Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-09

UNet tutlli, nc sun utNOutIys ne
hold, he that keepcth Israel shall nei-
Their slumber nor Sleep"
The section boss shifted. Sure Of tho
safe trend of his affairs he was in
mood to scott at any religious alluslon
Reverence with him was entirely n
matter Of urgent physical need He
had called to his Maker but twice in
his life-once when an ugly tempered
peon threatened him with spade,
again when, falling from his swiftly
moving fat car, he felt the heavy
wheels grinding him flesh and bone
storm KANT tech tn shack" he
said proudly. shes built like ship.
Z stan any win. She's warm, too,
an tibet Injun he brings us plenty Of
wood An they g grub 'nough t.
las"
The evangelist was politely atten-
tive.
They s ies one man tibet might
come botherin' EN-" Lancaster went
on. but faint likely he'll see these
parts before spring. An All don
b'lieve he'll come them
David Bond set his brows together.
ht BltN NUS iliSHl an ubohuIcu
thought had made him pause n second
before leaving Dallas. Now that
thought became suspicicn-a sus-
picion Of the real truth. "A MANI" he
said questioningly. "a MANI
Being thus prompted on the subject
of the claim, Lancaster was willing to
proceed, for he had no feeling that he
was obeyng Dallas. "Ah'm speakin'
Of a man tibet filed on my section in
July" he said. Ills six months is up
tday. So All reckon he'll hev { work
new piece of track. For All inten' t.
hang on t tibet quarter-it's goin' t.
be worth a pile"
The evangelist threw him swift
glance. What is the name of that
man, he asked.
"Ah dunno. All clean gone an f'got
It. All ought - wrote it down
"Would you know it If you heard
IT."
ivy, yes-'twas some ornery name"
"Was twas it Matthews?'
Complete hewilderment spoke from
Lancaster's wide open eyes and mouth.
He whred about upon the evangelist
to a sQuatting stop. his ears turning
round to catch command. "Thets it.
Thet's it, cried the section boss. AN
now d you know"
The two men looked Mt each other in
silence. LanCasters face was dark
with distrust; David Bonds pale with
alarm.
How" 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
10 n snug corner beside the friendly
bull calf and fairly skinned the hard
miles since morning. Yet. undaunted.
he took up the return with good zest.
holding a smart pace unwearily. He
breathed deep. and his long Roman
nose-thrust out on a line with his
rocking back-smoked like an eager
chargers.
In the first half hour that followed
the evangelist's disquietng admission
he listened to 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 crutch and,
leaning forward, poked the straining
tanks of the white horse.
Gentle, gentle" admonished David
Bond. "IIe goes fastest who goes
steadily. ! have driven Shadrach nine
ty miles in twenty-five hours. And if
we are patient with him now he will
get us home by reveille."
But Lancaster only groaned I'M
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 1t. At once he
qulckened 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 the 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
whsking to and fro like giant light