Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1912-07-11
Up
Saltpeter
Creek
A Story of Ranch Life
BY CLARISSA MACKIE


bean soup on Harry Barry's immac-
ulate white shirt front, and the scared
Celestial had escaped from the room
under a fusilade OF pistol shots that all
found Judgment in the oak beamed cell
Ing.
You ought not TO put on that billed
shirt tin after supper" admonished the
Crane as the wrathful Harry wiped
the soggy mess from his bosom. Its
taking risk wearing anything decent
at this table nowadays"
And why?' exploded Harry, mind
full Of the fact that this was his only
clean white shirt and his call upon the
pretty Widow Clancy must lack that
sartorial compliment
"The chink's in love-" was the
Cranes reply.
"In lover
"Who WITH"
Didn't know there was a Chinese
girl within a thousand miles OF the
Lone Bull"
Cant he find any other way of ex-
pressing his love than by acting like a
blamed idiot|
OF course this last remark came from
Harry Barry who was consuming
what remained of the soup in his plate.
"They generally do-only it takes diff
ferent FORMS observed Gabriel mild
~
.L,,.t.to ,,,, a, ,,o.,tpd tho tohIo I'm
der cover of its good nature Wah
Sung pushed open the swinging door
peered fearfully around the edge and
sided in with a great dish of steaming
hot potatoes.
Perhaps he was nervous, it might be
that he was in love. At any rate, when
his mild brown orb met the steely glare
of Harry Barry's usually amiable eyes
he set the dish Of potatoes upon the ta-
BILE with such frantic haste that the
largest and hottest rolled from the
pyramid and landed upon Mr.. Barry's
hand
Wah Sung emitted desolate wall as
Harry Barry leaped from his chair and
caught him by the neckband of his cot
ton blouse and shook him vigorously.
suffering cats! What's the matter
with your" yelled Mr.. Barry excitedly
Cant you throw down a dish OF po-
tatoes without stampedin' EN- all over
the table,
me solly-velly solly," moaned Wah
Sung
THAT helps a lot" observed Harry
bitterly.
"AIe sick in the head-velly sick in
the head; me do know what to do"
added Wah Sung pitifully.
The cattleman's quick sympathy was
to the fore ut once. whats the mat
ter, boy? Have you told the boss
that you're sick?"
NO, no; me no tell anybody. Me
velly sick here" Wah sung placed
both yellow hands over his heart. 1T
go what you call lickerty splitty-lick-
erty splitty all time"
ITS your heart, boy, not your head.
You want TO see doctor, ehF'
Wah Sung writhed bashfully under
the gaze Of seven pairs of eyes. No
no see DOCTOR" he mumbled, edging
toward the door ME alice ligh velly
soon Me 90 for walk. Excise, get
rest supper"
Going for walk, ehT questioned
Gabriel sharply you think walk
up Saltpeter creek do you good Wah
SungG"
The Chinaman shivered as with ague,
and his countenance turned from vel
low to gray His lips parted in an at
tempted smile as he shook his head.
ooh, no, no, me no never walk up SAL
peder creakl Me walk velly dlfflunt
wayi"
"Humphl Let him go, Harry" was
Gabrlels advice. When the China
mans slippers were once more slap
ping around the kitchen floor Harry
Barry resumed his seat and Joined the
broad grin that went around the table.
what is it-love?' he inquired.
''You oughter know, being sort Of
Judge of symptoms" commented Jim
Lewis dryly.
'what about yourselfY" retorted
Harry Barry. "You oughter know
been married three months, haven't
your
"Stop your wrauglin' boys inter
polated the Crane, unjointing his lean
form and taking advantage OF Nah
Suug's absence from the room 70 eX.
press his opinion Listen TO me. Eve
seen the chiuk going UP the creek eY-
cry afternoon after dinner
"What is there up Saltpeter ereekT
asked Jim Lewis, lighting a cigarette.
Nothing but the springs that know
Of"
Anybody ever been Beyond the
spriugsT'
1t seemed that none Of them had ever
followed the rocky trail beyond the
springs that gave name 70 the creek.
Somebody told me that there used
10 he q urospectors hut UP there in The
| thiekct I've never been there, though
( aud couldn't say"
III Wah Sung's IN love why don't ht
marry his girl and live happily ever
after2" commented Harry impatently
Afraid ~ the boss probably You
know Chinese families are not very