Milford chronicle., 1909-01-29

teen-y year-Old BOY. But ! STUCK 10 IL ll
spite of aching bones and a tired head
For the first three months I had nc
mishaps l began to think the talk OF
danger was all bosh. Then as was
galloping around a curve on a hillside
trail one day I rode flush up TO lev
eled pistol. The man 6hnd it told me
to throw up my hands. Obeyed
There is no use arguing with a loaded
pistol Frontiersmen IN those days
shot to kill. The road agent dismount-
ed and walked up to me 10 take my
saddlebags. I tried to look scared
and harmless. He lowered his re
volver as he reached for the bags.
Just then | whirled my pony around.
The little horses plunge knocked the
man off his feet. and q stray kick from
one of the iron shod hoofs grazed the
4 fellows head, knocking him senseless.
/ Having no further interest in him, l
was glad enough to make my escape
Here is further adventure of I'm
port:
One day I galloped up to a relay
taHon and found no relief pony wait
ing for me. Not a soul was I'm sight
But ] heard men yelling and shooting
down by the corral back of the station
1 jumped OH, rifle in one hand and my
twenty pound pouches I'm the ether.
and made fer the trees tb0i lil the
corral from the trail thHG it from
the noise that there must be an Indian
raid there at least.
I reached the little clearing above
the corral i'm time TO see a gigantic
buffalo bull charge through q bunch of
cattle and rush on toward the door
yard Of the station Four or five men
were yelling at the top Of their lungs
and blazing away at him with guns
and revolyers. But if any Of the shots
reached the brute they only served to
madden him an the more. 1t was no
business Of mine. so ! stood there
laughing q their excitement But all
at once 1 stopped laughing and turned
sick a what l saw.
There, near the door Of the cabin.
playing with big wooden doll, sat
little girl perhaps three years old. She
wore little red cloak. and the bright
bit Of color had caught the mad buf
falo's attention. Down at the uncou
scious playing baby charged the great.
furious brute. The men saw her peril
just when / did. and they fired wildly
and came forward at dead run. But
they were tho far away
A woman ran screaming out Of the
house aud rushed toward the child.
She had no weapon of any kind and
probably couldn't have used one If she
had had But / suppose mother love
made her forget the horrible peril and
she wanted Ia die with her-little girl
Women are sometimes braver. | think .
than mon. especially where their chill
dren are concerned.
The buffalo was not fifteen yards I
away from the child when brought /
my rifle instinctively to my shoulder I
/ wouldn't give myself time to think /
what must happen If I should miss. /
1t was one of those times when man 1
must not fail in his aim
Just then the baby looked up and /
saw the murderous brute. She clapped .
both hands and gave a squeal Of de
light She probably thought the beast
was some new sort Of playmate.
AS she called out I fired. The buf-
falo's legs seemed TO tuck themselves
up under him. The impetus OF his
rush carried him along the ground full
ten feet and be came to stop with
his head not SIX inches from the little
girls knee, stone dead.
Then after the men had pounded me
)n the back till was sore the child's
mother insisted on kissing me. How a
healthy fourteen-year-old boy does
oathe to be klssedl
Although among the youngest OF the
,ouriers, seemed to have filed the
iii and was promoted, as was Johnny
FRY. to $3.50 per month, but to a more
dangerous route.
Ny age at the time Of riding the
ony express will naturally create at
ention and possibly surprise from the /
eaders OF. the present day. as the ,
outh at that age In the west from ]
ourteen TO sixteen-was IN many re- {
poets a man from the time he could :
boulder a rifle or FIRE a pistol. with q
Il a mans responsibility. bar voting c
4 course I suppose In the centers Of a
indoor work or in mines Il
IS necessary to protect children un- r
Pr the child labor law But the con (
Itions were such on the frontier that Y
le boy acquired an early experience. u
ld both the Indian boys and the I
hite boys at the age Of fourteen or "
'teen were ranked In every way as {,
ctors to be accounted for on any oc- D
sions that arose demanding energy. v
amina and pluck II
Hundreds Of other boys at that time R
ere IN the same class as myself. X
ady. willing and able TO do and dare 3.
little men. e,
The Importance to the white man Of al
lick communication soon dawned on er
e Indians and aroused them to spe- 10
Il endeavors TO harass intercept and 10
] of the messengers in charge OF ia
Is work. Consequently after the first hc
" weeks pony express riding became