The Ordway new era., 1909-12-24

told him. but there Is a ra lch'naa
north Of here that needs hands. II you
Will work there month and se"i me
your wages viii pay your m" ana
buy you a suit of clothes.
Agreed" cried the boy sind t" get
OF SO easy. Tho ranchmnn ohrn
wished lie had been put In jail, n" VS.
lazy and Qunrrclsotne. wanted Inc
highest wages without work or eH-
pcricncc. his petty jcalousics among
the workmcn causing constant discoid.
He was discharged nj the end OF the
month Without cent. He went several
miles away and made him n duEout
here he lived. no one knew how. for
nobody was ever welcomed TO his home.
This was In the days when the govern
ment gave land TO those who would
settle II. SO he took all the law allowed
him. He found employment looking
after stray cattle and every cent he
received was spent for calves. This
and the natural Increase soon had his
land well stocked and he was con-
sldercd u wealthy man. Thus ten years
passed by and Christmas daN was close
at hand. Always cross and cruel to
his men as the holidays approached
his tyranny became almost unbearable
Not needing the threatening storm he
had mounted his fastest horse AMI rid
den away this morning. as was has
custom when his passion WAS beyond
control. The spur pricks on his
horses side. and its spent strength
told how far and furious he had rid
den. He had turned towards home and
the blizzard was upon him. when pass
ing by a shack his tired horse refused
10 go farther and took shelter against
| Its side much against his custom and
will he was forced to dismount and en-
ter. He knocked at the door but could
hear nothing but the wailng OF an
infant. enraecd ne struck again and
again with his heavy whip. \ child
ish voice called out. Push harder papa.
| tant open it" He forced the door
and entered. y little miss Of about
| 1--WE years OF age said "Scusc me mis-
ter. fought you was papa but is dad
you toned for We Is about foozed-
baby and me, tant make the fire
burn and baby Is SO hungry He had
stepped apasi the little girl and was
kneeling beside a stlll form on the
floor. Here. he said. giving the child
a rude push. stop that brat's Internal
noise and hold your tongue until ask
you to talk. What IS this doing here
on the floor?''
The girl pulled the baby from It's
cradle to her arms. Why that ls my
mamma" she told him. and she Is
cold. too; put lots Of covers on her
and wrapped baby up and see, put
on papa's coat Baby cried and l laid
| him by mamma. but she won't tuck
him and feed him and won, wake up;
l is afaid she is sick again"
Sick nothing, you little silly. your
! mothers dead" he said. raising from
the corpse. Where is your dad?' he
asked roughly OF the wondering child
"oh. papa went away of a Ions
time ago: but he is tom!ng home toda,
and bring Santa Claus for tomorrow 1.
Christmas day.
Keep still aoou; your Santa Claus
he demanded. and tell me how long sh.
has been there-two or three days."
II dess so. / wocked baby one nigh
'tause he cried and last night We laIC
down BY mamma and l was so sleepy
that's 'tause my fire went out and
tant make it burn-den l div baby al
the milk and he's hungry: / twied 4
milk old Bossy but tan, squeeze har,
'nuf."
"Shut up" he yelled, III you had q
much sence as CAB you could tell wha
had happened here"
Il dess don't Know" she sal
| thoughtfully. "a big man brough
mamma letter and she dess laid dow
and went to sleep"
He hurried to the corpse and In tn
cold. stir fingers found a crum. ole
telegram; smoothing It out he re ad
Mrs. Eliztbeth White. Your husba n
killed In railroad accident: wire IN
structions to operator. Roanok e, Kari
sas.' slowly the full import OF III