Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-04-16
"Eh, auhats thatgn he yelled.


rubbing of eyes the men crawled from
their sleeping bags. Dashing cold wa
ter into their faces from basin beside
the water barrel, they drank copiously
of the coffee which Parenthesis poured
out for them.
MOSTLY all the boys are in now, amt
they?" asked Parenthesis, looking
about the group.
Yep" answered Sagebrush We'll
finish brandin' the calves today.
reckon Fresno will have to take charge
OF the drive. can't leave the ranch
until Jack gets back"
Show Low was the only sleeper who
had not responded to Parenthesis' call.
That worthy walked over and gave
him kick which brought forth grunt,
but no other sign of an awakening.
Returning to the fire. Parenthesis took
of coffee
Heard any word from him YETI" he
asked as he gulped the beverage.
"Nothin'," replied Sagebrush 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 an left
things the way he did. Buck Mckee
is gettin' lot of bad men together an
lows he is goin' to run fer sheriff him
SELF" growled Fresno. II got my eye
on that Peruna."
"Peruna! Who's he?" asked Texas.
zone of Bucks outfit" answered
Fresno. He is mighty slick with the
runnin' iron an brandin' other folks
calves"
1--WE can't be too careful" warned
Sagebrush. Things is strained to the
Dustin point, an any promise of gun
play Is goin' to set off 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 and
breaking it off with whistle.
At the very moment Sagebrush sug
gested gun play Show Low snorted his
loudest.
whats that?' asked Sagebrush
grabbing his revolver.
"Show Low. He's regular brass
band when he gets started-from the
big trombone down to the tin whistle,
laughed Fresno.
Its wonder he can sleep alongsid,
of that noise,"
"He can't" Fresno volunteered
Hell wake himself up in minute
He's off now.'
The SHORES of Show Low grew NOR
frequent until he climaxed his accom-
paniment of sleep with one awfu
snort, which awakened him. EEL
what's that?" he yelled as he bounded
to sitting posture.
didn't tell your querjed Fresno.
Sagebrush grinned and slowly arose
gathering up his saddle and rope
Swinging one over each arm, b
started toward the corral, saying
"Come on, boys; we got lot to do te
day. Git your hosses."
The night riders were coming int
r camp, meeting their comrades wit
grunts or in few words telling theI
what to guard against In some pal
ticular part of the grazing herd
The sun had risen. The cattle wer
on their feet browsing the short, swee
grass, moving slowly toward the rive
/ Work. growled Show Low. Oar
me If amt commenced to hate It'll"
Fresno picked up his saddle to 70
low his foreman, but paused Ion
enough to fire this parting shot at th
5 cook: "Say, Parenthesis, If them BIZ
cults you're maxim is as hard as til
! last bunch, save four of EN- for m
H want to shoe that pony of mine"
N Parenthesis threw tin cup at Ere
II no. who lodged 1t. Punching til
dough yiciously, he said: Darn TIL
i housekeepin'! Gets feller's hands a
y rough. It's enough to Spite the disp
! sition of saint"
His soliloonv was INTERRUPTED b