Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-10

ed and stared at the already snoring
figure, glanced over the landscape
back to the queerest man 1t had ever
met and then fell to grazing.
Stevenson, having started the fire
for breakfast, took a pail and depart
ed toward the spring, but he got nc
farther than the corral gate where he
dropped the pail and stared, seeing
only one horse in the enclosure where
the night before there had been three
more. He wheeled and dashed to-
ward the "hotel" and his shout brought
"Old" John Ferris to the door, sleepy
| and peevish.
Our bronchs are gone! Our bronchs
are gone!" he yelled, dashing through
! the doorway and into the room he had
assigned to the bibulous and sullen
stranger Il knowed It! I knowed it,"
he cried, popping out again as II on
springs. He's gone! He's gone an
took our bronchs with him, tn measly,
low down dog! knowed he wasn't no
good! Go see for yourself while I
throw some cold grub on tn table
won't have no time to cook this morn
in. He's got five hours start on us,
but well git him before dark, an hang
him."
What's all tn rumpus?" demanded
a sleepy voice from upstairs. who's
hanged?" and Charley entered the
room very much interested. He was
forthwith acquainted with the calam-
ity and lost no time in joining "Old"
John at the corral to verify the news.
"Old" John Ferris waved his hand
over the scene and explained what he
had read in the tracks, to his compan-
ions great irritation, for Charley's
keen eye and good training told him
all there was to learn and his reading
didn't exactly agree with that Of "Old"
John.
Hes gone an took our cayuses,
Charley; an that's tn way he came
round tn corner of tn house. He
bumped into tn palisade there an
dropped his saddle. When he opened
tn bars he took my roam gelding be-
cause 1t was tn fastest, an then let
out tn others to mix US up with tn
tracks. See how he went? Had to hop
four times on one foot afore he got in
tn saddle. An he left his own critter
behind because he knowed it wasn't
no good"
Charley had walked into the corral
and looked at the brand on the far side
Of the one horse left and waited i'm
patiently for his companion to cease
talking. He took advantage Of the first
pause ''Old" John made and spoke
crisply:
II don't care how he come or what
he bumped inter. An If he left that
cayuse because he knowed 1t amt no
good he was drunker'n thought he
was. That's a Bar-20 cayuse an no
hoss-thief ever worked for that ranch.
He left 1t because he stole 1t, that's
why. An he didn't let them others
out cause he wanted to mix US up.
neither. He knowed we could tell tn
tracks Of our own animals. He did
that to make us lose time. An he
couldn't tell what bronch he took last
night-it was too dark. He must a
struck match an seen where his own
was an then took tn first one that
wasn't it. But now you tell me how
tn devil he knowed yourn was tn
fastest, which 1t amt" he finished
sarcastically.
We'll, mebby what you said is"
"Mebby nothin'. If he wanted to
mix tn tracks would he hoped like
that 80 we'd know which was hissin
He knowed we'd pick his trail quick
an he knowed every minute counted.
That's why he hopped-yore roam was
goin' like h-l-look at them toe
prints!"
HIN! But 1 heard him say some
thin bout Winchester, anyhow" re-
piled odd" John, glad to change the
subject Bet that's where he's goin',
too. He won't get through that town
on no critter wearin' my brand. Ev-
erybody knows that roam an"
"Quit guessin!" snapped Charley,
beginning to lose some Of his respect
for old age. We'll foller tn trail an
don't care where It goes"
Grub pile!" shouted Stevenson, and
the argument was tabled while the
three gulped down a cold and uninvit-
ing breakfast. In ten minutes they had
separated to find horses. in fifteen
more they had them and were riding
along the trail g. top speed, with three
other men at their side. Three hun
dred yards from the corral they pound
ed out Of an arroyo and Charley, who
was leading. stood up in his stirrups,
looking keenly ahead. Another trail
joined the one they were following and
ran with and on top of 1t. This, he
reasoned, had been made by one Of
the strays and would turn away soon.
He kept his eyes looking we'll ahead
and soon saw that he was right, and
without checking the speed Of his
horse in the slightest degree he went
ahead on the trail of the smaller hoof-
prints. Stevenson was gaining on him
and finally ranged alongside.
Mr.. Hopalong Cassidy muttered and
stirred and slowly opened his eyes to
gaze blankly into those Of one Of the
men who were tugging at his hands
and as he stared his stupefled brain
started sluggishly to work in an en-
deavor to explain the unusual expert
ence. There were five men around him
and the two who hauled at his hands
stepped back and kicked him. A look
of panied indignation slowly spread
over his countenance as he realized
that they really were kicking him, and
with steady vigor. He considered it a
moment and decided that such treat
ment was quite outrageous and, fur
thermore. that he must chastise the
perpetrators.
Hey" he snorted: "What'n HI do
you reckon yo're doin anyhow? Kick
each other an I'll help you, but I'll lick
tn bunch If you don't stop maulin'
me! Amt you got no manners? Come