Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 32, Number 357, 8 February 1908 — Page 7

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THE K1UU3IOXD PALLADIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM, FASCINATING FEATURES - For YOUNG FOLK

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How Ernest Saved The Herd

By WILDER IT WASN'T very pleasant to be left outside the stockade to guard the corral gates, with no companions but a pony and the three thousand six hundred half-wild and restless cattle. Most boys of fourteen would not have relished the position even in a time of peace. And now a band of desperados of the worst type was known to be approaching. White savages who have no fear of the law are worse than savage Indians. A scout had brought word that the terrible "Bolter gang" were on their way to raid the cattlemen of the valley, and all hands had since been busy fathering the scattered settlers Into the central stockade for protection against this marauding band of "rustlers," or cattle thieves. Whatever may be eaid against the cowboy, laziness and cowardice are not among his failings; bo it is not surprising that the ranchmen began to prepare moet actively to give their unwelcome visitors a warm reception. Upon the mountain lay the acout, waiting to send (he signal of warning when the foe 6hould enter the pass. Eelow, fearless riders dashed over the plains, bringing In the scattered cattle and preparing for a long and vigorous defense. Until the signal came there was no danger, and, as all hands were needed In driving up the more distant herds, the stockade was for tbo time left comparatively undefended. That was how it came to pass that Ernest was left alone to tuard the corral gates till the remaining cattle were driven in and the heavy fastenings safely secured. There was little for him to do but watch till the other herds arrived. Then he would have to 6wing the big gates open and help turn the leaders in. This might mean some hard riding and not a little danger. Often AN TN the fall or 1S4:. Mr. Andrew jaenson wriaon sailed out of Ikmton harbor for the gold mines Iof California. The first day out the handle of his name was knocked off, for this bright and handsome boy was working hia way on a sailing ship around Cape Horn, and sea captains of those days had no time to waste on long names. He was only Larison after he left land and his visiting card behind him. On landing in San Krauciseo, Mr. Andrew Jackson larlson of Boston, Massachusetts, was taken down with smallpox. Thf poor fellow left th hospital without a dollar or a friend, and with hardly a spare garment. Still he was Htout of heart, a brave and determined boy, as were ten thousand others of thoso limes who were trying to make a little fortune for the dear ones at home, and he did not falter. The day after leaving the hospital, with his pale, thin face all in dots and spots, he engaged to work bis passage up the Sacramento River to the mines. "What is your name?" demanded the gruff captain with a green patch on his right eye and a silverjnounted six-shooter In his belt. "Andrew Jackson Larlson, sir," said the pale young inau with the spots and dots on his face. "Hey? Well, Mr. Andrew Jackson Lazarus," roared the captain, "take that coal-shovel and report to the mate, and be quick about it, too." And so Lazarus became his name Lazarus, and Lazarus only, for soon the other parts of his name vere again rubbed off. When young Larison reached the gold mines ho found there had been a great stampede for mines said to be of fabulous richness farther on over the mountains. Ail along the banks of the little gold-bearing river ho saw deserted cabins, the latchstrlng hanging out ready for any who chose to enter and tako possession. A good custom was this in the old days. Let a Iarty of gold hunters, game hunters or even hunters after health, go into the mountains and build a cabin for the season, care was always taken to leave it neat end clean and ready for the first poor wayfarer who might pass that way. Larison pushed as far on tip the stream as his legs would take him the first day. Near the lead of the rlacer mines he found a cabin with the rickety door wide open. He entered and took possession. A fine stream of water ripppled and ran through the mossy boulders under the great, sweeping pine and fir and yew trees. The place was so still that the young man could hear his heart beat as he stood on the earthen flood before the huge fireplace and looked pbout. In one corner was a battered old rocker, a

THE BETTER PART OF VALOR by Carolyn Wells . . . I ? I T 1 f- I r 1 i

i. The fearlessest baby you ever did see Was little Xantippe Zenobia Lee;

GRAHAME

the least unusual thing is enough to start those herds of half-wild cattle on a mad stampede before which there is no safety but in flight. A single misstep, and horse and rider would b trampled to pieces by a thousand hoofs. The cattle were restless that day ready for a stampede on the slightest provocation. As though they scented danger, they sniffed the air, pawed and lowed till Ernest began to fear they would attempt to break from thcinclosure. Within the stockade the women were doing what thpy could in preparation for the coming fight. Guns were being cleaned an 1 examined, ammunition boxes dragged into more convenient places, and the little fortress strengthened in every possible manner. In fact, every one was busy at some active work except the scout, away up on the mountain, and Ernest. No wonder the lad felt almost alone in the world. Would the men be ready to return before the signal came? Of course they would be all right, anyhow, for they would have time to get back after Bolter came in sight of the scouts. They could leave the rest of the herds. If necessary. But the excitement of the cattle he was guarding seemed contagious, and Ernest's restlessness, like theirs, increased. He galloped up to a little plateau, and, dismounting, looked anxiously toward the spot where the scout was stationed, as if expecting his signal. His attention was about equally divided between the trail by which the men would come and the lookout on the mountain. The lad was not by any means a coward. Accustomed as he was to the dangers and hardships of frontier life, even the cowboys admired his daring. Still, It waa with a keen sense of relief that he saw an ap-

OLD -"TIME CALIFORNIA BURGLAR,

shovel, pick and a few other tools. In the southwest coiner p.rose a tier of "buns," not unlike tho bertha of a ship m arrangement. In each bunk wa3 Epiead a thick layer of fir and pine boughs, which gave out. a pleasant odor. But on the topmost bunk, brat of all. the thoughtful miners, on going away, had thrown their rough, outer clothing a3 well as some ernpiy flour sacks, gunny bags and so on. Larison hastily climbed up to this topmost bunk, by setting his feet on the two lower bnuus as if mounting a ladder, and the poor fellow soon had a fairly comfortable bed arranged on top of the fragrant boughs. Then he descended, struck a match, and from the pine quills and pine knots to be had at the things, indeed, but gold. Waa the gold there in the ground, down on the bedrock, deep under the big mossy nouiders? He would soon see, With sleeves rolled above hin clhnwa and wltb Kara faet, he wrought and he wrestled till nearly sundown. rot a color, although he struck the hard, blue bedrut'K in manv maces rnar Tirr nnv He climbed out of his claim, very tired and hungry, but not disheartened. The water had sung pleasantly to him all day. Beautiful wild flowers had leaned out from the bank, as if to comfort him in his solitude. The great solemn pines sang their mighty monotone in the warm winds of the sierras hi?h over his head and of tick" what be timidly asked foi- a codfish and two pounds of crackers. Next day the same song of the pines, the same sweet flowers leaning from the banks of the tumbling little stream, the tame strenuous toil, too but not a color of gold. The lad was growing dizsy as he leaned over to strike a few last blows in the depths of a crevice of

uoor for the picking up. he built a fire so bright that SSj5 WrSWWCfe; it lit up the laughing little stream through the open p5i$ door. fSMfefeS He went out. washed his hands and face in the cool . W1wW$ water, took a refreshing drink, returned to his cabin, Jf ifltSfy,& S closed the door, and dined heartily on cookies and ( . fc cheese which the gruff but hind old captain had made A WM&K'W l him put in his pocket on leaving the boat. ?iStCvtl I ( Our young gold-hunter slept soundly. He was now fer "an honest miner." with cabin, bunk, tools, claim-all SKZtfMi&J&&

it made him think pleasantly of the nine woods 1.4i.Wl'ln8 li iiVJ-,. -.' -; . :

home. Wm MM Mii'Miil: ',-' z : xlfio,..

He had passed by a small grocery store the even- (Ml' ItytfWii i v-'-iV v-'-..v ,' ing before, a mile or so down the stream. Thither MM ' & M1 'H'lfiW he now returned, after arranging his tattered raiment f 'kiriWm " ' -'Wm, as best he might, and laid his case before the bearded ft't'j' ' V ''iK'Hil 1 'S&fib&r&.tfis iJli' U I fA i I Missourian who kept the "store." As the Mlssourian iPMt J was both kind and anxious to see work resumed at Ml iiffl'lVl&LW the deserted diggings, he readily let Larison have "on ' M,h"'1 -' J-',r.' '.JSaIai

She calmly stood still, without tremor or shock, When she saw her great.errandmother's great tur-

When to ruffle his feathers the turkey began, Do you think that Xantippe

preaching cloud of dust that told him the men were see him and give warning unless he had been urcoming. prised and captured. Cut was It really the men? The cattle nerer came Older heads than Ernest's would have been anxious

-Af y'-'. tytl-, . , - a j i i w if IT VvMvi Vrll'H A KttfJ .. .- i- I.iaT THAT TOLD HIM THE

t " t r , vim w r n .t!7

li!;o that unless they were stampedin?. Surely that at that moment. Furiously the cloud cf dust apcouldn't be Bolter! The scout would have been sure to proached, drew near, then parted, and out of It

the bedrock which he ha 1 been following all day without even a color to encournce him. His pick sank deep dapper than r tv.forp mrt !h clear hrL jjf'ffifffi u,.'7Jii . tr 'THE SMELL OF HAM HAD MACE BURGLAR." 'HE ELAK A water took on a dirty clay hue. He leaned over, took a handful of this dirty yellow stuff from the point of his pick, and was about to throw it behind him and strike again, when h-3 saw eomething glitter in hio IL

No ! She turned up her queer little nose, and said "Poo ! You needn't think that I'm

frightened at Copyright, by Century Co.

2 f'J' A n

1 A4 3 i i f ""r 'i' -: "tWHi . v .. - . f -it.-;, ." r-'-iiiSS HE SAV. AN APPROACHING CLOUU UF UUST MEN WERE C OMING.

by JOAQUIN MILLER

hand. lie stooped to the water, and saw "Gold! gold! gold!" It did not tako long to let the water wash the clay away as it ten f urgling down tho crevice. Bufoie it was jit tairiy night tho hungry man had nearly fill'-d Wiih t;old dust a little pint cup which he found in tin cabin. But. it. v. l.j char that this was only a "pockft." If bo had baa halt u day evil I betore him he would have Ij'.-cn able to ccoop it. out and turn his back on it all; In whirh case this stry woul.l not have been written. Tin: lVMjir.te boy had thos-e l;;it ndonl on him far vay who weie very d?ar. They wou'.d n-cA all the :,o!d. And inch it was only one umr" lav at furthest. Me won.! remain to iret all. With thi3 resolution and a light, heart, plthough a heavy step, he tottered down to the s n-o. Hi would not he could not leave h!s gold behind bin. He went his way, thinkir.p nil the tin::' what b.1 would have to cat on bis r ; 'i.-n. Ham! Ham ainl onions! Fried ham and onions! Thar wss what he would have. He almost ran as ho n-a:vd the 3! ore. Four men were playing cards at a table as he came in. Two others lay on benches asleep. The return till?? of the stampede had set in, and men were not nearly so scarce in the camp as b"fcre. Larison let Lis gold sink deep down in his pocket. H? found the bearded J.Iissourian behind his xi;n:er, and asked to pay his bill. The storekeeper s ' med to have forgofen him. But after looking him n the face for a while he said: "Oh. jes, yes; I remember you now. Let me seo what it was you got." Turning around to the wall he put hir. finger ou a m'oer oi" little dots and spots. These were for Larl- . vn's na'nc; for th store! eeper cnu!d net read. ndcr the r-po?s and dots were- the tail of a fnh and " ov.tline cf a crad.er, wkh four little marks below. "I also want a ham and a pound of crackers a hoi.-: ham. 1'r.a hungry. Aud I want onions a ud of onions! " The sto! h 1: '"per handed over tbo ham, tied up the V'Tn r.n-i tool: the gold an.1 weighed out. his due. .iriscn imriif li'atcly picked up bis bundle and start- .! for his abin. How fahl he did walk! And how fragrant as that ham as it fried and cooked in the new fire on the hearthstone! The bag uf gold he laid on the table. ""w a"'' thn th" ymrg man turned his eye from the pan to the gold v,uh a happy heart. One more day. then home! He tf i the pan of frizzing ham on the table, closed the door and sat down to his meal.

The turkey swelled bigger; his tail-feathers spread; And he puffed up his wingr. Then he waggled his head

you!"

there came, sot horns, but horses ridden a If the evil one possessed the reins. There waa there could be no more doubt. It was Bolter and his tBjr. Ernest' first thought was of the men scattered hopelessly over the valley; then of the women and children in the stockade, defenseless and as yet unconscious of their danger; then of the cattle. Ah. the cattle. Putting spurs to his horse, he dashed to the corral gates, tore them wide open, and thea flaw to the rear of the incloiiure. and, shouting like a maniac, swans; his coat In the air aboTe his head. For one Instant three thousand six hundred heads wers in the air. Tho next, four times as many hoofs went thundering down the Talley in a hopeless stampede, A railroad train woull not have stopped that rush. Nothing could withstand or check ltTho advancing horsemen drew rein for a moment, astonished at the commotion. Then, as the full etnas of their danger burst upon them, they turned about and fled helter-skelter for their lives. Desperate men they were, and only desperate riding- could savs them. When the cowboys returned, the noise and dust had died away, and the desperadoes were disorganised and scattered. Here was the ranchmen's chance, and fo well did they inrrove it, thanks to their habit of quick thinking and acting in an emergency, that Bolter left nearly half his sang prisoners in the bands of their Intended victims. Cowboy skill soon rounded up the scared and scattered cattle. The scout? Toor fellow, he had kept his last watch. Bolter's sharp-shooters had surprised him at the post of duty. And Ernest? Well, a week later, a half-dozen of the ranch owners came up from Denver and held a meeting in the main ranch bouse. As they sat around the Are they were told the story of Ernest's exploit, and Immediately they clubbed together to send him East to school. He graduated with high honors, and not many years later hecam the prosperous owner of the very ranch which his pluck and cool-headedness had sated from Bolter Rod his desperadoes.

Suddenly there was a noise outside. The young man started to his feet, trembling and pale. The noise ! grew louder, as of many feet, now close to the door. But he did not lose his presence) of mind. He waa certain the noise was of the four men he had seen at the card table. He had noticed them shrink from him and whisper among themselves. At the time he had thought they were referring; to the fresh marks of smallpox on his face. The singular wsy In which the storekeeper had. set down bis name on the wall confirmed bins in this. But why should those men come to rob him If thy believed be had the smallpox? Was his cold more precious to them than life? How quickly a man thinks at a time Ilka this! What was to bo done? H waa alone and unarmed. There were, he believed, four burglars no doubt all well armed. The noise grew louder. There was a grent battering at the frail door. Suddenly Larison made his plan. He dashed the gold against the stone wall that formed the back of the chimney. The precious contents sank down safe in the deep ashes. Then with one bound Larison sprang up high In the topmost bunk and covered his face as he groaned: "Smallpox! Bmallpox!" The door was now broken open with a terriflc crash. Then Larison heard the din and rattle and noise at heavy feet. But there was no word spoken except by the youth with covered face, high up in the corner, who uttered the wail of "Smallpox! Bmallpox! Smallpox!" After a time Larison paused to listen. He coulA now hear nothing at all but the beating of hia heart. He rubbed his bands with glee at the thought of his shrewd device. The sold, he knew, was all there In the ashes. Half an hour's washing would restore It to him. Then he would get the rest out of the pocket, and strike for Massachusetts by the shortest possible route. Planning this, still full of heart and hope, he turned over in his bunk and fell asleep. The sun was high when he awoke. Peering out cautiously, quite ready to bide his head and cry "Smallpox!" at the first sight or sound of an Intruder, be saw. beard nothing at all! Then he came down and looked about. The crackers were gone. The frying pan lay upside down on the floor. The ham waa gone also! Turning to the door in a bewildered fashion be saw on the fioft earth outside the tracks of his assailant. Tbey were big. broad tracks the tracks of a grizzly bear. The smell of ham had made the bear a burglar! But Larison was rich? in. And looked toward the baby. With agonized squeals Xantippe Zenobia took to her heels!

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