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
Fong shuffled out with a lard-pail slipped into a flour sack, which he
carefully tied to the little saddle, with the smiling information,
"Clake and clookies." Then Nell kissed the boy good-bye, saying, "Take
good care of him, Limber;" and the man, turning in his saddle would
reply, "Don't you fret, Mrs. Traynor. We all look out for the Kid."
In the evening, the cowpuncher, dwindling to a tiny white-robed figure,
crawled into Nell's arms as she sat in front of the big, "comfy"
fire-place, to tell her about the baby calves, and how many rabbits had
been chased. Once, with shining eyes and flushed cheeks, how "Me and
Limber roped a coyote--but we let it go home again to its fambly--'cause
I told Limber I knew they would be waiting for it to come."
One day Jamie did not come out to Gov'ner's stall, and the horse
whinnied in vain. The men went around speaking softly, taking off their
spurs to avoid any possible noise on the board floor of the stable, and
Doctor Powell never left the bedside of the darkened, quiet room, where
he battled for the life of the child they loved so deeply.
"You had better take him and Mrs. Traynor to Los Angeles," the doctor
advised Traynor. "She is breaking down under the long strain, and in her
condition needs care as much as the boy. I will go with you and stay as
long as I can be of any assistance."
"Do you think there is any hope for him?" asked Traynor.
"A child's life is a bit of delicate mechanism," answered Powell, "even
when all hope was lost, I have seen wonderful rallies. Not through the
skill of a physician, but through some peculiar recuperative power we
don't understand, as yet."
Traynor wrung the doctor's hand silently.
Arrangements for the trip were completed, the trunks and luggage loaded
on the heavy wagon had already started for Willcox. As Traynor assisted
Nell into the carriage, Gov'ner, poking his head from the box stall,
wondering what it was all about, saw Limber carry a limp little figure
from the courtyard into the stable. The horse recognized the boy and
whinnied joyously. Jamie lifted his head and spoke to Limber, who
carried him over to the horse. Gov'ner's nose reached out and the thin
little hand stroked it weakly.
"Good-bye, Gov'ner," came the faint voice. "Limber will be good to you
till I come home. Won't you, Limber?"
Limber's face twitched as he answered, "No one shall ride Gov'ner whilst
you are gone, Kid."
After the carriage disappeared and the men had gone about the various
duties of the day, Fong shuffled into the barn and looked around
cautiously. Seeing no one, he sneaked into the saddle room and picked up
a shiny little lard pail, that had once been used to hold cookies.
Clutching it tightly the Chinaman ran swiftly across to the kitchen,
and shut the door with a bang.
Limber, who had been saddling Peanut, unobserved by Fong, witnessed the
incident, and when evening came, the cowboy knew it was not opium that
caused the Chinaman's red-rimmed eyelids.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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