The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 27, 1902, Page 15

Morton went t tion on h h in North- he was a strip- greater part ough it said his father, e vas only too g 1 o to get a taste of thorough and all night they tle shipping station Indian who nch with a rig the mounta. A. Doug- a strong at- Steve, and how's the rie Mr. Mortor as he , old man, I've now enough to You tell him when it's Spencer he merely said, “Son, do Steve s you. He knows more us put together.” were well seated in Spencer drew a lit- his pocket held it with, “Here’s a pair baby, Ste Say, rhow?” g strict attention to the t of getting his green >wn, for it was their an; y straightened out 5 eased up on back in his oes for Alice. Let's see 'um”; and he slowly unwrapped the parcel that held the diminutive red shoes. Gradually a smile spread over his face and then he huckled so that whole body shook. - se he’ll fit?” queried he, “‘don’t irst palr shoes. Papoose wear dozen times during the day Steve ricked up the toy shoes, putting them carefully away each time, laughing hap- pily at the novelty of the thing. Long before theranch was reached that night Steve and Spencer were fast friends, for the Indian’s natural reserve seemed tc melt before the bright eager chatter of the bov After a supper of bread cooked in a Dutch oven and without butter apd of coffes that boasted of neither milk or sugar Spencer turned into a bunk tired out, but he heard his father say hazily, “I"'m glad you and Steve hit it up so well THE SUNDAY CA LL. 1 more than half way. vels, but Stephen s the whitest Injun I ever s his word he's as lots of Injuns echoed dreamily Spencer knew to lasso a chargi strong and brown and was more of a man. One morning he heard a voice just out- 3 window say, “I know {t, but who responsible for him, as his father had devil can ride that distance and get gene to town on busine: there in time, Steve waited to hear no more. d gone up to the Indidn reser- before and herg was Alice held tightly In broken ast writhing in pain. between pats she begged and pleaded for some one to fetch him to her in her trouble. Now was the time to prove pent irthe open tucked under his saddle blankets, that the when he had gone without a mouth- 8round. Spencer, might not der that he, were appreciated. “What's the matter, fellers?’ he called clothes. Was in such haste; why he never stopped ”n' &l sl longer than was necessary. Its hot rays a8 much sense as a locoed bull,” Steve answered Tom miles from “Steve's tully there in time. y he thought of the many times fend had done him a favor. put a saddle on Vic. on the place. His kimself was after me,’ silence. As the s “Golly, I've got to ride like the devil ‘‘Alice’s sick, Stev Mile after mile was covered in absolute MCrton and Spencer year after year ov n came out it seemed curious to know why the lone horseman Treat him right and he'll always you? Tl get a hand-me-out and start many weary miles. T've met right away. Oh, say, now, stop your With a whoop Steve dug his horse in cussing before you begin, 'cause it'll take the ribs and fairly flew over the sage- you too blamed long to get good and ready brush. He breathed a little harder, but to go after him. Get a move on,” and the a tightening of his lips and a settling tired boy youngster's head disappeared behind & down in the saddle were all the visible as sure as the sun.” curtain, The summer that followed was malinly spent in the saddle, and by the end of it dfed away and ever how to throw a riata and He had grown signs of the trouble he now knew was In ten minutes the light patter of hoofs his body breathed a sigh of relief, only to draw another of anxiety. he sobbed out a fervent ‘thank God" The “Boss’” son had gone after Steve, but what if anything should happen {0 The white alkall dust trickled off the man Jack felt personally quivering animal in tiny foamy rivers, As the boy recognized the familiar yell and brought his horse to a standstill. looking like small icicles hanging from his belly and fetlocks. cried the reeling soliloquized Spen- boy. ‘At the 6 Ranch. I've sent Tom to cer. “I'm scared stiff I'll never catch him, town after the doctor. Hurry up.” ‘cause he sald he was golng out after The Indian glanced up for an instant stray cattle.”” Then as he bent lower and then, without a word, struck off in over the pommel, “Vic, old boy, a heap & long, swinging gallop. No thanks were depends on us to-day. Do your best, old cuss,” and as his hand stroked the brown satin neck, Vie seemed to understand, fory Ten years later Steve was again walt- he let himself out and fairly skimmed the ing at the little station, but instead of due or expected. 1t was simply the silent friendship of the range. a y At e el ph . the buckboard that had conveyed Mr. the mountain ble covered s sage had read, “More of them city dudes that ange he had a comforta- ing wagon, for the mes- Four in party.” t got Wil beat down flercely upon both boy ana had confided to the vaqueros. “Get his beast as the fine alkall dust filled thelr T'd kil a horse and then not get mnostrils and made traveling harder. " and he shook ““I'm sorry, Vic old fellow. It's darned wrong in his calculations. When the hard on you to keep this clip up,” and the train pulled in, instead of four men jump- head kicked off or a leg busted the first time he goes near a horse.” But it so happened that Steve was all boy straightened out In his saddle for Ing lightly down frqm the platform two Tom, an instant to get the Kinks out of his He's the best horse back. Bring him round here, will o his campfire suddenly got up and scanned the horizon carefully, for the tiny trail of dust which he had been watching in- tently for some time had developed into a cloud in which occastonally & horseman could be.seen. “Must be trouble. Horse give out. Man whipping and spurring like the devil.” Still puffing his cigarette he slowly wended his way toward a corral and se- lected a beautiful roan horse and threw a hackamore over his head. Just as slow- 1y and deliberately he walked back to his companions and grunted “Guess TI'll go meet him. Find out what's the matter,” and throwing a saddle on the horse's back galloped down the. trail. Steve had surmised correctly, for as the two drew nearer he recognized Spencer and his favorite Vic. Both were covered with dust and grime and the boy ‘was vainly urging the gallant beast into the steady gallop that he had held for so THE STAMPEDE ladies daintily gathered up their skirts and descended after Mr. - Morton and Spencer. In the evening an Indian smoking by “Well, I guess I'm a sheepherder,” mut- tered the surprised Steve under 'his breath. *“What's got into the o0iu ‘'man to bring them women up here? I calcu~ late. the old one is thé boss’ wife. By golly, the young one’s as slick as a year- ling colt.” “Hello, Steve! How’'s the Mono Indian man? By golly, I guess yowll have to brush me in'my Modoc a little, I'm get- tin’ kind of rusty.” Spencer deposited his grips on the platform, and as he wrung his friend’s hand he added, “Steve, this i{s my mother ‘and Miss Gray, who have come up to see that we don’t turn into regular heathens,” and the glance that he bestowed upon the fair haired girl would have told its story to any one with less kéen eyes than an Indian. After they were on the grade Steve stole & glance at the girl, who he knew would occupy most-of Spencer’s time, not only for the summer but for good and all, for, he now recognized her as the or- iginal of a photo he had seen tacked up in Spencer’s room in the ranchhouse for a couple of years past. He saw in Inez Gray a girl rather smaller than the aver- age, but with laughiny auburn hal rning on the seat. v hard enough? his face amusedly, to his name. prised by Indians. the Indians had been o ub. know a good horse when you ses one,” power in politics Such was his history and Next morning as Steve was taking care —ors,20d the pony, looking at her for an he was amazed to see old the most_vicious stallion on the ,complacently” licking salt out of “Oh, good morning, Mr. Douglas, I've DOrSe’. still persisted been looking for nodded her hea want a saddle horse. didn’t know whether there were any gen- tle ones caught up yet.” “‘E‘U}:‘!" g;'unted Steve. ‘“Why, of course. home and ride all the time 15 the perk’ . mister,” and she threw her arms aroun: “How? Why, of the stock as she brightly at him. Spencer sald “Ever ride?” I have a horse with a side ER0S FOUNDN DESERTED PAPOOSE 15 blue eyes and & “Bad way. Horse fall down get foot ot did ' caught sure. Broke little pinto horse last he scrutinize her that the tiny freckles winter. Ride Mexican saddle all right: which dotted her face were all taken in ride sideways .he buck.” and he even thought he could have told _ ‘Well, whers is he? I'm crady tqg see the Sxact number of them had he been him,” she asked, dancing lightly bour, a here is he?" nd are you pleased or not with my ‘All right,” sald Steve, leading the way Mr. Douglas?’ she suddenly asked to the other end of the barn. “Will T do 1. ‘Hello, there, you two. What kind of a and she smiled into cOnspiracy are you hatching up?”’ called for Steve was little OUt Spencer, sticking his head through used to women and she had thrown him the door. into utter confusion. o 3 Had she but known it, Inez would have _ ~OR, that's the horse the girl's goin’ to patted herself on the back, for when she ide,” answered Steve, grinning. “T'll called him Mr. Douglas she made a de- SROW you he said, untying the halter In all his life Steve mever re. 2nd. leading the pinto out into the yard, membered having the prefix Mr. applied SPTADE lightly on his back. An Indian baby found by . OB some stockmen driving a band of horses rough a mountain pass had been sur- e only smiled as he rode the prett Alter & flerce fraca%: jittle pacer up and down the yard. . worsted, the vaqueros found a deserted b, lew't he Pretty. Wiry, Spencer, papoose’ sitting in the trafl bacon rind. The youngster ha bed Stephen 2. Douglas, after the states- man who was such a at that time. such his name. “I say, Steve, what kind of a rat is this you have tied up in a stall?” I say, Steve, when did you take to riding goats?” called out Spencer, laugh- ingly. how can you call him a goat. You don’ burst out Inez. ‘“Jest llke a rockin’' chair,”” chuckled Steve from the pony’s back. Jumping off nimbly, he tossed the halter over Inez's instant, seemed to understand that she was his mistress and rubbed his head ngly against her shoulder. *Yes, Inez, but why don’t you ride a Spencer. ‘““You know riding through rocks and over fallen wy logs is different from riding through the he mk. If you ever get out in the sage- sh with that you won't be abls to ses out.” - “I don’t care. He's pretty and I like bim and I propose to ride him. So thers the pony’s neck as though to prove that saddle, of she meant exactly what she said. A month slipped hnsnuy by, spent in riding about to the different places of interest, for “Spencer was thoroughly fa- millar with every inch of the range. “Inez,” sald Spencer one morning, “the boys are going to hold a rodeo out at Alkali Lake to-day. Would you like to g0 out and see them work?” “Of course! That'll be great and Il tell you right now, Spencer Morton, if those cattle chase us you won’t be in it with your big horse,” and she flung a merry smile over her shoulder at him. In a few minutes they were on a temn- mile ride to the round-up. A brisk gallop of an hour brought them to the tramp- irg, restless herd, held in check by twenty vaqueros riding back and forth and cir- cling round and round. Spencer’s experienced eye discerned im- mediately that the cattle wers unusually troublesome. “Hello! What's the matter?’ he cried as he galloped up to Steve. ‘“You seem to be having trouble here.” “Yes,” answered Steve. ‘“Cattle hot, mad and thirsty. . Better take girl around other side. They smell lake. Don’t think can hold much longer.” Even as he spoke 3000 thirst maddened cattle, with frothing mouths and widely staggering eyes, came charging down upen them, straight for the lake a mile away. Inez was paralyzed with fright, for ths thunder of hoofs and the wild bellowings of the frenzied beasts completely | un- nerved her. ' The men took in the situation at a glance. They were in the forefront of & stampede. Wheeling sharply around, Steve struck the pinto a sharp blow with his quirt and sald, “Let's see now what the goat can do.” The frantic horses needed no urging as they went through and over the sagebrush, for they knew the danger as well as their riders and were eager to be well out of it. “If a horse stumbles,” whispered Steve to Spencer, “it means die with this bunch of locoed longhorns after us. You know the swale down here? Well, you and the girl take down that. They won’t ses you £o in, for I'll slow up a bit and lead ‘em stralght on over the high ground. Now gor There was one chance! If they could gain the low ground In safety a faw sec- onds’ hard riding would take them off fo the left of the herd and out of harm's way, for stampeding cattle follow the lead blindly, as do panic-stricken sheep. Fortune was with them, for as they raced along the dry, rocky creek bed they could hear the raging mgss sweep by them like the wind before a storm. “That was a mighty close shave,” Spen- cer said, with a relieved sigh. “By jove, little girl, if it hadn't been for that old Injun I'd have lost you sure,” and his voice trembled, for he had never so fully realized how dear she was to him. “‘Oh, Spencer, please, please take me down before I fall oft,” and, rid to higher ground, he slipped off his horse and took the trembling girl tenderly in his_arms. ‘‘How can we ever thank Steve for his generous_act,” she sobbed as she nestled closer. ““We wouldn’t have been hers now but for his bravery.” Before he could answer Tom Williams trotted up unnoticed by them until he shouted: “Steve’s down with his boots on. His horse jumped in a badger hol and fell with him. ere isn’t enough o him left to hold a funeral over.” “Good God! What? Steve down? Are you sure?’ Spencer fairly lled, as he Zaught at the tiny juniper iree mear hing for support. A nodding of Tom’'s head conveyed the bitter truth meore effectively than allsthe wcrds in the human language. Suddenly Spencer caught sight of the fallen girl, and, catching her tightly in his arms, murmured: ‘‘Poor old Steve. T've lost one of my best friends. It's too late to thank him now, sweetheart, but as sure as there's a hag‘py huntin ground that's where he’s riding now,” and he slowly bowed his head until the brown and auburn intermingl “1 guess I'd Dbetter vamos,” solilo- cuized Tom, as he gently turned his horse and rode off through the brush, “Three is heaps too many round this camp.”