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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (June 18, 1931)
CHAFFEE ROARING HORSE ■Y ERNEST HAYCOX The color came to her cheeks again; her lips were pursed tightly and she held herself very straight and still. He turned his head to the wall, stined by strange currents. "Well—give me that canteen.’’ He downed the last of the cho colate. Ranzo Taber came back. "Better be going. How do you stack up. Chaffee?” "Nothing wrong with me ex cept a weak ankle and an empty stomach. Once I get nbinit half a cow inside me I’ll be ready to r’ar.” He sat up. feeling a bit giddy, and drew on his socks and boots. But he wasn’t ready to stand on his own strength yet, so Ranzo Taber bent a shoulder, and in this manner they left the summit cabin. Chaffee rolled into the alcd; Gay Thatcher pulled the blankets around him and stepped back. "You take ’er down, Miss Gay,” said Taber, “I’ll trot be hind. Mush!" Bo in the deepening mists and with the peaks shrilling dismally the dog team snapped Into the traces, ran the sled across the level mouth of the pass and down the eastern slopes. Full dark found them Inside Taber’s ranch house at the foot of the bench, found Jim Chaffee sitting up to a table and eating his first meal In five or six days. "Once a sourdough, always m, sourdough,” said Taber, emiling reminiscently. "It’s been ten years since I left the Klondike, but I never been without huskies in that time. Polks have always wondered why I fooled with 'em. Well, you’re the fourth man I’ve found up around the peaks. Two of ‘em came in stiff, you’re lucky. Now it ain’t any of my business, but I’m wonderin’ what the next play Is.” The girl said nothing, leav ing the question for Chaffee to answer. 3he had slipped bark to feminine clothing, and the transformation somehow bothered Chaffee. He recol lected moments when she had ■corned close and intimate, When she had appeared to be fashioned out of the same Simple, sturdy clay that he ‘bilmself was made of. Now she had withdrawn and become Silent and aloof; and she added a touch of grace and beauty to the table that marked her of another world. Nothing definite. Only the lamplight casting a glow on her clear profile. The slender suppleness of her fingers twining around the water glass. “I’ve got to get into Bannoc City and drop Mack a note,” *aid Chaffee. “Then I reckon I’ll give my foot a week to limber up. After that I reckon I'U sort of breeze back into Rearing Horse again. Maybe— maybe not. Depends ” “Mack Is laid up with a bullet in his shoulder,” said the girl. “Who did it?” demanded Chaffee with so much force that Ranzo Taber’s interest •witched from his coffee cup. The girl went through the ■tery, her soft voice rounding out the details of Stirrup S passing into other hands, of the arrival of the first home steaders. Chaffee’s face ■Titled. “Where’s Miz Satter ler ?” "She left. I don’t know where she went.” “Where’s the crew?” “Some are at Melotte’s, watching over Mack. Others Just took the trail. Times have changed Jim. It is Mr. Wool fridge’s country now.” “I suppose,” agreed Chaffee, heavy hearted*“It was a sweet little valley. Just made for a man to live out a comfortable Let* Plant More Tree*. C. R Sanders’ prize winning edi torial in Brookings college contest. People go many miles to see Ash 'Lawn, famous home built more than 100 years ago by James Mon roe, fifth president of the United States. They go for its historical associations. and for the beautiful .trees and boa hedges set out main Jy by the hands of the president .himself. The passage of 100 years 'has but enhanced their beauty. Trees and the larger shrubs are not things of a day—they endure tor centuries, if they are of the right sort. There is the old fable of the «j*ed man discovered by a youngster 31 life with good friends. Jupiter, but I hate to see that swept from under my feet.” “Aren’t things always going out from under our feet?” murmured Gay. “Isn’t that life — nothing sure, nothing settled? Ranzo Taber looked at her with a significant bobbing ol his head. “Now yore talkin’ from experience Miss Gay.” “I suppose. I have never known a certain day since I was fifteen. And the older I grow the less sure I am of anything—even of myself." “Well,” went on Taber, “this is a darned good place to rest up, Chaffee. Make it two weeks 1 I’ll teach you how to run huskies, like I taught Miss Gay when she was a young ster. Both of you stay on. Miss Gay”—and again significance dwelt in Taber’s words—“you need a little rest. Won’t be anybody around here to pester you. I’ll see to that.” “I’m obliged, but I better get on to Bannoc City and get in touch with some folks,” said Chaffee. Taber’s talk con cerning the girl stirred his curiosity, though he tried to keep from showing it. She looked across to him in a manner that for a moment reminded him again of the scene in the jail. Wistful— asking him unvoiced questions. “Thanks Ranzo. You have always->been kind to me. But I must get back to the capital.” Therefore the both of them were in a rig driven by Taber by starlight the following morning. They reached Ban- 1 nock City an hour or less be- , fore the stage started south to the railroad. Chaffee felt a 1 little flimsy and he allowed them to help him into the ho- I tel and up to a second floor 1 room, although it touched his pride to be thus nursed. He had always been self-suf ficient, always had leaned con fidently on his strength. Ranzo Taber shook hands and left behind him a hearty invita tion. Gay walked into the hall and spoke a moment with Taber in a subdued voice ; then Taber went away and the girl returned to the room to find Jim Chaffee in a chair and studying the blank wall with a set, grim glance. “Well, Jim.” She had meant to say good bye then and there. But the words got turned aside, and she found herself asking ques tions. “What are you going to do?” “The hardest work I ever did in my life for the next ten days,’* said he. “Rest. Stay off my feet. Eat. And wish to God I was on the other side of the range. Jupiter, but it is going to actually hurt.” “Then back to fight? Oh, Jim, why?” “It’s my country ain’t it?” “Do you know, I have heard you get stubborn like this be fore. And somehow I always feel a bit proud of you. But I wish—Isn’t there some little creek with cottonwoods grow ing around it, and peace for i you?" He shook his head. She saw his rawboned hands come together and grip hard. "I reckon not. Tell me—has I Locklear still got all those burglar-jawed gents around I him?” “I have heard by the grape i vine route,” said she, “that most of them were sent away. When I left I saw only three or four. Perrlne and his men are off in the desert some where. Everything is on the boom for the new settlers. Mr. ! Wool fridge has sent his ad j through half a dozen states for them to come. Promising them everything when the power company builds its dam in the Roaring Horse. And his ' name is on about every third planting: a fruit tree. He was told he would gain no benefit from it, but he replied he was planting it for those to come. James Monroe planted for his own enjoyment, but it has come to pass that posterity has obtained more pleasure from his plantings than he did. Millions have enjoyed the fruits of his la bors. So South Dakotans, located in a state where nature has not been generous with native timber, should plant for posterity. The Sunshint State needs more trees. Through the effort* of the secretary of ag riculture's department, the Isaak Walton League and other sources. I building In town. It is ms town, I Jim.” He absorbed the news silently. By and 'oy he raised his head. “Yes, I'm going back there.” “I Knew you would,” sh<. murmured. ‘‘Good-bye, Jim.’ That roused him. He took hold of the chair arms and half rose. “Wait a minute. Now wait. When am I going to see you again—where will you be?” ‘ Our trails seem to keep crossing, don’t they. Jim?” She had a trick of smiling to hide the elusive wistfulness of her heart. “But—it can’t j go on forever. I don’t know when I’ll see you next. I don’t know where I’ll be. There’ll , come a time, though, when you and I will be far apart. One of these days I am going to leave this country.” ••Why?” Her sturdy shoulders rose. “Isn’t it human to be seeking ! something you haven’t got?" ! “What w'ould that be?” he 1 persisted, worry creeping along his face. “I don’t even know,” said she. “The trouble with me, Jim, is that I have no roots down. They were torn out of the ground a few years ago. There is nothing to hold me steady.” “I sort of hate to hear you talk that way," he protested. , “Change—why have things got to change so fast? Here’s something else sliding awray I from me. I wish—” But he never finished the remark, t falling instead into another somber study. Presently the the girl prompted him with a gentle phrase: “Wish what, Jim?” “I reckon I’ve got no right to wish anything at the present state of affairs. I want you to know. Gay, I’m thinkin’ of what you’ve done for me. And I’ll remember it a long, long time.” His fist doubled. “I’m not saying what I want to say.” She came over to him as he rose and balanced on his one sound foot. She put out her hand, manlike; his big palm closed around it and he peered down into her face, sharp and questioning. “That time I first saw you passin’ on the street—I never made a mistake. I wanted to meet you pretty bad." Her smile deepened. "And I thought you would never manage it. You are a fine gentleman, Jim. I wish you all the luck in the world. And if I could only feel surer of your safety in the future—” Her hand was warm with her quick blood; fragrance rose from her hair. She was a woman through and through, troubling his senses with her sweet desirability. Again she appeared to be asking him questions with her calm eyes, and there was a contradiction in the firm red lips. Her chin tilted to meet his glance, and somehow the soft curves of her throat sent fire through his veins. He was still weak and his will relaxed. Other wise it never would have hap pened. But the next moment he had drawn her tightly against him. murmuring some choked phrase, and he had kissed her. She was as still as death. He felt both her i hands resting lightly on his I shoulders, and the throb of her heart swelled against his chest. Then she swayed, the pressure breaking the spell. He dropped his arms, a fury of self-reproach blazing on his lean face. “If I had a gun, Gay, I’d ask you to take a shot at me!” Her eyes were brilliant; She had caught her upper lip be tween her teeth as if to sup press the tears. And she studied Jim Chaffee as no other woman had ever studied him before. “You— you have nothing to be sorry for, Jim. Nothing! That was my reward and I’ll always re member it.” “I’m God’s own fool.” “You are the finest gentle man I have ever known.” said she. Her voice dropped almost to a whisper. “But—I wish you had asked me some questions trees are now available at a cost so nominal that anybody can afford to buy. The plan is designed mainly for farmers and rural schools, large groups of desirable trees being for sale at little above the cost of pro duction. and the opportunity should be grasped. Too many South Dakota farms, too many rural schools, are stand ing on the bare prairie without a particle of shade other than that 1 cast by the buildings themselves. With a little effort and a small out lay adequate shade can be provided and the surroundings beautified. It Is true the tress will grow slowly and it will take several years be* first. On, Jim, I hare waited you to ask them for so long a time. Good-bye, my dear.” He held himself up to the chair, still struggling with self-condemnation. The girl ;aid nothing more. Slip ping lrom the room she half ran dawn the stairs and out to the street. The stage was waiting in front of the hotel, and she caught up her grip and started to climb inside. A puncher idled across the street, and her attention, struck by something familiar, dwelt on him. Poised on the coach step she beckoned to him. “Aren't you a Stirrup S man?” “Was. ma’am. Ain’t no Stirrup S any more.” “What are you doing here?” “Jus’ a-roamin’ ” “Go up to room twenty-one. Jim Chaffee is there.” The puncher omitted a wild yip and plunged through the door. She heard him pounding along the stairs and she heard him yelling Chaf fee's name. Then she settled Inside the coach and a mo ment later was bound south for the railroad. There was nobody else traveling this morning; and so she could freely cry. Which she did. Red Corcoran—that was the name of the ex-Stirrup S puncher — rolled an endless number of cigaretes and pumped Chaffee bone dry. Throughout the story he in terjected amazing epithets. “Th’ hell!” “Oh, the dirty Dicn-eyed dawgs!” ”Jim, yore a-me.kin’ me inhuman an’ impervious to charitable sen timents.” “An' so the gal pulls yuh outen the hole? Say, I’d marry a woman for less’n that.” “How about Locklear s white savages?” “Shucks, they wasn’t paid by Locklear, Jim. Ain’t it clear by now? They was imported > by Woolfridge. He’s the main squeeze. Well, they’ve mostly went away.Couple-three-four left. They did the job, didn’t so. Got a reason to think so. they? Guess Woolfridge thinks a flea can’t bite in Roarin’ Horse ’less he gets orders from Woolfridge. Oh, it’s a turrible mess. Stirrup S gone. Half dozen other outfits along the rim gone. Some old-timers left, but they ain’t doin’ no arguin’. Woolfridge has done put his moniker on a flock of buildin’s. He did it dirty, but he did it. And what’s anybody goin’ to do about it? Nothin’.” “Where’s Perrme? “Sashayin’ around the coun try lookin’ for yuh. As far as yore concerned they got the bee on yuh.’’ “I guess,” agreed Chaffee. “But with all those hired plugs gone it wouldn’t be so hard to buck Woolfridge and Locklear. Red, how many of the gang do you figger you could collect in ten days?” The puncher brightened. “Fight? Why, I guess pretty close to twenty if I rode hard enough.” “Think they’ll back me up in any play I make?” “What yuh think we are?” was Corcoran’s indignant re joinder, “a pack uh yella pups? Shore! Miz Satterlee cried when she paid us off. Now if that ain’t enough to make us fight I guess nothin’ would. Gimme my travelin’ orders and I’ll do the trick.” “I’m goin’ back,” said Chaf fee, “to find the man that killed Satterlee. Ten days I lay on my back right here. You collect the gang. Tell ’em to meet me the night of the eighth at the old ranch. If it’s occupied by strangers, then have ’em meet me on the south bank of Linderman’s. Keep it under your Stetson. Tell the boys to do the same. When we get started we work under cover and we put the fear of God in somebody’s black heart. Get goin’, Red.” (TO B* CONTINUED) q Can gold ingots be sold to the United States mints by foreign na "°A.a Gold bearing the mint stamp anv recognized nation with which the United States is on friendly terms is accepted by the United States mints. fore their effects are manifest, but there will be families on the farms and children in the schools for many years to come, and the trees ma ted now. will be a source of corn er “and satisfaction to the suc ceeding generation if not to this. Let’s plant more trees. SEEKS HOME FOR MOTHS Madison. Wis. - (UP) “A col lection of 30,000 moths and butter flies owned by Prof. E. T. Owen here, is reported destined for con !•« 13 1C1A/I WiU MVW*...*— t’ibution to some institution other t'Mn the University of Wisconsin because of its lack of museum la c tlr tie*. OF INTEREST TO FARMERS SOMETHING NEW IN PRUNING In the great majority of commer cial vineyards, vnere are always nissing vines. It has been suggested .hat layering, is a desirable method ior filling in missing vines, but omelimes this plan cannot be util zed, and the grower must fill the vacancies with one or two year ,;lants. But since the roots lrom near-by established vines are apt to premept the soil, as they are better established than the newly planted young vine, the struggle be comes unequal in most instances. It has been the custom for many years in the pruning of young vines rhe year following their planting to cut back to a short spur carry ing but two or three buds. Practic ally every guide to grape growing gives this rule. The theory of this sort of pruning with newly planted vines is that the growth of leaf, j and cane is checked, or at least kept equal to the expanse of the root system. It is taken for granted that too much top growth retards loot development. This might oc cur in some instances with some particular early fruiting varieties, as a very little fruit borne at this early stage is objectionable. How ever, there now seems a better way to establish the young vine. Instead of cutting away all the canes of the j young vine to but one and this one back to two or three buds, at the end of the first year or at the be ginning of the second, one wire of the trellis is put on at a height , approximately of 15 to 18 Inches above the soil level. The most robust cane of the vine is chosen and pruned long enough to reach this , wire where it is tied in due season. All other growths are entirely cut away. In some seasons and with some vines no cane will be long enough, and these should be cut back to one short growth of two or three buds. The cane that Is tied to the wire becomes for some years the trunk of the new vine. When the blossom clusters are showing on older vines, the new planting should be gone over and all pros- j pective pruning, the next year, the vine framework is further formed by leaving arms, which in turn support fruit canes, but again the vine is stripped of its prospective fruit. This sort of treatment in the first few years has resulted in very sturdy vines that later became most fruit ful and vigorous over a period of . years. FIGHTING NOSE FLIES We are about at the season when the sose flies begin to bother horses. Just how to protect horses from these nose flies has been somewhat of a problem. Burlap and wire pro tectors have been bought or made at home, but while many of the^e are effective in eliminating fly trou ble they tend to cut off the horse's air supply and for that reason are not desirable. Seine of our farm ers have found a better type of pro- j tector to consist of a strap or part of a tire casing extending across ! the upper lip of the horse. Where these can be fastened securely in place, they work excellently without j the objection of interfering with the breathing of the animal. The use of protec tors, however, is merely a makeshift arrangement. In other j words, they do not eliminate the source of the trouble and it has been found that this is not impos sible. Note flies do not travel far in a season. Hence, if all of those In a neighborhood are cleaned out, there will be little trouble front them. The nose-fly egg, laid on the upper lip, develops into a bot which finally finds its way into the stom ach of a horse, as do bots hatched from eggs laid on the legs. Veterin arians have found that treating a horse by giving it a capsule during the winter will rid the horse of these bots in the stomach. The capsule contains carbon bisulphide, and the quantity should be carefully apportioned according to the size of the horse. A competent veter inarian should administer the treat ment. In one township in Iowa the last winter over 1,100 horses were treated for nose-fly bots. This in cluded all of the horses In the town ship except those on eight farms. Several other communities in the state are taking steps co-operative ly to get rid of the nose fly. CHECKING POTATO LOSS One of the greatest sources of loss to potato growers, if not the greatest, is from defects that can be largely prevented through care ful handling methods. According to potato dealers, cuts and bruises sus tained in digging, storing and sort ing are among the chief causes ot loss. It is seldom indeed that a carload of potatoes arrives in mar ket that does not show fork or dig ger cuts and bad bruises. These are often sufficient to throw the car out of the U. S. No. 1 grade and the entire car may have to be so.d at a lower price. Consumers, too. object to these defects, and the re tailer must either sort ou tne de fective tubers or sell the entire lot at lower prices than would other wise be the case. The ultimate ef fect is that the losses come oik of the glower's pocket. Since it is a type of defect that is readily appar ent, it is easily sorted out; but the Diace to stop most of it is in the field or in handling. Some ciks from forks and diggers are more oar ie»s inevitable, but there are many other ways in which tne damage is done. Careless pickers often throw ‘die freshly dug. tender skinned tubers into a container and cut or bruise m sizable percentage of them: usin' barrels for he.u gathering also is likely to ««nse considerable injti y. Dumping indo trucks and wagons if roughly done causes injury. And S‘il* mor^1 is tkrne when rough handling is done in grading, when stock is P--1 too deep in bins some injury invar iably occurs. ¥.t damage occurs in the field It should be sorted oin be fore the potatoes are shipped ci SOW in the local market. Such in fetrior stock can be best utilized .u PRODUCING CLEAN EGGS An honest effort to produce clean eggs has been made by many a farmer pouitryman by rigid clean ing of tne roosts and changing of the litter in the laying house. Wet, rainy days or thawing after freez ing weather has resulted in too many dirty eggs even where the litter and roosts have been kept in the best order. Where the usual straw filler used In the nests has been replaced by ciran. dry shav ings. this dirty egg toll has been greatly reduced. WHY EGGS MOLD The number of cases of eggs con I tanned as unfit for food is ap home, because it is certain to result in a iower net return for the entire lot if shipped. SHEEP PARASITES This is the time of the year for the sheep breeder to make plans for handling the flock during the pas ture season. Just as soon as the flock gees to pasture, the parasite trouble starts. There is no excuse for losing sheep and lambs from parasites. There are four important things to know about parasites, and what a blessing it would be if all our sheepmen had them clearly in mind. First, what are the symptoms o. parasites in sheep and lambs? Second, what are the parasites af fecting sheep and lambs? Third, where are the parasites located? Fourth, what can you do for them? What are the symptoms, both ex ternal and internal? When sheep have parasites, they run down, lose flesh, lose their appetite, they hump in the back the wool sometimes parts on the back, the head and ears droop, the eyes become dull, the sheep become less active, the skin becomes pale, the wool fiber becomes weak, the sheep coughs, a swelling may develop under the throat and the sheep scours. You will not always lind all of these symptoms in your sheep, but in many cases every one wiii be found. What are the parasites? Crubs-in the-head, lung worms, tape worms, stomach worms, whip worms, nodu lar worms, bladder worms, small intestinal round worms, liver flukes, gid cysts, lice, ticks and scab mites. Where are the parasites located? The grubs are in the head, usually, in the cavities between the eyes; the lung worms are found in tha air passages, bronchi and bronchi oles ot tne lungs; tne stomacn worms are found in the fourth stomach; the tape worms are found in the smail intestines; the adult nodular worms live in the large in testines, the larvae in the nodules in the walls of the large and small intestines and occasionally in the mesenteric lymph glands, the omentum and the liver; the whip worms are found in the blind gut or caecum; the thin-necked blad der worms are found in the ab dominal cavity attached to tha mesenteries or in the liver, the gui cysts may be found on the brain or spinal cord; ticks are found in tha wool; lice are found either in the hair on the lace and legs or in the wool. What can be done for treat ing the parasites? First o' all, pre vention is the best thing to keep m mind in handling the flock. Handle the sheep so as to keep the para sites down to a minimum. Change your sheep from one pasture to an other about every 10 days to two v/eeks. As grubs-in-the-head, lung worms, stomach worms, tape worms, nodular worms, lice and ticks are the most common para sites of farm flocks, the treatment for these will be given. Pine tar should be smeared on the noses at the sheep several times timing the summer to keep the gadfly from de positing the small grubs on the nostrils. Nothing can be done after the grubs get well up in the head. The chloroform treatment has giv en very good results for lung worms. Simply put the sheep to sleep with a small amount of this drug. The condition of the eyes and the breathing are guides to go by w’ith this treatment. For stomach worms and tape worms, the copper sul phate treatment is used more than any other. The usual mixture la one ounce of cooper sulphate dis solved in two quarts of water, using a glass, wooden or porcelain vessel. The correct dose for a lamb three and a half to four months old is one-lialf of a fluid ounce; a lamb six months old. one fluid ounce; a yearling, two fluid ounces; a ma ture sheep, three fluid ounces. The copper sulphate solution is given aa a drench. Sheep or lambs should be kept from food and water at least 24 hours before drenching and four or five hours afterward. Be care lul not to strangle the sheep when drenching. Always be sure to have the desired dose. Be accurate, use a glass graduate in measuring out the does. Stir the solution each time. Spring lambs should not be treated before July 1. All the breeding flock should be treated every 30 days from May 1 to November 1 and the lambs every 30 days from July 1 to November 1. There is no spe cial treatment for nodular worms, but the same treatment as given for stomach and tape worms may be beneficial. Prevention, such as changing the sheep from one Pas ture to another, is recommended. For the external parasites, such as lice and ticks, use the dipping vat and some good reliable sheep dip. Dip as often as necessary to keep vour sheep free from these para sites. Dipping twice a year is usu ally the best method, once about two weeks after shearing and again in the early fall. SHELTERS FOR RANGE C1IICK9 With our clean grounds system of growing chicks out on range, oft en far removed from any trees and the farm buildings, we have a prob lem of providing shade through the hot months. A practical shade may be constructed by driving four posts into ih<* ground, the front pair thre® feet. hi~h and rear pair two and a half feet. Two-by-fours nailed lengthwise to the top of the post* uooort the roof. This may be made of lumber, or wire fencing covered with cornstalks. A well-constructed sun shade will give protection against sun and also against the sudden rainstorms that come up. Sometimes low roasts are provided. The brooder houe blocked up o.r the ground about IB inches gives good shade as well as rain protec tion The area under brooder house and shade should be kept free from all dioppings. __ nailin'; in view of the cost of pro duction and the man and woman power that has gone into every doz en The United States bacteriolo gists tell us that unseasoned wood used as shipping cases will cause eggs to mold. Recent investigations show that unseasoned wood contains 50 per cent more moisture than sea soned. The mold formed in these cases aooears first on the exterior of the shell, but in time it pene trates to the inside, affecting both flavor and appearance. PROPER*STUFF* WILL GET IT The shipper doesn’t want the low down on the market: he wants the UB-and-np.