The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-11-24

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Continued From Yesterday
1t is dawn In the valley of the Sweet
water. The spring rains have fresh
ened the verdure of the plain. Clumps
of coarse grass fringe the rivers brink
Cacti and Spanish bayonets nod In the
morning breeze. which sweeps down
from the mountains. Yucca palms and
sahuaroes glisten with h dew. In the
distance rise the foothills rowne
with stunted live-oaks. On the horizon
tower the mountains, pine-clad to the
Underline, bare and desolate above.
The outfit of Sweetwater Ranch has
gathered for the roundup and the drive
to the railroad In the absence of her
husband, Echo Payson had assumed
complete charge of h ranch, and with
the help of Sagebrush had carried on
the work just as she thought Jack
would do, hoping against hope for his
return to safety. and hiding her sor-
row from those about her.
Under q olump of cottonwood, a
chuck-wagon mas halted. Many of the
boys on the roundup are still asleep,
the night herders returning to camp.
The cook has started his preparations
for breakfast. His Wagon has a COW
cred top like a prairie-schooner. the
tailboard has been lowered to form a
table, supported by rawhide straps.
About him are scattered tin cups and
kitchen utensils. A thin spiral of
smoke arises from the fire which has
been made in a shallow pit to prevent
a spread of flames. The pickering
flashes illumine the cooks face as he
bends over a steaming pot OF coffee,
and reveal the features of Parenthesis,
Parenthesis Is mixing dough in q
dish-pan set on the ~tail-board. Sage
brush kneels near him, putting on his
spurs, preparatory to saddling up as
he goes on the first relief.
wake up Texas and the other boys,
Fresno ordered Sagebrush. The Cali
fornian threw away the butt of his
cigarette and shook each man by the
shoulder. With much yawning and
rubbing of eyes the men crawled from
their sleeping bags. Dashing old
water INTO their faces from a basin
beside the water barrel, they drank cop
iously of the coffee which Parenthesis
poured out for them.
MOSTLY all the boys are in now, amt
they?' asked Parenthesis, looking abou
the group
yep" answered Sagebrush, well
finish brandin' the calves today. l
reckon Fresno will have to take charge
of the drive. I can leave the ranch
until Jack gets back"
Show Low was the only sleeper who
had not responded to Parenthesis's
all. That worthy walked over and
gave him a kick which brought forth
a grunt but no other sign of an awak-
ening. Returning to the fire, Paren-
theses took a tin cup and poured him
self out a cup of coffee.
Heard any word from him YETI" he
asked, as he gulped the beverage.
"Nothin'." replied S~agebrush grimly.
"Slim wrote from Fort Grant he was
on the trail, but the PEACHES were out
an they wouldn't let him leave the fort
till the soldiers went with him."
"Slim hadn't oughter gone and left
things the way he did. buck Mckee is
gettin' a lot of bad men together. and
lows he Is goin' to u for sheriff him
self" growled Fresno.
Hes sure got a tough outfit with
him; Slim being away amt dom us any
good. Al the rustlers from Texas an
New Mexico came trailin' into the
country just as soon as they heard he
was gone. Won't surprise me If we
have a run in with the bunch afore we
cit through with this roundup"
II got my eye on hat Peruna," in
terjected Fresno.
'Peruna! who's he?" asked Texas.
zone of Bucks outfit" answered
Fresno. HE is mighty slick with the
runnin'-iron and brandin' other folks
calves
1--WE can't be too careful" warned
S~agebrush. "'rhings is strained to the
Dustin point. and any promise of gun
play is going to set off a whole lot Of
fireworks"
Show Low was on the verge of wax
ing up. This he did, by gradually in
creasing the volume of each snore n
breaking it off with a whistle.
At the very moment S~agebrush sug-
gested gun play. Show Low snorted his
loudest.
whats that?" asked sagebrush,
grabbing his revolver.
"Show Low. He's a regular brass
band when he gets started-from the
big trombone down to the tin whistle"
laughed Fresno.
ITS a wonder he can sleep along
side of that noise"
"He can't" Fresno volunteered Hell
wake himself up in a minute. He's
off now"
The snores of Show Low grew more
frequent until he climaxed his accom-
paniment to sleep with one awful snort,
which awakened him. ETH, what's
that?' he yelled, as he bounded to a
sitting posture.
Didn't I tell you?" nueried Fresno.
~Sagebrush grinned and slowly arose,
gathering up his saddle and rope.