New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-08-06

in the face. as if this were some
high and mighty occasion, in truth.
When Taterleg reused the camp
before the east was light, Lambert
noted that another man had ridden
in. This was a wiry young fellow
with short nose and fiery face. His
name, Lambert found out later, was
Wilder.
His presence in the camp seemed
to put a restraint on. the spirits Of
the others, some of whom greeted
him by the name of Jim, others ig-,
noring him entirely. Among these
latter was the black-haired man who
had given Lambert his title and ele-
waited him to the nobility of the, Bad
Lands. On the face of it there was
a crow to be picked between them.
When the men had made hasty
end of their breakfast three, of them
started to the corral. The young
man who had humorously enumerat-
ed the virtues of the All-in-One,
whom the others called Spence. was
of this number. He turned back, Of
fering Lambert his hand with smile.
I'm glad I met you, Duke, and
hope you'll do we'll wherever you
travel he said, with such evident
sincerity and good feeling that Lam
bert felt like he was parting from a
friend.
It was Sunday. The men who re-
NAMED in camp were enjoying the in
frequent luxury of a. day off. Lam
bert was for going on, but Siwash
and the others pressed him to stay
over the day, to which invitation he
Yielded without great argument.
There was nothing. ahead Of him
but desolation. It would be far bet.
ter to chuck the whole scheme over
board and go to work as cowboy
if they would give him job. He
preached the subject.
'Sure you can git a job, bud" Jim
said, coming over to where Lambert
sat with Siwash and Taterleg, the
latter peeling potatoes for a stew.
Jim next inquired if the stranger
had horse, the growing interest
of a friend in his manner. Hearing
the facts of the case from Lambert
before dawn he had heard them
from Taterleg-he appeared con-
cerned almost to the point of being
troubled.
You'll have to git you a horse,
Duke; you'll have to ride up to the
boss when you hit him for a job. He
never was known to hire man off
the ground. and guess II you was
to head at him on a bicycle, he'd
blow hole through you as big as
a can of salmon
Jim frightened up presently. as If
he saw CLEAN that might lead Lam
bert out of the difficulty. He had
an extra horse himself, not much Of
a horse to look at but as good
hearted a horse as a man ever
throwed leg over.
We'll, I'm not much on horse"
Lambert confessed. II used to ride
around a little. but that's been
good while ago.
Jim sat bordering the question. "I'll
tell you what I'll do, Duke" turn
ing to Lambert, brisk as with
gush of sudden generosity. eff YOU
can ride that old pelter Til give him
to you for a present. And I'll bet
you'll not get as cheap an offer of
horse as that ever in your life ag' in"
They trooped off to the corral
which was a temporary enclosure
made of wire run among the little
pines. Jim brought out the horse
It stood tamely enough to be sad
died. with head dropping Indifferent
! ly, and showed no deeper interest
and no resentment over the operation
| of bridling.
1t was an expectant little group
that stood by to witness this green
horns rise and fall
There was boundless wonder among
them, then, and no little admiration,
| when this stranger who had come
| into that unlikely place on a bicycle
leaped into the saddle so quickly that
old Milestone was taken complete
| ly by surprise, and held him with
such a strong hand and stiff rein
that his initiative was taken from
| him.
The greenhorn's next maneuver was
| to swing the animal round till he
lost his head, then clap heels to
him and send him off as If he had
business for the day ahead OF him.
The little band of spectators
cheered the Duke, calling loudly to
inform him that he was the only
| man that had stuck that long. The
Duke waved his hat in acknowledge
ment and put it back on with de-
liberation and exactness, while old
Milestone, as mad as wet hen,
tried to roll down suddenly and
crush his legs.
Nothing to be accomplished by that
old trick. The Duke pulled him up
with wrench that made him squeal.
land Milestone, lifted off his forelegs
| attempted to complete the back
| ward turn and catch his tormentor
| under the saddle. But that was an
other trick SO old that the simplest
horseman knew how to meet it. The
next thing he knew, milestone was
galloping along like a gentleman, just