The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-08-03


which had been told him by the many
had interviewed en- route He had OF.
dered the blackboard to be ready at
dawn, and now he exhorted French
Mike to make all haste
The managing director was a tall.
thin man, with elementary side-whis~
kers; he wore pongee helmet, and
before the blackboard had gone mile
he offered to present similar head
dress to the driver French Mike OBJ
served that the Toys Whereabouts were
to handy with gun for him to take
any such risks. This depressed Mr..
Chichester, and he did not revive I'M
til they encountered the blum which
skirted the-bottomlands of Medicine
Creek The conveyance pitched like
| a cat-boat in a ude-rip; and French
Mike dashed the jumping horses and
talked with them vigorously. When
level ground was reached. Mr.. Chi
about him Then he rubbed his eyes
again. Well might he do so.
| Resplendent in the solitude of the
plain stood an enormous rosewood
bedstead, and on the wire mattress
lay two young men, wrapped In blan-
kets and in slumber. stately dress
ing-table had been pressed into duty
for culinary purposes and sustained
| some slices of cold bacon and bat
tered coffee pot. A brocaded easy
chair had been overturned in order to
protect a pair of saddles from the
downfall of dew
French Mike surveyed the spectacle
in hush OF profound awe, but Brice
Chichester was more curious John
Herren poked his head out of the
blankets when the blackboard ratified
alongside
'Good-morning." began Mr. Chiches-
ter politely You seem comfortable
here"
Sure" said He1ren This yere is
the Powder River outfit of the Double
X ranch Drive on" and he prepared
to resume his nap
Stop a Bit" cried the managing
director. This is the most luxurious
camping equipment, l do not remem-
approaching it in completeness My
good man, will you tell me"
~Oh. don't bother" growled John,
sleepily. If yer want bed. go to tn
Office an register
But. my word," exclaimed Chiches-
ter These appliances for an ordin-
airy bivouac are 4 revelation"
Well. we're shy couple of pictures
and bath-tub.~ admitted Henren
Ed May stretched himself and sat
suddenly upright, blinking at the Wis
itors.
''Howdy, Mike said he When did
you blow ine-'
I'm a-haulin' this gentleman out to
the ranch" French Mike replied
Say he added maliciously. as he
gathered up his reins--say, he's the
eastern boss OF the Double-X Sc
long,
Mr.. Chichester was so busily en-
gagged in taking mental inventory OF
the astounding camp utensils that he
failed to notice the CONSERVATION in
which he left the cowboys They both
rolled of the mattress and reused
Muddy Connors-
Anyhow. we'll get fired from tbs
, Double-X. all right" Mr.. Heffren con
cluded. and the Widder Major of the
Gem hotel will buy this sweety O. fur
niture of of us If we pack it over ths
. state line into Sundance~
The two other men hesitated
This evenin' Connors tramps bacf
to Spearfsh,~ urged John. and tells
! Buntz he was held up. BY that-a-tims
Ed. an me has druv this freight ovel
. into the gran old state o. Wyoming
and fixed it Savvys"
In the meantime Brice Chichester
, having made his arrival at the ranch
: so perplexed Mr. Sloan by his allusion:
to the Medicine Greek episode that tn,
foreman was compelled to seek a pri
waite explanation from French Mike
The explanation caused him to buckl.
r on his forty-five and saddle a horse.
/ May | not ride with with you. Mr.
= Sloans' asked Chichester. Il should
: like to see at once further evidence:
= OF your genius as an organizer.
5 should like to add to the highly favor
able preliminary report which l an
/. sending to Boston
The foreman pricked up his ears
= L refer, OF course" went on tn,
Bostonian. Ito the wonderful campin:
, arrangement which you have devised
: for our employees The equipment i
almost incredible. Your services mus
p be priceless here-priceless. MI
:. Sloan.
= Sloan glared at him with suspicion
2 with wonder. finally with hope. thel
{ he sat down beside Mr.. Chichester an,
conversed with INN in softened and
at times, a trembling voice. In spit
= OF the laughter which threatened hin
e continually, Mr. Sloan's diplomac
e was rewarded. He began at once /
4 pull the wires which ultimately er
v shared the managing director in
l. grant of increased salary.
Mr.. Chichester. however, never sa,
the rosewood furniture again To d.