notice that bis teeth were chatter
ing.
Keep your nerve up, pardner!" says
l. Don't you get scared-we've got q
good start on 'em."
He looked at ME kind of reprouch-
full
Scared be dcrnedw says he. ~
reckon II you was riding around this
nice cool night In your drawers. your
teeth 'ud rattle some too"
took q look Mt him and saw, sure
enough. while he had hat, coat and
boots on, the pants was missing. Well,
II II nnu peen the lasr act, I'd have had
to laugh.
Couldn't find 'em nOhow," says he.
Hunted high and low, jick, Jack and
the game-just comes to my mind now
that had 'em rolled up and was sleep
ing on 'em. l don't like to go around
this way-I feel as II W.: two men
and one Of 'em hardly respectable"
did you bring ii gun with your"
He gave me another stare. "Why,
pardner. you must think l have got
light and frivolous disposition" says
he. and with that lie heavcs up the
|
ers ever did see. 1t made my forty
five long look like something for kid
to cut Its teeth on. That's the best
gun in this country" he went Oh.
Looks as If 1t might be-" says l.
"Has the foundry that cast it gone out
Of business? I'd like to have one like
it, If It's rs dangerous az 1t looks"
when I have any trouble with
man." says he. II don't want to go
pecking at him with a putty blower,
just irritating him and giving him a
little skin complaint here and there I
want something that'll touch his con-
science"
He had 1t, for n broadside from that
battery would scatter an elephant over
a township.
We lOped along quiet and easy until
sun up. The Grindstone Buttes lay
about n mile ahead Of us. Looking
back. we saw the InJuns coming over
rise Of ground way In the distance.
"Now." says my friend. II know a
short cut through those hills that'll
bring us out at JOhnsons. They've got
enough punchers there to do the Unit
ed States army up-starched and blued.
Shall we take itT
Sure" says l. I'm only wander
ing round this part Of the country be-
cause this part Of the country Is here
If 1t was anywhcres else I'd be just
as glad"
So In We went. 1t was the steepest
and narrowest kind of canyon, look.
Ing as If 1t had been cut out Of the
rock with one crack Of the ak. l
was just thinking. Gee whiz, but this
would be poor place to get snagged
in." when bang! says a rifle right in
front Of us. and m-e-arr! goes the bull
let over our heads.
We were of them horses and behind
a couple Of chunks of rock sooner than
we hoped for. and that's saying a good
|