Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-05-17
hooked the rescued team to the
chains end

hooked the rescued team to the
chains end.
With everything ready, Selwood
gave final instructions. "Now If your
king-bolt holds" he said, "well yank
that wagon out; If 1t gives, you'll
have to wait till you can rig another
there's a freighting outfit coming
along about two hours behind-now
everybody-all together!"
Selwood loosed G stentorian yell
the six horses, galvanized by the
shock, bent to the job. The boy
dashed with his lines and the settler
shouted. The mired wagon creaked
violently, groaned, and with the
wheels ploughing through the grip
ping sand moved uncertainty. A fresh
roar from Selwood signalized the sue
cess and spurred the horses to re-
newed efforts; and the partly re-
leased wagon, plunging ahead, was
jerked and ratified ungraciously
through the sullen quicksand and up
the ford approach to dry land
The emigrant turned to his rescuer
with joyful breath Of relief. "Stran-
GER" he exclaimed. that's big lift |!
Ny names Fyler-what's yoursT he
asked, holding out his hand.
His benefactor was taciturn. He
took the extended hand, but without
enthusiasm. "That's not the first time
I've helped pull wagon out Of that
hole" he said good-naturedly; ut
probably won't be the last. had to
be pulled out Of there once, myself;
nobody uses this ford that knows it.
Where you headed fort"
SLEEPY Cat. Where you bouni?"
Looks as If the whole United
States is heading for Sleepy Cat Give
me a hand with that blackboard, boy,
and I'll be moving. The three men
pulled the blackboard across the creek
without difficulty, helped Selwood to
hitch his team and put back his
chain. Selwood explained in answer
to pointed question that he was in
the freighting business and looked
after the Russell. and Wentworth out
fits through the mountains. Fyler, In
turn, said he was taking some mer-
chandise out to open a store in Sleepy
Cat.
Selwood, answering laconically a
rapid flow Of questions. was glad to
be ready to drive on. He gathered
his reins to step into the blackboard.
AS he lifted his foot, with one hand
on the dash and the other on the seat,
to do so. his eyes fell on FLYERS first
wagon, standing twenty yards away.
The canvas opening at the hind end
was parted and to his great surprise
he saw that at the moment it framed
the face Of girl Of eighteen or TWEEN.
ty years. She did not see Selwood,
and he stood motionless. staring at
the unexpected sight
She was bareheaded, with her hair
parted in the middle and drawn
plainly over her temples. On her neck
a simple kerchief rested loosely above
a simple dress. Women-folk we're
not uncommon in emigrant trains; in
deed. they were the rule. Yet Selwood
paused as If petrified at the ordinary
sight. Unluckily for him, his horses,
less interested in the Situation.
champed at their bits and tried to
start. More even than the clear pro-
file had promised was revealed in the
full face; it was mere girlhood-sim-
plicity and frank innocence-but it
made selwood catch his breath.
When her eyes fell on Selwood she
looked rather quickly away and the
parted canvas flap softly closed. Sci
wood stepped gingerly up into the
blackboard and settled himself in his
seat. The impatient horses leaped
ahead. He did not attempt to look
back.
Selwood reached Sleepy Cat late
that night. His tired team headed
without guiding hand for the Russell
and Wentworth horse barn.
Selwood threw his reins to wait
ing hostler. He got stiffly down after
his long ride, tipped up the lazy-back
seat, took out and stuffed into a side
pocket Of his coat the goodluck
girls shoe, and walked forward. As
he passed the open door Of the Office
he saw the barn boss, McAlpin, in con-
fab with little woman sitting in the
chair at the desk. Near them. listen
ing. stood an overgrown boy of twen-
ty. The woman was talking earnestly
and rapidly. Selwood was hungry.
dust-covered, and tired, and without
speaking to McAlpin he passed out
through the gangway doors and start
ed for his room at Doctor Carpy's
hotel.
McAlpin in the barn Office stood pro-
foundry attentive to the story Of the
little woman sitting at the desk, with
a handkerchief much knotted, in her
hands and with great trouble ex-
pressed in her tear-stained eyes.
The barn boss was plainly interest
ed in the tale the strange woman was
pouring into his ear. OF the men that
profess they have no time to listen
to other peoples troubles, James Nc
Alpin never was one. He had almost