Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1924-02-15
The Dude
Wrangler
Caroline Lockhart
Copyright, Doubleday, Page & Co.
Continued from previous issue)

Continued from previous issue)
Az he leaned there, nauseated, he
caught sound, or thought so, which
increased the sinking sensation, the
feeling of collapse that overwhelmed
him. He took off his hat and laid
his ear against the wall to be sure of
it. He had not been mistaken. His
time on earth was shorter even than
he had imagined. The sound he had
heard was the rumble of subter-
ranean current that would soon break
through. flowing faster and faster as
the opening enlarged, until it came
with gush, finally. He could Wis
uaIize it because he had seen 1t hap
pen 1t would rise to his ankles, his
knees, his armpits, then cover him,
and he would go to his final punish
ment by the last route he ever had
pictured!
Rufus got on his knees in an atti-
tude of prayer and supplication. The
cracked remnants of his stentorian
roice he used to the utmost advan-
tage. No Methodist exhorter ever
prayed with more passionate fervor,
and he could not in, "a lifetime have
kept the promises he made to his
Maker if only He would release him
from the trap into which he had got
ten himself through his own evil do
ing.
Lord, it was wrong for me to take
that $3.50, but Candy tempted me.
needed the money or l don't know as
| would have done it. If You'll jest
get me out of this, Lord, all the rest
of my life I'll do what I can for You!
I'll go to churchill give to the
heatfen-Ill stop takin' Your name
in vain, and say my prayers regular.
oh, Lord! Once / stole a halter and
! ask Your forgiveness. And left
a neighbours gate open on purpose so
the stock got into his cornfeld, but
! amt a bad man naturally, and this
is the first real crookedness | ever
done Intentionally. Lord" he plead
ed, hear my humble prayer and send
somebody"
At the top of the well Wallie had
his suspicious verified. So Candy had
laid one more straw on the cameIs
back to break it,"
Any compunctions of conscience he
might have had for putting Rufus
through such mental anguish van
ished
Leaning over the edge of the we'll,
he called down. cheerily:
How you making it?"
WaIlie's voice sounded like the
voice Of an angel to the prisoner. Re-
lief and joy beyond description filed
him. Hoarse as bullfrog, he Quav-
cred:
"In Mercy's name let me out OF
here, Macpherson"
You're all right where you are.
Rufus" Wallie answered. when
you're down there you are out of mis-
chief"
'sTm hungry-pm starvin'-"
RI don't know when I've eaten such
a ham, tender. delicious flavor, and
just enough fat on it thought Of
you all through dinner, Rufus"
"We'ye struck water-a big flow
I can hear it'll break through any
H,inute!"
THAT'S fine! Splendid"
"You don't understand" Rufus
cried, desperately. I'm liable to be
drown before you can hist me out of
here can hear 1t roar-like cloud
burst
Tell me about that deal between
you and Candy" Wallie suggested.
LET down the bucket" Rufus chat
tered.
Couldn't think of it. My eyeteeth
are coming through and don't like to
interrupt EN-"
I'll make clean breast of It,"
Il don't want to pollute my we'll I'M
less have to, but that's the only way
you'll get out of there" Wallie told
him, grimly.
"Canby's out to break you in one
way and another. He thought there
was no water over here, and he paid
me to talk you into diggin' for it. He
seen me and my boys eat one day in
the mess house, and he said 'twould
break the Bank Of England to board
us, so he wanted that clause in the
contract, and after sixty-eight feet he
paid us, besides a hundred and fifty
dollars bonus. done wrong. Mr.. Mac
pherson, and freely admit It'll"
"And you like my cooking. Rufus.
You like your food highly seasoned
with plenty of soda in the pancakes
and dough gods?"
Eyes. Mr.. Macpherson" whined
Rufus. II never complained about
your cookin'. I've nothin' against you
personally, and I'll knock somethin'
off the bill for bringin' in water IL
you'll jest let down that" A screech
finished the sentence. Then:
"C-r-r-ripes! She's busted through!
She's comm like river!"
It became a race between Wallie
and the subterranean stream that had
been tapped, and he was painting and
all h,rf eyhausted when RufuS rose to