River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1923-05-03

It's hoops broken. A white horse, ema-
ciated, little more than buzzard meat
when alive. lay with its legs stiff in
the air, neck fiattened and head limp.
A broken pole, with splintered ends,
crossed the body of its mate, bay
gaunt -hipped, high of ribs. 1t lay still
but its TANKS heaved, catching fash
of sun on its dull hide.
Between the wheels of the wagon
knelt girl in gown of faded blue,
head hidden behind sunbonnet. She
leaned forward in the shadow of the
wagon. Sandy caught a glimpse of
a huddled body beyond her. Grit sat
on his launches, head toward the
road, thrown back at each bark. Sandy
reached the ledge first. The girl did
not turn her head, though his descent
was noisy. He touched her gently on
the shoulder telling himself that she
was "just a kid
She looked up, her face lined where
tears had laned down through the
mask of dust. Now she was past cry
ing. Her eyes met Sandy's pitifully,
holding neither surprise nor hope.
Hes dead" She seemed to be
stating a fact long accepted. He's
dead. An he made me jump. You
come too late, mister"
The man lay stretched out, head and
shoulders hidden, his gaunt body
dressed in jeans, once blue, long since
washed and sun-faded TO the green of
turquoise matrix. The boots were rusty
patched The wagon-bed, topping
sidewise, had crashed down on his
chest. Rock partly supported the
weight of it. Sandy picked up q
gnarled hand, SCARED, calloused and
shrunken, the hand of an old prospec.
tor
"Yore dad?" he asked, kneeling by
the girl.
Eyes" She stood up, Slight ant
straight. with limbs and body just
curving into womanhoOd. ''Tht
hawsses was tuckered out" she said
cor Dad cud have made it, They
didn't have no strength left, thou
IOOU UT WdlSIs 1IlC u-u lOdu JCS
slid out from under Dad made me
Jump. I figgered he was goin' TO, bu
his bad leg must have caught in the
brake We slid over like water slide
over a rock. He didn't have a HI
chance" AS she spoke them the oath
were merely emphasis. She talked a
had her father.
Sandy nodded.
SCOT an ak with the outfty' he
asked. Then turning to Sam as the
girl went round to the back of the
fallen wagon and fumbled about
through the rear opening of the cam
vas tilt: MANS alive, Sam. Caught
! fiirt of the pulse. Have to pry up
| the wagon. Git that busted end of
the tongue"
The girl handed an Ak to Sandy
mutely, watching them as Sandy pried
loose the part of the tongue still bolt.
ed to the wagon, getting it clear OF
the horses.
think you can drag out yore dad
by the laigs when we lift the body
of the wagon?" he asked her. May
not be able to hold it moren few
seconds. May slip on US, the levers
is pritty Short
She stopped, taking hold of wrin-
killed. boot in each hand. back of the
heel. A tear splashed down on one
of them and she shook the salt water
from her eyes impatiently as if she
had faced tragedy before and knew
! 1t must be looked at calmly.
/ The two men adjusted the powders
! they had set for fulcrums and showed
down ON the stout pieces of ash, their
muscles punching, the veins standing
out corded on their arms. The
wagon-bed creaked, lifted little.
"Now," grunted Sandy, snake him
! out"
The girl tugged, stepping backward,
! her plant strength equal to the dead
drag of the body. Sandy, straining
down, saw a white beard appear,
stained with blood, an aged, scanned
face, hollow at cheek and temple,
snarse of hair the flesh putty-colored