The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-05-05

quit before Il done any good We was
gald 10 see the range get a wetting up.
and we didn't mind a little dampness
We oamped that night on the dry sldo
Of a huddle uh rocks, and when we
found something beside our matches
and tobacco that would burn, we got
a fire going and started IN TO fry bacon
and boil coffee, philosophical, The
coffee came out all right, but the hu.
con wound up more boiled than fried,
the wet was coming down for keeps.
We turned In, some gloomily, and
slept with a lake in every hollow OF
the tarp we we had on top nh the bed
Next morning It was still leaking
ice water, and we commenced remark.
ing that It could quit any time now
without any objections from us. II
didn't though; il kept coming right
down till It went through our slickers,
even, Cullen quit worrying about Bin
Bruner and looking for clews, and
wanted to know II / couldn't locate
ranch close handy by, He said Bill
Bruner wouldn't be clubbing around
in the rain, and we'd likely find him
lying low at some ranch.
I'm some patriotic, as | said; but
patriotism don't flourish none on rain.
water and coffee-wash and parboiled
bacon. was like Cullen; I wasn't
half as anxious to come across Bill
Bruner as ! was to get a roof over
me; and the sooner / got it the hap
pier I'd feel. So ! says, after doing .
stunt uh thinking:
There's a ranch and an old sheep
camp, both within riding distance;
which oneIl yuh take in yours?"
Cullen studied a minute, and / could
see he was fair pining for shelter and
square meal: and the old swine
didn't give cuss whether ! got in or
the comforts uh home or not. I'VE
mustn't take no chances on missing
our man." he says, judicial. "And as
sheriff it's my duty to go where he's
most apt t. be. So" he says, looking
righteous, guess / better head for the
ranch. You can take the outfit and
go on to the sheep camp, and join me
when the storm let's up. No objec-
tions, have yuh?"
None whatever" says land l
sure hadn't; for the camp wasn't more
than six or eight miles, with the
storm at my back And the ranch
he'd bid for was a good Is miles, and
the rain beating in his face all the
way; and when yuh got there, the old
fellow that owned it was one uh these !
arguing jaspers thatll make a man
plot murder by the time he's listened |
to him awhile And the grub he sets
up is something fierce. No, / was
dead willing to take the pack outfit /
and the old sheep camp for mine.
So we parted company right there, |
and | took the pack horse and started |
up the creek, and moseyed along for |
a mile or so, thinking how It don't |
pay man to always be feeling for
soft snaps. Then l turns a bend in
the creek bottom ! was following,
and comes slap onto suspicious-looll
ing individual riding XII horse. He
seen me at the same time and kinda
pulled off sideways, like he was aim
ing to do the vanishing act The XII
had been losing some horses, I'd
heard, and the way the fellow acted
didn't look good to me. So / spurs
up some to oyertake him.
Hi, stranger!" l yells, don't be in
such a hurry"
He was, though; and his hurry got
more violent So | took out my gun
and cut down on him couple uh
lines, and he pulled up reluctant and
waited meek till come up with him.
had a big hunch that I'd made a ten
strike accidental, and this was Bill
3runer. He sure eyed me unfriendly
but my gun was looking his way,
20 he couldn't do nothing worse than
icowl
What d'yuh want?" growls his
ibis, giving me and my gun the bad
we.
Il just wanted to see the color nh
our hair" l smiles back. "Yuh was
.oing so fast I couldn't make sure
whether it was red or not
He looked plumb EuTdereOus.
Well" he snorted, If you've found
ut, I'll ride on
"Oh, / don't know" ! says. q was
linking we'd travel together Gully.
m plumb lonesome. What did yuh
ay your name was?"
Peter Marks he snaps I'm
orse buyer, and in a hurry. And,