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April 6, 1910. THE
That was "Rio Grande" Jim. That
was his way.
And thus it was that we were introduced
at the Sapio Ranch.
CHAPTER III.
"Rio Grande" Jim.
The force at Sapio Ranch, on the introduction
of old Benito, received us civilly,
on the whole.
Certain "ceremonies" usual on the ad
vem. ui it lenaerroot were, as we have
seen, omitted at that worthy's instance.
With a view to further securing for us
the respect of our future associates, the
trapper had recourse to some tall and
characteristic lying.
"Why, these two young uns, bliss their
shaddies!" he cried, "Oi've knowed 'em
since they wus kids in skirruts. Oi
knowed their daddies back in ould County
Antrim, in Oireland. Oi did that saime,
an' the ooncle av the wan av thim was
praist av the parish whinst Oi left the
blissed green av the shore. They're a
foine pair, as yez'll all be seein'; an*
sure, it was meself as was writin' to me
Coosin Paddv O'Craier. who is a onnnsta
ble in New York; to have the lads coom
this way. It's bluid, ye know, that's
thicker nor water, an' there's a blissed
bit av that flowin' between Paddy an'
me."
Benito's story dazzled and mystified
the group of listeners, who eyed us critically
at a distance which was supposed
to be beyond earshot, but which was not.
We heard every syllable of that Hibernian
harangue ,and heard also the sometimes
doubtful interjections with which
the crowd punctured it But at last the
eloquence of our advocate prevailed, and,
though there was no syllable of truth in
the story of the genealogy which he
palmed off (I being descended from a
Revolutionary "Tarheel" family, and
Mayfield's grandfather having been a
Tory, who barely escaped hanging by the
patriots of South Carolina), we had no
opportunity to contradict it, ana it gave
us a sort of sanctity in the eyes of the
cow punchers at Sapio Ranch. After the
formality of our introduction to the cowboys
was fully over, and "Rio Grande"
Jim had reappeared from a brief absence
In one of the shanties, that long-haired
sheik said to us: "Yer kin Jist go into the
shanty thar, kids; yer'll find a place in
thar fer yer traps, an' a place, I guess,
fer yer bunks; an* Dick, the cook, *11
give yer some hard-tack an' a cup uv
barefoot. Yer'll have ter git ready fer
the harrlcane roof uv yer bronchos by
five ter-morrer. Them cattle-thievin'
"Hustlers" nas Deen ueeru uum <>b"?,
thar must be some tall roundin' up uv
cattle in the next few days; an* fer
aught I know thar'll be some two-legged
cattle ter round up afore we're done,"
and Jim looked a grim and savage determination
out of his eyes.
"What do you mean by 'Rustlers?'"
asked Mayfield.
"Well, yer air a greeny fer shore," asserted
Jim. "A 'Rustler,' kid, is one uv
them shorthorn devils that pretends to
he perspectin' an' takin' up claims, an'
: PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOI
sometimes ranchin' on a small scale, but
all the time he's stealin* cows on a big
scale. He's a blow-hard, too, but he's
mostly afeered uv gunpowder; but now
an' then yer meets one that'll lay a sheriff
out Ollinkfir'n smnlro T -
? 1 V.OH. iait ma
be a chance fer you kids to git interjuced
to some uv 'em in less'n a week."
"Well, we're here for service," I declared,
"and are ready to take things as they
come. The sooner we get into the business,
the better we shall be pleased."
"Yer'll git a stomach full afore ye are
through," was Jim's reassuring observation;
"I promise yer that."
"We hope to have a growing appetite,"
I insisted.
"Yer really do look like es if yer
mought," was the first token of -appreciation
that we had heard escape Jim's lips.
"Try us with the hardest," was my
rhollonco in
"I'll kiver yer cards, ,'greenies,'" answered
Jim. "But I swan, hit looks like
a pity to spile es milk-white kids es yer
two be; but when yer gits enough uv
Sapio yer kin jist bleat, an' the grit's
open back to Benito's shanty, and on to
Gordo Station. I haven't never yit bin
hard on no tenderfoot es had a clever
daddy er uncle."
We recognized the covert satire in
Jim's last remark, but went out without
other word, glad enough of a little time
to ourselves and a respite from the cork
oticn eyes ot me mouey group about
the Jacal door. We were hungry and
tired, and ate ravenously of the food provided
for us inside. The repast over, we
selected our bed space on the floor,
spread out our blankets, hung up our
traps and saddles, adjusted our guns, and
felt ready for whatever might happen.
"I believe, Penn, that you are now willing
to admit that old Benito is at least
a brick, if not a saint," said Mayfleld
while we were yet alone in the shack.
"I'm almost willing to stretch my theology
to the point of admitting your first
claim for him," I replied "He's been
white to us. You notice that he hasn't
rpmotnl v rofnri?A/l u ~ ~i i
.4VLvticu tu uui Having ueen
lost."
Hoi
Sarsa
America's Crei
Take It T
Thoroughly cleanses the
improves the appetite, relic
today, in usual liquid forrr
I .
JTH. " 435
"I wonder what's at the bottom of it
all," mused Mayfield.
"Nothing but the native goodness of
his Irish heart," I dared to explain. "If
he were only back in civilization, he'd be
what they call a good citizen."
"By comparison, Penn, he's not a bad
citizen out here."
"Well, I should say not," was the emphatic
word which I felt.
"Speaking of bad citizens, though,
Penn, do you know that the manager's
story about those 'Rustlers' has set me
to thinking?"
"How?" I asked. "You don't want to
back out from a brush with them, do
you?"
"Not a little bit, Penn; but don't you
remember the three 'woolies' we met the
first day we were out?"
"Yes." I ronlioH
, _ ?r..vu. n uai ui luein : '
"They are 'Rustlers,' and the very ones
Jim was talking about. They've just had
about time enough to reach this side of
the mountain in their round-about path."
I clapped May field on the shoulder, crying:
"You're a born detective. That's
just what those fellows are. Just suppose
we had consented to join them."
"We should have been thieves before
we started," suggested my companion
promptly.
"That's so," I replied, remembering the
ponies and saddles. "But I believe, Mayfield,
we would better keep this story to
ourselves for the present. I do not doubt
but we shall see our friends, the
'woollies,' again in due time."
"I agree with you, Penn. If we talk
too much at first, they'll be sure to think
we're fresh; and besides, it won't help
the case for the manaeftra tn linnm tho*
we think we have seen the 'Rustlers.'"
So we locked our suspicions up in our
minds, and waited to use our knowledge
when it would be of plain advantage to
both our employers and ourselves.
(To Be Continued.)
It is a good thing to sacrifice; but
it is a greater to consent not to sacrifice
in one's own way.?Charlotte M. Yonge.
)d's
parilla
Is
atest Medicine?
his Spring
blood, cures all eruptions,
/es that tired feeling. Get it
i or tablets called Sarsatabs.