The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1912-05-31


Smith IS an ordinary, not to say common variety
Of name, but Smith was an ordinary, com.
mon variety Of man. He was part OF the
drifting current OF humanity that goes from one
coast to the other, paying no railroad fare, but
still he could not be classed under the genus
hobo He worked when there was demand Tor
men at good pay. but the periods OF his activity
were separated by judcious intervals OF travei
and rest
As il was the middle OF April, Smith believed
he could get work in this section, and with the
combined intention OF looking for employment
and getting something 10 cat he driited into the
business section Of Sheridan. Atter eating
modest meal. Smith invested his remaining i've
few cents in a shine and hair cut
Time was when Smith would have spent
the remaining few cents in shaking his thirst. but
he decided to turn over new leaf. lie was gong
70 make good stake and SO home to the ioISs
in Little Valley and be a respected citizen nc
entered combination real estate. insurance, an.
stract and employment bureau office and
slouchcd up to tho counter
Got anv work." he asked.
lots Of it, We arc shipping 10 Buffalo today
Ever work in a lambng camp"
Smith did not have tho leas; idea OF inc duu0s
Of lamhinc camp employees but he was not gong
70 allow lack Of information 10 keep him from
getting work Native Shrcwdness made HIM sur
mise that i, had something 10 do with sheep
SO he assented.
What arc thev paving" he asked.
III you're any good youl get ioriy-five and
chuck. Furnish YOUR own blankets
Alright but m broke Guess the outht can
stake me to bed when 60 10 work
The next day Smith and a dozen other pres
peciive iambing camp men were taken TO the m
land town az Buffalo forty miles TO the Souih
bN stage There they found themSelveS'the cen
ter Of controversy. dozen flockmasiers we're
in town getting men Tor their camps and all were
short handed Smith thought that this would
offer chance to raise the figure ei his wages.
bu, he discovered that while the sheep men would
fight 10 Get a man. iorty-five dollars per month
was the paw despite strenuous competition.
Here, YOU 60 with the Scotch outfit, he was
told BY a man who appeared to nc IN charge OF
the recruits Report to Mr.. Baldwin at the
Capital saloon. He's lambing down on Powder
river and tho camp wagon goes ont tonight with
chuck Got bed;"
No"
Reckon he's going toisleep on cactus snick-
cred bv-stander. but Smith had no chance to
make reply. He was hurried to drygoods store
his guide taking charge OF theiprooeedings' Sc
fore ne could thoroughly get his bearings. he was
tossed couple OF blankets, "tarp" and pair
Of souganS.
charge il to the Scotch outfit said his guide
"Rumpass is pulling camp for them. He'll be
hv with tho wagon in hall hour and pick 1t up
What's your name
smith
tina, bed is for Smith Scotch outfit. and
Smith was dragged on In tho same manner he
was provided with slioker suit Tor the rainy
weather. a half dozen pairs OF socks and pound
OF tobacco
That night he crawled into the big. siN-horse
Supplv wagon driven BY one Joshua BumpasS.
and they started on the long trail 10 Powder nv
er smith Law on his bed in the back OF the wagon
ana ,ried 10 slccp with two other men. who had
also been tolled of to the Scotch outfit.
Hour after hour the wagon lurohed through
the night. The darkness had begun to pale in
the east when Smith awoke and took his scat next
4, the driver. Far of on another hill. Bumpsss
pointed out a, speck which seemed 20 be moving
along the skyline.
That's Charlie Robinson" he said THes cot
band OF yearlins belonging 70 10 the Willow
Glen outfit They cit him out hall hour lore
daylight and he wears three dogs 70 trazzle
every dav irwin to keep en- between -Four Mile
and Powder river.
They 60 some. do thew asked smith.
They shore arc some travellers. lis a good
thing that Charles mostly legs or they'd be
leavin the bed ground in the morning BY the
time he got through oookin' his supper TOT the
night before Talk about yosriin :. though
had bunch one wear that these Is Snails %.
They had a couple 81 old black Wethers Tor mark
erS which the boss bought for leaders. and hc
cot en- Thet was vour nat raj born leaders.
and I had 10 Kill EN- both II ! hsdn T. they
nun me to death. ] told the foreman that they
rot 50 far IN the lead the covotes Iust cut them
gu, and ATE en- night before my eyes. he reck-
oned that Il would teach en- lesson. and
lowed il would too
Bv this time the wagon gong MP long
Grade On the crest. shouted against the morn
INC sky. was the tall figure 81 man. clad IN
rough clothes and with q brosd-hrimmed black