The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-05-08

mus. 49,
Il told you Allah was some guy"
he wheezed. when does Covington
arrive?"
Wally reread the message. 1T says
noon Friday Why, that's today! He's
here now!"
"'Rah! 'Rah! 'Rah! Covington!"
beloved the trainer, and Mrs. Keap
sank to seat with stif1ed moan.
why all the oh joy! Oh rapture!
stuff" questioned Berkeley Fresno
"As Socrates, the Hemlock Kid,
would put it, 'Snatched from the
shadow of the grave" quoth Glass,
then paused abruptly. "Say, you don't
think nothin' could happen to him on
the way over from the depot?'
I'm SO sorry we didn't know in
time to meet him, lamented Miss
Chaplin.
And I could have run over to the
railroad to bid him welcome" laughed
Speed. Twenty miles would do me
good"
Still Bill and Willie approached the
gallery curiously, and in subdued tones
inquired:
Whats the matter, Mr.. Speed p
you amt been summoned awayr"
Willie stared Questioningly upward.
mo, no! Ny running partner is on
his way here, that's ALL"
Running pardner?"
Culver Covington."
"Oh, we was afraid something had
happened. You see, Gabby Gallagher
has just bowed in from the Centipede
to raise our BETS
I've think it's bluff, and we'd like
to call him"
DO SO, by all means!" cried the
excited athlete. "Come on, let's all
| talk to him."
The entire party, with the exception
| of Mrs. Keap, trooped down from the
porch and followed the foreman out
toward the sheds, where, in the midst
OF a crowd of ranchhands, a burly,
| loud-mouthed Texan was discoursing
Il do wish Jack were here" said
Jean nervCusly, on the way
Gabby Gallagher seemed a fitting
| leader for such a desperate crew as
that of the Centipede, for ne was the
hardest-looking citizen the fasteners
| had beheld thus far. He was thickset,
and burned to the color of ripe olive;
his long, dropping mustaches, tobacco
stained at the center, were bleached
| at the extremities to hempen hue.
| His bristly hair was cut short, and
stood aggressively erect upon a bullet
head, his clothes were soiled and
greasy beneath gray coating of dust.
A pair Of alert, lead-blue eyes and a
certain facility of movement belied the
| draWl that marked his nativity. He
removed his hat and bowed at sight
of Miss Chaplin.
Good evenin', Miss Jean!" said he.
II hope 1 find y'all WELL"
"Quite we'll, Gallagher. AID you?"
"ToPable, thank you"
These are my friends from the
east"
The Centipede foreman ran his eyes
coldly over jeans companions until
they rested upon Speed, where they
remained. He shifted lump in his
cheek, spat dexterously, and directed
his remark at the Yale man.
II rode over to see If y'all would like
to lay little mo- in this we're foot
race. allow you are the unknown"
Speed nodded, and Slower took oc-
casion to ramark:
"Them's our inclinations, but we've
about gone our limit"
| Il don't blame you none," said Gal.
lagher, allowing his gaze to rove SLOW
ly from top to toe of the eastern lad.
No, CANT blame you none whatever
But I'm terrible grieved at them It'd
ms. Though we Centipede punchers
has ever considered y'all a cheap an
poverty-ridden outfit, we gives you
credit for bein' game, till now" He
spat for second time, and regarded
Slower scornfully.
A murmur ran through the cowboys.
1--WE are game" retorted Slower,
land for your own good don't allow no
belief to the contrary to become a
superstition"
Don't let a Centipede bluff you!"
exclaimed Speed. Cover anything
they offer-give 'em odds. Anything
you don't want, I'll take, pay or play,
money at the tape. We can't lose"
Il got no more money" said Carara,
removing his handsome bespangled
hat, "but l bet my sombrero. Els
wort two hondred pesos"
! Murphy, the Swede, followed
quickly. -~~-"
AYE BAN send may wages home to
may ole moder, but aye skall bat you
some"
Haven't you boys risked enough d
ready?" ventured Miss Chaplin. IRE
member, it will 60 pretty hard with
the losers"
Harder the better" came a voice.
"Y'all don't have to bet, jest because
I'm h'yar," gibed Gallagher.
God! wish was rich!" exclaimed
Willie.