Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-03-02

head with blood in 'em--horses and
cattle. IL you'll take EN- and feed |
'em through to the rains I'll give you |
ten out of the hundred. Some are too |
far gone to save, I'm afraid"
Gerry looked at his tiny plantations |
which showed up meanly in the great
expanse Of waste pasture. I'm sor-
ry," he said, "but I'm afraid can't. |
You see, can't afford to fence"
Lieber looked around and nodded: |
That's all right" he said, I've got a
lot of old wire that's no use to me and
a lot of loafers to tear It down and
put It up. I'll fence as much pasture
as you say and throw in the fencing
on the deal"
That's mighty fair" said Gerry;
"I'll take you" He dropped his hoe.
won't you come down to the house
and have a bite to eat?" He turned
and LIeber started to follow. by
the way" said Gerry over his shout
der, you're not a German, are your"
Lieber stopped his horse. His eyes
wavered. mo" he said shortly, I'm
not I'm an American. After all,
don't think l ought to waste any time.
Hours tell with starving stock. I'll
just get back in hurry, If you don't
mind. My men and the wire will be
here just that much sooner"
Gerry frowned again but this time
at himself. He felt that he had
stepped on another mans corns while
| defending his own. 'All right, Mr..
Lieber," he said. 1.-The sooner the
better. I'll do all can to help"
The next morning the men came ac-
ycompanied by oxcarts loaded with
fencing, posts and all. Lieber was
| with them. He sat his horse through
| the hot hours and drove his men stead
| lily. Gerry threw himself into the work
| as foreman. The fence grew with
amazing rapidity. From the bridge
they carried it in a straight line past
the house to the river 1t cut off a
vast triangle whose two other sides
were held by the ditch and the river.
By night the work was almost done
Gerry was tired and happy, but he
sighed. How many weeks of toll
would not he and Bonifacio have had
to put in to accomplish that fence!
Iieber stayed the night with them
and Gerry studied and initiated the
older mans impersonality. Lieber
kept his eyes on his plate or in the
vague distance while the women at
tended them and as soon as the bust
ness of eating was over he retired to
the room that had been allotted to
him.
He was up early in the morning and
away to meet the coming herd. First
came the horses, neighing and quick
ening their weak trot at the smell of
grass. Far away and like a distorted
echo sounded the lowing of the slower
cattle. The little herd of Fazenda
Flores caught the moaning cry and
lifted lazy heads. One or two lowed
back.
The horses were rounded up at the
bridge to await the cattle. They
stretched thin necks toward the call.
ing grass and moved restlessly about
with quick turns Of eager heads and
low impatient whinnies. Lieber sat his
stable-fed stallion stolidly, but his eyes
grew moist as he looked over the bony
lot of horses. "They must wait fol
! the cattle" he said to Gerry. "a fail
start and no favor Cad, if you coulC
have seen them three months ago"
The cattle came up in rapid sham
BILE that carried them slowly for they
were staggering in short quick steps
Their heads hung almost to the ground
They had no shame. They moanet
pitifully-continuall
Gerry opened the wire gap. Tit
horses gave an anticipatory whirl anC
then dashed through. They forgo
their weakness. They galloped dow
the slope, spurning beneath their fee
the food they had longed for. The!
, did not stop till they reached the ricl
, bottoms. Lieber smiled affectionately
, There's spirit for you" he said.
The cattle followed but the men hat
, to beat the first through away iron
: the gap. They had stopped to eat an,
! had blocked the way. At last the.
! were all in and the gap closed. On
or two stood with 'straddled feet AM
continued to low, their lips just brush
ing the lush grass. "Poor beasts" SAT-
Lieber, the smile gone from his face
"they are too weak to eat"
He and Gerry went back to tn
house for breakfast. The herders sa
and smoked. They had had coffee;
would see them through half the day
9 Before Lieber left, the horses wer
e herded once more and with much tror
a BILE driven out upon the desert. Lie
Der turned to Gerry. Don't let theI
I back in until tomorrow, please," b
!, said. "If you do, they'll founder
e "What about the cattle?' asked Gel
r ry,
y "The cattle are all right. The
) haven't enough spirit left to kill then
selves eating They'll begin lyin
n down pretty soon. Good-by, and r,
it member, you'll get a warm WELDON
d up at Lieber's whenever you feel liz
b riding over"
l