The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1919-10-09

tact. and the boy rode back, muttering
and disappointed. He reasoned with
his horse as he rode: So
"'Tain't no use, you oil Slop.eye:
a fellow can't get the bead IL he ain't
got the fillin'-cooked meals an de-
cent chuck. ! could plug 'ern six out
o. six--you know that. you OIL flop
cars, Don't you argue about 1t. mel.
Their. When I'm right inside my belt
I smash 'em SIX out o. six, but ! amt
right an you know 1t. You don't
know nothin' about 1t. You never had
IA father; leastways you never had to
be responsible for one. 49,. Well.
it's comm to a finlsh-a d lame
finish, you know that. You know"
But ne had reloaded his revolver
and set up two more bottles. This
time he broke four and was better
pleased with himself. As he rode back
his soliloquy was broken by stronge
sound from beyond the belt OF trees.
The horse pricked up his ears and
the boy turned In the saddle To listen.
"Jumpin' crickets! What's lOose?" he
calculated. He knew every sound Of
the fOothill country, but this was
strange to him. A kind of snort, u
sort Of hiss, mechanical In its regu-
larity, startling In its strangeness. 1t
came across the valley with the un-
broken rhythm of watch tick.
"Well, I guess 1t won't eat u.s." he
ventured ut last. "well just run it
down and perhaps poke hole in It,"
SO saying, he cantered along the road.
crossed the little stream. and swung
up the hill on the farther side.
He was half way up when turn in
the road brought him into sudden
sight of the strange visitor. II was
the first he had seen, but he knew 1t
at once, for the fame Of the autOmo-
bile, then In It's single-cylinder stage,
had already spread into the farthest
runching country. The horse was less
well informed. He bucked and kicked
In rage and terror. But the boy was
conscious not so much Of the horse as
of two bright eyes turned on him In
frank and surprised admiration.
"What horsemanshipw she ex'
claimed. But the words had scarce
| left her lips when they were followed
| by a cry of alarm. For the ear had
| taken a sudden turn from the road
and plunged into u growth of yOunl
poplars that fringed the, hillside. II
half slid, half plOwed its way into d
semi-vertical position among the yOuns
trees. The two occupants were
thfown from their seat; the girl fel
CLEAR but her father was Jess fortu
nate.
4 In. an instant the boy had flung him
self from his horse. dropping the rein
to the ground. and the animal, al
though snortng and shiverlng. had NJ
thought of disgracing his training b,
breaking his parole. With quick, un
calmly strides the boy brought himsel
to the upturned machine. 1t was GU
J rious that he should appear to sue
disadvantage on his feet. La TIA
saddle he was grace personified.
) For moment he looked sOmewha
stupidity upon the wreck. Had II bee
, n horse or steer he would hav
known the procedure, but this eXper
, ence was new tn his life. Beside
\ there were Strangers here. He had Il
fear of strangers when they woi
chaps and colored handkerchiefs. bu
girl in brown sweater and u
oldsh man with white collar wei
cfegtures, ts ID APPROACHED with ca
ZION. lTife Sldlsh man. VAS lying {
the ground, with leg pinned und
the ear. and Brown Sweater raise
his head against her knee and .press'
his checks with sniali white finger
and looked ftS,the boy, with, brig
gray eyes and said:
."Aren't YOU going to do anything
\ Tint brought him back. Sure"
said, springing to her side. "Whada
want me tn do?" nsz
81 am afraid my leg is btoken," sa
the man, speaking sc,lmjy notwi
standing, his pln.I Can you get t
jack out of the toolbox and raise t
cary"
!. The girl pointed to the box, and
moment he nhu the jack In
IN hand. But II was new tool to h
d.. and he fumbled with 1t stupidity. I
handle would not fit. and when 1t I
fit 1t operated the wrong way.
vn "Oh, let me have it," she cried
IN patiently. N yt..
In a moment she had 1t set UNI
a the frame of the car and was ply
at the handle up and down with ra
I'm strokes. The boy looked on, helpl
and mortified. He was beginning
he realize that there We're more thil
tie in the world than riding Il horse ,
led shooting bottles. He felt sud-
as desire to be, of great service. 4
It'll just now he could be of no ser,
The whatever.
tie But the foot of. the jack began
ted sink In the soft earth. and the
looked up helplessly.
Use, st won't lift It," she said. NV
on shall we do?"
md IL was his chance. He Was eight,