The Long Dim TrailHooker, Forrestine C. (Forrestine Cooper)
General
The Long Dim Trail
Hooker, Forrestine C. (Forrestine Cooper)
Arizona -- Fiction; Cowboys -- Fiction; Ranch life -- Fiction; Western stories
An unexpected climax was reached when the sheet slipped and precipitated
Holy full-length on the floor, but the sounds that rose on the air could
never be confused with the words of any Maiden's Prayer.
Bronco leaned forward listening intently, and as silence reigned once
more, he announced, "Say, Holy, that was the best you ever done yet. I
counted sixteen new cuss words that I never heerd you use before. That
was the best Maiden's Swear I ever listened to!"
Roarer looked up suddenly. "Say, did you notice them freezers was right
along side the back door? Mebbe we kin slip over and corral one of 'em
without being cotched. I'm powerful thirsty and there ain't no place to
get nothin' till eleven o'clock except the church."
"We could make a try at it," responded the others hopefully.
They slipped down the stairs. At the bottom, Bronco suggested they get
spoons from the hotel kitchen. It was a matter of generalship to boost
Roarer through the window, where his collision with pots and pans was no
impediment to his triumphal return with a soup ladle and two large
spoons. In the darkness Roarer was able to retain the ladle for himself,
handing the spoons to the other boys. Thus equipped they sneaked to the
rear of the church and crawled cautiously to the open door. One of the
cans was within easy reach--the other two some distance from the door.
Conversation was in full swing and every one's attention was directed
toward the minister at the front part of the room.
"Slip her quick," whispered Bronco, "and then we kin pack her out on the
prairie and eat all we want."
The plan was carried out successfully. Roarer and Bronco slid the
freezer until it was outside the door. Swiftly they lifted the tin can
from the tub of ice and hastened away with their prize, while Holy kept
pace with them.
At a safe distance from the church, they paused and removed the cover.
Roarer thrust his dipper down, but had to reach further than he
expected. Deeper he scooped without reward. Once more he tried. It was
too dark to see inside of the can.
"Say, are you tryin' to hog it all yourself?" protested Bronco.
"Nope, Take your turn now."
Bronco wasted no time, and the other two listened to the click of his
spoon against the tin can. After a few seconds, he raised up, saying,
"All right, Holy. You're next!"
"How is it?" asked Holy as he leaned over the can.
"Fine as silk," was Bronco's recommendation.
"Best ice-scream I ever et," asserted Roarer.
Holy's spoon tattooed on the tin; it scraped forlornly, then there was
breathless silence, a grunt, followed by the sound of an empty ice-cream
freezer receiving several vigorous kicks accompanied by a terrific
volley of cuss-words.
"You darn chumps," he gasped at last, "what made you go and take the one
that hadn't northin' in it!"
"Oh, darn it all. What's the use," piped Roarer's gentle voice. "Let's
go back and go to bed. Thar ain't nothin' else to do in this yere town."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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