Part 28 (2/2)

Mr Mabie did not show up until long after ht The storm had passed away, and the sky cleared by that ti of seeking his bed

”hello, Frank, lad to find you here, safe and sound

I saw your pony at the stable, and that you had bound up his leg, showing a sprain But I was afraid that so more serious had been the matter You don't kno relieved I was to see your horse; and Reddy, too The poor fellow has been in a sith fear ever since the stareeted Frank as he caht in the line of the rush, but by clever work on the part of ht me But what's the report about the cattle, sir?” asked Frank eagerly

”The boys have halted the, and the anied to head thes happen once in a while, and are really unavoidable Steers in a panic are crazy; but then I suppose the sas, if all accounts are true that I read about theater fires and such things”

He askedFrank's adventure

”You just happened to choose the wrong side, lad Had you headed the other way you would have had little trouble The storm came from that quarter, and a cowboy htning and rain But fortunately you made the timber, and; as the subject is unpleasant, we'll drop it for the present Now get off to bed, the lot of you In the , if you want, I'll take you doith ot hty fine set of pictures to finish up with; but, oh! ouldn't I give if I could have caught Frank, here, riding for life on that crippled pony, and the sta down on him!” said Will enthusiastically

”Talk toequal a crank with a ca that happens?” ust

”That is the fate of every genius, to be misunderstood andto his art But I am not the only one who is a crank I have known fellows so proud of their lungs, that night after night they insisted on filling the air mattresses of the party just to prove which could blow the harder; while the other two hed”

Frank chuckled at hearing this, and both Bluff and Jerry looked daggers, for the shot hit ho the boys did accompany the rancher down the valley Frank showed theht, and they followed his line of travel until the trees were reached Trail there was none, for hundreds of cloven hoofs had pounded the soil about that spot, showing how narrow had been his escape

The cowboys were found to have the big herd well in hand It was even then on the way back to its forround Some of the steers showed the effects of the mad rush, in various cuts froone down to death in the panic, the herd tranizable , and secured what pictures he wanted

”I' carried out my plans Won't the hoathered!” he said jubilantly

”I should think they would,” re his shoulders, ”for you certainly have a collection of freak pictures, some of which would take the prize”

”But all of this lot are genuine nobody had to prance around a tree with a dead yellow dog on his feet, pretending to chase after hi was that, eh? Tell me that! Didn't you just plead with me to make a fool of myself, and to save you pain I consented I suppose I'll never hear the end of that fool joke,” growled Jerry

”Oh, yes, you will It's all in the fa was dead when he had his picture taken They all say he looks as though about to snap a piece out of your leg Now, I think we've just had a glorious ti to mar our pleasure,” remarked Frank, the peace hed Bluff

”Talk to otten it yet!” exclaimed Jerry

”I never can hello! Here coet, I suppose, before we go home A letter for me? Now just keep your eyes to yourselves, fellows I adirl is anxious about her brother Frank, and wants inforht out a loneso piazza in front of the ranch house, and presently all hands were absorbed in their letters

Suddenly the others heard Bluff utter an exclamation, and looked up just in ti