The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-05-22

The man at the cabin, tightly grasping a.
smoking rifle, leaped past the building and
up the hill to his horse, which, after regarding
the unusual scene with complacent curiosity,
had returned to a more pleasant occupation
and nipped at the thick clumps of cured grass.
1t bucked once as its master leaped to the sad
die and, with a protesting snort, forgot the
grass in the sudden press of duty.
Down in the pass seven men rode home
ward, laughing and joking, proud of their last
two days work. One of them looked back
and then refined in, the others following his
example, to wait for their foreman. While
they watched the back trail Lefty suddenly
looked surprised. Hear that?" he asked,
quickly.
His question was answered by the negative
shaking of heads and the Kid made face
tious remark about the wisdom of embracing
temperance.
"There! Can't be thunder" Lefty cried,
and seven men exchanged looks.
"Not this time of tn year-must be Waf-
fles cutting kindling," Tex replied, smiling.
"Do you reckon we better prospect a
bit?" asked Curley, as another sound was
heard.
"I'll get there frst" cried the Kid, his curl
osity and hope of finding excitement firing
him to action. His challenge was all they
needed and they raced after him in the order
of their start. Kerchiefs futtered and
snapped, elbows tapped and eager voices
begged more speed from the straining, bound
ing range ponies; for the Kid was gloating
out loud, very loud, in fact; and his language
was of a nature stimulating to those behind
him.
1t was a good race, Notwithstanding the
handicap start, for when they reached the last
bend in the pass, where the trail widened, they
shot into sight of the cabin in compact line,
seven abreast-and pulled up hastily. Wat
f1es, pinned under the dead clay-bank, missed
being trampled upon by small margin.
whats tn matter?" "Who done it2"
"God A'mighty!" and other EXPLANATIONS
arose as the seven, leaping from their mounts,
made quick work of freeing their fore
man.
care you hurt?" Tex asked Waff1es anx-
iously, handing over the Colt he had picked
up across the trail.
"No: not to mention-some coyote was
busting in that door with log" replied the
foreman, helping Lefty strip the dead animal
of the saddle and bride. Il couldn't get him
with the Colt, an ny rifles home. Get in tn
saddle, Kid-Pll double up with you to tn
corral. That Bars cayuse will do for me.
Come on, lively"
"Who was it?" "Where is hep" cried the
others already in the saddle.
Don't know. He went over that hill,
Waffles replied.
ITS Parker, for a cent?" yelled Tex,
shooting ahead like an arrow from bow. A
cloud of dust rolled past the cabin and up to
the corral A minute lost there and they
swept up the hill, and as they burst over the
crest eight exultant yells rang out and the
rolling thunder of drumming hoofs swept
northward along plain, fresh trail and rap
idly became fainter Esss,i
At dawn the cook of the O-Bar-O peered
out at the softly falling snow which had
turned the gray, somber plain into binding
sheet of white, and wondered why it was that
the outfit had not returned. Bigfoot had
come in the day before with the chuck wagon
and told him to have an extra big supper on
the table. The supper was there yet
As he was about to close the door he caught
sight of dark mass moving nearer through
the white veil and he fastened to prepars
breakfast for the cold and hungry men.
Busy among his pots and pans ne did not
hear the door open, but he felt the sudden
draft of cold air and turned: "Helloi Yore
a fine bunch Of What's tn matter,
Lefty?" he cried as Tex and Curley entered
the room supporting their companion.
ooh, I fell down an stubbed my toe"
blazed the injured man sarcastically as he
was taken into the adjoining room.
"Well, if that" began the cook, but
was interrupted: Where's my spare rope,
cook ?" demanded Curley from the gallery.
Hanging up in there, where you Let it
Where's yore new one2"
ooh, it made too nice necktie to bring
home"
ooh, no! So Parker came back, did hsP
"Y-a-s: an to stay,