The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-19

reproached. "You ought to slute 'n' say--'
 It will never be known what they ought to have said, for ere he finished the cap tains jaw dropped. His gaze fixed af- frightedly on a nearby hill, down which was lowing red-geared buggy drawn by roan horse travelling at lively gait "It's papa, kidsr' he gasped He's after mel" He looked wildly about. Make fer the crick," he commanded. An abandoned road led to creek to the right Into this he urged William, who responded gallantly. A short distance along however, the bundle of commls-
 sary supplies fastened to the saddle loos- ened. As it bobbed about 1t ticlSled spot on Williams back-a spot which he great ly enjoyed having ticlxled, and of which treatment he was accustomed to show his l appreciation by bucking in the most vi- vacious manner. He now exhibited no abatement either of appreciation or vi- , vacity. Every step his short gray legs shot up and out as far as his archltec- ture would permit All this made Oklaho-
 ma Belle think the situation needed strep-
 uous effort. She started a going.
 Her lengthy limbs stretched out. The dirt flew. Every time her riders yelled '.Whoa" she gave a tremendous hump,
 seemingly in emulation of Williams airy rear movements. Shortly she was at Williams heels. and they reachec tle descent to the creek. It was precipitous slope corrugated with yashouts. Below rolled the creeH,
 spanned by six loose, routed blanks.
 It was a terrifying prospect, and as the Aid de Camps staring eyes restso Ipon it he cast pride to the elements
 and enfolded Belle's neck This rem
 dered Private Bills position extreme iv hazardous, necessitaing an almost Horizontal attitude for him and de- priving him of what assistance had been vouchsafed him by the grasp or ilis brief legs on Belle's ribs. He con- sidered it dastardly act on the part Of the Aid de Camp, and as Belle with a mighty hump took the first wash out Private Bill, resolving to expire revenged buried his teeth in the de Camps back with a vehemence that left marks for days.
 With a howl of agony and despair ing cry after his leader, "Oh, Gee, Kid. stop your mule! Oh Gee, Kid. stop your mulew the Aid de Camp clapped a hand to his shoulder, imperiling his hold just as Belle took another gully. Immediately the air surrounding Belle was a whirlwind of human limos. I riyate Bills fat little form with the Aid de Camp for a pivot, described circle, then shot off Into space. The Aid de Camp, legs waving heavenward. clung to Belle's mane for some horrify- ing seconds in way that would have done him credit in a wild west show. Then Belle bumped herself again. Five minutes later the captain, hay ing ascended the opposite slope befor" 1x, To tt,a Aid de Camps appeal-from whence he saw that the roan horse had turned in at a farm house and that the rs- xemblance to the paternal equipage he mad fancied was but the Illusion of q disordered conscience-was seductively approaching Oklahoma Belle, who stood haughtily by the roadside with the reserved, sad expression of one who has been misun1ei stood. William gazed nonchalantly near by. The Aid de Camp, seated in 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 strucx his funny bone. And in truth De Aid de Camp had a funny bone in evry ,oint But little Private Bill lay still and motionless his brown eyes star | ing vacantly up at the sky-he felt that there was no use to move. -Ic was .nvinced that he was dead.
 | It was with the greatest difficulty 1 that the Captain persuaded his demor- alized command to continue the expe- dition. Only by passionate exhortinr 1 and sacred promise to ride in the rear and keep William in walk could he prevail upon the Aid de Camp. Only | bv threatening to leave him behind alone on the prairie all night could l he move Private Bill
 Shutdown was near when they reached l their destination for the night, small ] railroadless burg, wisely chosen as safest 1 from discovery. Near a creek skirting 1t I they decided to dismount and take a. 1 look at the place, leaving the m0lnts to graze; then Jeturn and establish camp With eclat the Captain hobbled William; with ire Oklahoma Belle. The process was new to both animals, and to Belle was l distasteful as we'll The Aid de Camp suggested attaching her to tree in- stead, but the Captain scorned such an unmilitary proceeding.
 They sauntered up the main and only l street, the Captain swaggeringly, the Aid | de Camp stiffly, Private Bill still more stiffly. The Captain surveyed the city with the critical air of an out-of-town guest He spat judiciously. Bum town" he remarked.
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