Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1913-07-18

got to pack my pajamas. So craWled
into that wagon in the wagon yard
see? I never told you to bring me out
to this bloomin' farm-see?'
What is it, Mustang?" asked Poky
Rodgers, almost forgetting to smoke in
his ecstasy. What do it live on?''
Its galliwampus, Poky," said
Mustang It's the thing that hollers
'willi-walloo' up in ellum trees in the
low grounds of nights. I don't know
If it bites"
Not it amt, Mustang" volunteered
Long Collins Them galliwampuses
has fms on their backs and eighteen
toes. This here is a hicklesnifter. 1t
lives under the ground and eats cher
Sies. Don't stand so close to it.
Sam, the cosmopolite. who called
bartenders i'll San Antoine by their
Grst name, stood in the door.
well, amt that a Willie for your
Mhiskers?' he commented. ''Where'd
you dig up the hobo, Ranse?"
Say" said Curly, from whose piano.
piled breast all shafts of wit fell
DluQIpu, any OIL you hldulu guys SOI
q drink on you? Have your fun
He turned to Ranse. Say, you
bhanghaied me on your id old prairie
bchooner-did tell you to drive me to
"a farm? 1 want drink. I'm goin'
all to pieces. What's doin'?"
Ranse saw that the tramp's nerves
were racking him. He dispatched one
of the Mexican boys to the ranch house
for a glass of whisky. Curly gulped it
down. and into his eyes came a brief
grateful glow-as human as the eX
preston in the eye of a faithful setter
dog
'Thanky, boss" he said, quietly.
you're thirty miles from a railroad,
and forty miles from a saloon" said
Ranse.
Curly fell back weakly against the
steps.
"Since you are here" continued the
ranchman, come along with me-"
He conducted Curly to a large shed
where the ranch vehicles were kept.
Il don't suppose you can sleep" said
Ranse, "since you've been pounding
your ear for twenty-four hours. But
you can camp here till morning. I'll
have Pedro fetch you up some grub"
Old "Kiowa" Truesdell sat in his
great wicker chair reading by the light
of an immense oil lamp. Ranse laid
bundle of newspapers fresh from town
at his elbow.
Back, Ranse?" said the old man,
looking up.
Son" old ''Kiowa" continued, GIVE
been thinking all day about a certain
matter that we have talked about. l
want you to tell me again. I've lived
for you. I've fought wolves and In
Ilians and, worse, white men to pro-
fect YOU. You never had any mother
that you can remember. I've taught
you to shoot straight, ride hard and
live clean Later on I've worked to
pile up dollars that'll be yours. You'll
be rich man, Ranse, when my chunk
goes out. I've made you. I've licked
YOU into shape like leopard cat ticks
its cubs You don't belong to your
self-youve got to be a Truesdell first.
Now, is there to be any more nonsense
about this Curtis grl?"
'I'll tell you once more" said Ranse
slowly. "As l am a Truesdell and as
you are my father, I'll never marry a
Curtis
Good boy" said old "KioWa."
Ranse went to the kitchen at the
rear of the house. Pedro, the Mexican
cook, sprang up to bring the food
Just a cup of coffee, Pedro" he
said, and drank it standing. And
then:
There's a tramp on a cot in the
wagon shed. Take him something to
eat Better make it enough for two"
Ranse walked out toward the jacals
"A boy came running.
Manuel, can you catch Naminos in
the little pasture for me?'
why not, senior: | saw him near
the puerta but two hours past. He
bears Il drag rope
Get him and saddle him as quick
as you can
"PrOntitO, senior"
Soon mounted on Naminos, RanSe
leaned i'll the saddle, pressed with his
knees and gallOped eastward past the
store, where sat Sam with his guitar.
Naminos shall have Il word-Vaminos
the good dun horse. The MeXicans.
who have a hundred names for the col
ors of horse, called him gruyo. He
was q mouse ColOred, slate colOred, flea
bitten roam dun, if you can conceive it.
Down his back from his name to his
tail went a line of black He would
live forever and surveyors have not
laid off as many miles i'll the world as
he could travel in day.
Eight miles east of the Cibolo ranch
house Ranse loosened the pressure OF
his knees, and Vaminos stopped under
q big ratama tree. The yellow ratama
blossoms showered fragrance that
would have undone the roses OF