Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-10-24

The Mascot
, of Sweet
! Briar GulCh
By HENRY WALLACE
PHILLIPS
Copyright. 1908. BY the Bobbs.menil
Company
(coNTINuED.1
CHAPTER VI.
Copyright 1908. by the Bobbs-merill
Company


CHAPTER VI.
TND while one Of Jim's friends
piled pick and shovel like
'In mad man the other was sway
~ ing on top Of galloping horse
gripping the pommel Of the saddle witt
all the strength he had and shutting
bis eyes when he came to the high
places.
Captain Hanrahan's party were min
ers of substance. They were working
their way out to new country to suit
their inclnations It had just been
suggested that 1t was perhaps time tc
bit the trail again when the captain
saw figure on horse flying athwart
the mountain side.
Huh" said the captain. that mans
drunk or crazy.
Holy sufferin." gasped the man
next him Us the yellow horse slipped
ON turn ana sent shower OF gravel
thousand feet below. that was 9
near touch" as the horse caught him
self and swept ON.
Looks to me like q case OF trouble;
cap." SAID q third speaker. THAT
ain't no man anyhow. It's only boy"
Horse running away with him
probably His folks ought to be club.
bed for letting him out on such an
animal Well. spread out boys. and
wen catch him."
But Buck stopped In two Jumps al
Ches command OF whoa"
"Fren's." cried the boy. me pard.
ners caught In q tunnel dat caved In
On him. Kin yer help us outf Three
mile above Jones hill"
He had not finished the sentence be.
fore two men sprang for the horses.
The rest grabbed picks and shovel'
and hurled them into the wagon.
well be there. a-whooping." said
Captain Hanrahan.
''T'anks." replied Ches weakly. and
then the world went out The captain
caught him as he fell.
"Poor little cuss! BE rid hard to
help his pardner." said the captain.
"Humph yourselves. boys! All ready!
Got the whisky. Peter Picks enough
Stick the axes where they won't jump
loose and cut leg of some Of Us. Tie
the horse behind. Good animal. that
All right, let 'em CO.
They went over stones and gulleys
the tools changing and banging ht tt
leap from the wagon. the men cling
ing to the sideboards for dear life
down hillSides like the slant OF
roof. the horses keeping out of the way
of the wagon; up the other side witt
the reeking animals straining every
fiber; over bridges that bent fearfullJ
beneath the shock Of their onset
swaying around curves with tht
wheels Slowing and sparks flying ant
over the level as though the devil him
self were behind them.
1t was the record trip for eigh
miles in wagon in that country
The driver stood up. foot braced OF
either side. the reins thrown loose. th'
whip piled hard and every urging tina
voice could give shrieked out by hi
powerful lungs.
II was like the rush Of a fire en-
CINE plus twice the speed and twent!
times the danger Above the pounding
of hoofs. the din of rattling metal. tn
crash, smash and roar OF the wheel
and the yells Of the driver could TX
heard the man Pete. ex-cowpuncher
cheerfully singing:
Roll your tails. and roll 'em high
Well all be angels by and by"
Braced In the back corner sat Cap
tain Hanruhan. his leg keeping SOM
of the tools from going overheard
holding Ches in his arms.
Curse 1t all. Billy" he screamed Il
the driver. miss some Of them bumps
will your I've got on a new pair o
pants"
"In take 'em clean OF you the mex
time. eap-' retorted the driver.
They toked. which may seem heart
less. but they risked their necks
hundred times. aud that isn't yer.
heartless.
That's the place. l reckon. cap.
said the driver. pointing. "somebod.
WORKING there now"
Give EN- a boot" replied the cap
tain
Bud stepped out ana held up hi
hand In answer to the yell. The wav
of thanksgiving at the sight OF thi
most eficient help took all the stifl
ness out of the knees Of the mai
rider. The tears rolled down bis fac
unnoticed
You're welcome. boys he cried a
the driver sawed the frenzied team Z
| a standsrill and the men sprans out
Reckon we are" said the captain
Now. whats upT
lis the boy hurti he ANT hus
himself. has her
Mao Pore little cuss is used ur
| that's all. He'll be around all night Il
a minute. Now. tell me what's loose
BUD answered briefly. but completely
pete and Billy. get to cutting wooc
The rest of you come here CON
manded the captain.
"You amt going to stop to timber
are your asked Bud In an agony o
haste.
81 sure am" replied the captain
"Au this troubles come Of careless
nesa Now. you Just keep your clothe
on and let me run this thing.
We'll have your friend out IN o
time. ana there won't be no more me
| xL a.. xh~~o Nth q hill a.tOD OF '0I