Casper Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 23, 1921, Page 5

It was the Gay before tentedly, had spread his A storm was raging acroag the|tarpaulin over the pair, letting it t were draped in storm clouds,,ed between them where he stood “wy, S24 Casper town, nestling between|throughout the bitter might. The timbered slopes and the Platte piled up around them and the river, resigned Itself to a period of|warmth from their bodies saved the ¢ulness until the ranges should blow|man from freezing. Gladly would he & year when twenty-/ thee eagerly crunching thelr grain pec sp bhava 3 bargh a leicap1 pl be maabale 2 aes stead two-ton truck; the| “By gad, I've a feed barns which have since givén| teed to them tomeroe?” hereon, way to garazoe and service stations, |consulting @ thick openface earch, Were filled with freight horses “eating “Only threethirty, and I can make their beads off” ag thelr owners the Seventeen-mile ranch for tonight would have declares. These same and start there fn the morning.” He Were eating—and in some turned his steps towards Shorty's feed Grinking, thelr heads off uring barn, casting a weather eye along See weeks {the northern sky-tine. the old Adsit note! a number of! “Clear and cold tomorrow. Maybe -stockmen sat around the big some wind. Let's go.” He hurried fin the office. the smoke from along. No use telling Shorty where Pipes mingling sociably with the he was going or there would be noth. of the drummers, and the ing stirring from the barn, That a ‘Yo Christmas. j Bluff and hearty individual sat in his _“Cristmas comes, but once a year—|stuffy Itttle office at the barn, ear thank Godt" bitterly prociaimed one’ rounded by the lolterers who keep the home fires burning—doth coal and tobacco—in livery barns the world coal stove; over. This was Shorty’s “kingdom. — “ppreciative chuckle These retainers were at his beck and his companions. Big Dan Moc-'call, ready at a moment's notice to Gregor, a retired cattleman, ler and execute his wishes. Was there a etait, ssarece’: one: Kaee (i tak Petems earsad t0 remota parts, fed his chair back against wall horses to bring tn frors 7 patting vigorously et bia pipe, The range, or py th just such a bitzrard to spend teer ready and Willing to follow Ghristmas,” he bexan. Shorty’s lightest wish—for a consid- “The big bay mares I drove so long sideration. Mac came breezing {nto to the supply wagon—” Here he was this assembly, a welcome interruption: interrupted by « new arrival who had and his request for a quick stepping fast come tn from the range, and team, a few tales of hay hearing this last remark exclaimed: couple of sacks of grain, met with “Hey. Mact That reminds me, I ready response. that, old team yesterday out inj “Where you atmin® to take this he Teapot country. They were up) stuff, Mac? was Shorty’s anxious in. “Sure, why I rode that close to|the outfit was made ready for the them I could read the brand” road by willing volunteers, and Mac wi a, Sesmell: oe. eeniemtec cae Te Oe Mae Sat AS 8; Vinre where ” he, muttered half to himself, a groceries and O° jong as T know the fix there|s0me blankets, I’ve a notion to go throw another descended urn th: ‘of hay and grain into their old|bleak Salt Creek road, Mac, with his ” steppers, had left the sand hills across {An incredulous Inugh went up. tho Platte and was making good ‘time ‘t do anything foolish old-man,”|"orth over the dreary fiats towards Eee eg bay t= pera the nn orp hats eres ed lizzard started. team trotted team, sul he ” bina a. 4 ply wagon rrnbling ‘olily ‘over ‘the “heres” rumbled tre . At other times they la- tanita, the pout bored heavily through deep drifts or cay , Mac, go on'with your|W2ded through stretches of sagebrush se story. The old skates agp grease wood where the snow ny @ gale; let 'em rustle.” muAt thia point conversation , bring) °° ; Red Desert.” ‘PNever you mind;" spoke up ancth- er#™just let enough reward hang over them and some foolhardy fortune or no blizzard. Some bard- stands a show to land him a tx’ le forty thousand.” - » ‘ing of these idle speculations. »Mac soon ventured forth into the street thinking about his horses, night with them lost in. the open range. He had grain along for them, and -he.tied ‘them to wagon box where they could feed ~» A Complete Stock at - Smith & Turner Drug Store . 133 S. Center § Mac sang out cheer- in interrupted. A number of pas:|!ly to the team, and smote himself from the afternoon train’ Witit powerful swings of his long arms keep his blood in circulation. Once but being wu: R é Ey that old _Benedi team tried to turn in at a de- serted homestead, still on they seemed to put forth the'r hurrying onthe Sev- Z ict, | i brought in a demijohn from the wood-) penienced pile and poured out three.coffee cups, of the. cold amber fluid that their tired, y shod) mixed snow with their horses. j had not dran sucked the “Sharp shod, toc.” he commented.|icy troughs dry at Benedict's wind- “Neverslips, I imagine, right out of| mill. The water Sag that he carried A hundred feet away he saw a| canteen of coffee that he had brought it had drifted conveniently under|roughness upon the immaculate sur-| along was unresponsive to his warm while Mao rubbed down the door. Then Badman number three| face of a drift, that upon close exami-|est coaxings. He lighted a handful of steaming pair that must take him wrestled with a frozen haunch of/ nation proved to be the path of the| hay and tried to thaw out a drink, but on (Whristmas day. meat and melted up a skillet full of/ horsemen. The storm, tn covering this|@ playful zephyr whirled this flaming “Shorty will be wila!” he murmured lard, while Pete and partntr But | trail had done its’ work too weil, and| fragment three time around his head to himself, “But I will buy his bronks|emptiéd the three sacks and eagerly | there had been left an embossed like-| and then sent it straight up. outright /if he has any kick eetees jemereed their contents. There ‘Were| hess of the original tracks. Getting] ‘The exasperated man took shelter ‘Hie heart was with his own aban-| bulky bundles of greeubacks and Lib-) the general direction from these twolin a mearby gulch and hungrily Goned teem so far from shelter, andjerty bonds, neat little rolls of gold Points the plainsman pondered upon| gnawed a sold lunch Lenn he he would willingly sacrifice the/and sliver cotn—all a man could con-|the probable destination of these horse. warmed himself @ Wtae by running up Strange pair to save the faithful oldjveniently pack behind a saddle. ‘There|™en. There must have been three|apd down the gulch, whieh he faaun ‘companions of his most prosperous|was a red-striped mail pouch of tough | °f them. was hard work. Night would soon be ‘canvass, with combination lock; and/ Deacefully inthis jooked foolish anti futile, as Pete| Benedicts bunkhouse at the Seven-'remarked, after he had slashed’ teen-Mile Ranch, and his team con-|through the canvass with a heavy tentedly munched thelr hay in the|hunting knife. Registered letters in ‘barn, a more thrilling ecene was being|neat packages, and a few items of enacted at a desolate cabin over in the Teapot country. classified. There were some large ter of the rimrock surroun that|bank drafts upon which Pete looked desolate valley known as the Irish|dubiously, remarking that this paper Park, the feeding grounds -for stock | would require careful and rapid handl- “Heading straight for the McCarty| upon him and he resolved to ride to cabin.” he ventured. “Nothing else|the McCarty cabin’ in hopes of find over that way but the Pine Ridge.” |ing fuel, possibly food, left by the Then he suddenly slapped his thigh|three mysterious horsemen who had and exclaimed. | gone that way only uz be “The three train robbers, by fore. George!” News of the robbery was the| Returning to his horses Mac saw Jast thing he had heard before jeay-/that Fanny was provided with hay. ing town the evening before. Here he| He tucked the blanket carefully about had thelr trail forty miles from the| her, then he stripped the harness from scene of the robbery, and a good hunch| the Uvery horses, mounted one and the eve jon the wagon was frozen hard, and @! kicking the side of careless hand ing. Once he spilled the car: when a hoi the leader of the bandits you're “fraid of gett gambling.” Mac imagine whinced at this but Slim made no to bed. It was a strange ¢ Mac thought. covered an old cabin—a relic left lambing-band—and he wa sing’ a raring song, meanwhile whi a dude. Tu: white paper in each sleeve to rep sent cuffs, he held the derby g fully and teetered about with mincing gait, world at large that ine Dude.” the ro since Wyoming was a buffalo range.|ing in order to realize anything on It was Christmas eve, but far from|a falling market. making merry at this festive season, “We will give Slim these perfectly these hard featured and serious mind-| good @ecurities,* re remarked jocul- ed nomads swore at thelr horses, /arly. “He has bad business. experi cursed the cold, and doggedly followed/ ence and will know how to peddle single file until the leader stopped in/them. You the shelter of a dark cabin with a/cash. Here’ and me better take te one, Slim,” he called to stable in connection. This abandoned |the cook, “on the New York Stock habitation marked the lambing ground | growers Bank for ten thousand dol- and shearing pens of migratory sheep | jars. We'll give you this and a couple outfits, Stiffy the men dismounted.|more for your share.” led thelr ponies {nto the stable where mangers of hay and feed boxes of grain seemed to be in readiness. With few words they made their way to the louse, each carrying a heavy sack that hed jolted behind their saddles for many weary hours since leaving a ransacked mail and express car at a|Bucknum station, Laboricusly striking a match with numb and awkward fingers, one of them Ilghted first @ lentern then a|,,7 "ze? -| stove full of kindling wood, and soon hand; a @ roaring fire began to drive the chill from the room and the men loosened up thelr tongues. “You done weil, Pete, to have her all fixed for this racket. Where's your Uecker?” “Ticker cached in the woodpile. Couldn't take chances on some wan- derin’ herder licking it all up before we came."* “What's our play now, providin’ said herder comes prowlin’ around?” /"Fil him up, sure. Treat him right.” “Fic 4M him up. Cold lead? Treat} 200" oie to hhn rvagh, maybe!” “Aw can that rough stuff, ' Bill! ‘We're playin’ lucky. No pursuit—you ean bet on that. Weather too rough “You'll play Hell!” sourly responded the crusty Slim as ho shielded his face from the sputtering fat. This absorbing game of finance, in terspersed by hot portions of IMacor and hearty rations of food, continue far into the night without arriving at & satisfactory division of the treasure which was at last tumbled back) int: the sacks to awa‘t the morning. weary bandits at last sough’ fort of the bunks ready at nd with feelings of oxultation rather than gullt, they were soon snoring as soundly as Big Mac Mc Gregor, the cattleman, and Old Bene dict were snoring at the Seventeen Mile: Ranch twenty miles away. The grey_morning dawned and the bandits continued to slumber heavily while’ Big Mac, who had breakfastec by lamplight was hitting the traf) to Saddle. Rock, praying that the old mares had survived the storb. The roads. were heavy with drifted snow amd there was no one abroad. Mac soon had to leave the Salt Creek trai! the open plains towards Saddie Rock, which is a part of the rimrock across the Irish Park. A spiteful gale of wind had started the snow to crawling through the sage for them fat deputies. Just remember | brush like frozen vapor. It stung the that we are in locality where news|racq and froze upon the breasts and of this days doings will not permeate much before the Comes along peaceable citizen, spring round-up.|qne wagon tracks were shoulders of the struggling horses. obliterated DIY | nearly as fast as made, and the wheels him «with licker and holiday cheer. creaked a mournful dirge. Pays to leave good lnpression. Get Mac paused in the shelter of a butte as to where they might be found./leading the ot! he set out for the} “Dude, dude, dude. I thi ft ts There would be a heavy reward for|cabin to spend the night. y rude. their capture—five thousand, at least.) And so it was that Mac arrived ex-|I smoke cigarettes, and I make fo Dye Assistance could be had at Seventeen.{hausted to the bandit camp. He mile where men and fresh horses|Pounded’ loudly on the door, for he Were to be found. He hesitated, gaz-/heard voices inside and smelled the ing towards Saddle Rock, the outlines|Pungent smoke of a wood fire. At af which could be seen between fiur-| his knock the voices ceased abruptly ries of whirling snow. He could pic-| 4nd after a pause a bold voice shoutgd ture the mares bogged down in the| “Come tn.” snow and starving. | - He entered the dimly lighted room “Shucks! he exclaimed, “This ts|—dusk ‘was approaching—and indis Christmas, and I'm Santa Claus! rm tinetly he te out two men seated ish bets. And wha eveh I go, they Hello! say thea go feed the mares." at a table. was carelessly polish “ The McCarty cabin was out of his/!"& 8 1 it with a keen eye upor es from his Little Girl Goods at Half Price way, and he turned the team towards, ‘the visi ® did not ace the thind| 1s the ght burned low he wi SMITH & TURNER Rock, picking his way with|Until a from another part o:| them all a Merry Christmas, apolc ficulty through the snow flurries, {the room greeted him wi « for not thinking of it sooner. Then|| Drug Store, 133 S. Center sengers reported they were) “Which way, Old Timer: How com?’ } 2¢ an ced that {t was the tag end/| seading south toward the U. P." mut-|_ Mac closed the door and combed the = tered Mac as he pondered upon the|!¢¢ from his eyebrows. leeing bandits, “and liere they are|_ “I ran shy of grub back here where orty miles nofth. Ite a cinch they|T'V® got. some horses,” said he cau * scading for the Q. with part of the| The two men at the table came out owers an . ssn wag probably cached somewhere on from thelr strained composure w n he plains." they saw he was alone, and busic« Go Together He paused and considered the posst-|‘hemselves with getting out food an: vility of the men still being at the| “tink, stirring up the fire and lghtin MoCarty ‘cabta. the lantern. They explained that they “More than itkely they are moving, {had been overtaken by the storm, hav day, after resting their horses last |!2 been lost while on a prospecting ight. The poor old mares are wajt.|P- Mac slyly observed three ai ng for me. How they will lift their|Piclous looking sacks on the floor ir Nd Heads mnd snort when they whiff! ® Corner, and surmised their prospect his hay on the breeze. Well, 111 de-] 8 trip had yielded high grade ore iver the! gobane* Presently he went with one of the “He found them soon after noon,| en to look after the horses, and upon naking poor shelter in @ rough and| bis return the three sacks had disap broken sebtion where the snow was | Peared. cep. Old Fan was down, and with| Mo was paired off that night to i ng cars, but Pet stood with ears| Sleep with Slim, the one badman who tions. The Flower Shop Center, Arkeon Building—Phone 1485. rect and dilated nostrils as she enift-|'eally looked the part. Slim was a : e § 1 and blew and watched the ap-|#!00m: and while Pete and the youth Song Birds and Gold Fish for Gifts. rouching rescue. “Mac. sang oat|-(! Bill made merry with Ilquor and cheerily to them as he drove up. Far hated at the delay and made an effort to gain her fect bu Fefused to drink. ‘The tour mer played nettled back in the stow, with head erect, however, and she gave a feeble whinny that ‘sounded much lke a hearty laugh. Mac covered her with a blanket againt the atinging blast and spread some oats within her reach. Then he broke a bale of hay, and Bargain Tables of Holiday SPECIAL LINE AND PRICES ON HOLIDAY GOODS Christmas trees, holly and mistletoe and decora- Christmas table plants and cut flowers. him soused and deadto-the-world then|to tight a pipe, and he noticed horse we divide our spoils and beat it for/tracks in the sand where the snow the vastness of the big cities. By the] had'blown clear. Instinctively he ex- time he tells the, world what he saw|amtned fhem and saw also men's boot out here, we will be sitting pretty in| tracks—several riders had dismounted some sea const town. His will be the! here. case of vid Rip Van Winkle yammer-| “Funny,” he mused, “some fool ing about ‘the"mioonshiners"he bumped] hunters, I reckon.” Upon an exposed into im the Catskill: 4 slab of sandstone were the teltule “While the two talked the thirdi scratches that to the plainsman’s ex- | Buy a Man’s Gift from a Man’s Store || PS VERY man likes to receive his gifts from the store where he knows that quality is one of the fundamental principles of the business. And years of association with this store has gained for us that confidence poured some grain for the eager and impulsive Pet, who muzzled about her master delightedly, nearly jpushing| the benumbed man off his feet. The wind blew the skirts of Mac's coat wildly as he rushed after the hay that went tumbling off into the sage brush, fo jammed “his hat tighter to his head and unhooked the livery team, feeding them in the wagon box. He i |. “Barnett’s Of Course” which 'we highly prize. Manhattan Our Christmas stock of Clothing and accessories never was finer, never better, and never as comprehensive as right now. » Because of the usual business we’re anticipating this sea- son we urge you to do your shopping now. Only Two More Shopping Days Before Christmas. Open to 9 O’Clock Tonight and Saturday Night. $1.00, 2 for..... Men’s House Slippers. Silk, at All-Silk Mufflers__. Silk Shirt Special—Beautiful striped pure Silk Crepe de Chine Silk Shirts. —.—- $6. Rich All-Silk Neckwear: _Men’s and Boys’ Bath Robes__.._™_ $6.50 Up Men’s Smoking Jackets and House Coats, $8.50 Up Men’s Madras Shirts, fast colors.... Men’s Kid Gloves, lined or unlined..._.$1.50 Up Men’s Initialed Handkerchiefs, 20c or 3 for 50c Up Men’s Pure Thread Silk Half Hose__. ‘Men’s Pajamas in Outing Flannel, Madras or aeeeatctierh aoe Genuine President Suspenders, holiday box__..50c Fancy Silk Suspenders in box__....$1.00 and $1.50 We Have Everything in Boys’ Furnishings, Cloth- ing and Shoes at Special Low Prices. Barnett Outfitting Co. 120 East Second Street ¥ j Say Merry X-mas With. Flowers Everyone loves Flowers. Simple or preten- tious, floral greetings are always acceptable, most appropriate and dignified. Some Very Special Christmas Suggestions Flowering and Foliage Plant Baskets—richly colored combinations, decorated in the holiday iri $5.00 to $15.00. °y Christmas Blooming Plants—Cyclamen, Be- S gonia, Poinsettias and Cinerarias—according to size and variety— $2.00 to $7.50 Baskets of cut Flowers—Arranged in most per- fect fineness and distinction. $3.00 to $15.00 Santa’s Most Pleasing Suggestions Blooming Plants—Priced to suit every Flower lover—Boston Ferns: Christmas Wreaths—in English Holly, Cones gilded gold—red for your auto. 35c to $3.00 Pine 85 5 RZSES, VIOLETS, ORCHIDS, as well as Cor- $2.00 values. Sheetal sages, Basket arrangements, etc., to the limit of 14 ¥ our facilities for supplying strictly high grade -$1.65 to $4.00 Flowers at lowest prices possible, Flowers Telegraphed F. T. D. Florists $1.50 Up Willow Ware Jardinieres, Fern Baskets, Plant Baskets, Rot Covers, Ferneries, Hanging Bas- kets, Nut and Candy Baskets. Casper Floral Co. 153 South Wolcott—New Midwest Building Phone 872 .—75¢ Up .-$2.00 Up $1.95 Up greeted when oe LT LT LOT TEE LO LE: OE OO AT LT TEP LL EE LE a a 2 Pa LE LE MP ME LP LM LE EE EE LE EME EE I EI