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
Gov'ner was very lonely in the stables and pastures all day when the
other horses were busy, and at first he called incessantly. Then finding
that it brought no response from the child he loved, he stood patiently
watching the door that led into the court.
Letters came from Traynor saying that they were winning the battle, and
that Jamie would come back to them better than ever before in his life.
Then came another letter which Limber read with a choking voice, for
Traynor told the boys of the Diamond H that they now had a new Boss, and
that the little mother was well, happy, and sent her love to them all.
That she said they were "all her boys," and she would not be satisfied
until she got back home again and showed them the wonderful baby.
Traynor added that Doctor Powell would be home that week, but the rest
of them would not return for another month.
Fong, on a hunt for eggs, passed through the stable as the letter was
finished, and Limber called him to tell him the news. The old Chinaman's
eyes filled up with tears that streamed down his face. "Klid he comme
home all light; new blaby clommee allee samee. When he clome? I blake a
cake!"
That night the Mail Order catalogue was the centre of attraction in the
bunk-house, and for hours the index and illustrations were scanned in
search of a suitable gift for the new Boss. Saddles, spurs, chaps were
debated as not quite fit articles for immediate use, as the recipient
would be about two months old when he reached the Diamond H. In a
quandary they hunted up Fong.
The old Chinaman bristled with importance and put on the horn spectacles
that made him resemble a reincarnated Confucius. Slowly and critically
he squinted at the catalogue, then a "smile that was child-like and
bland" expanded his face, while his long-nailed finger pointed
triumphantly.
"You clatchee him. He all light for blaby."
They stared at the illustration, gazed blankly at Fong and then looked
again at the book.
"What's it for?" demanded Bronco.
"No savey? Blimeby--blaby clatchee teeth!" Fong gave a vivid
impersonation by chewing the end of a fork which he seized.
"I guess that's o.k. so far as it goes," Roarer endorsed, "but we've got
to get somethin' else. That's too durned measly."
Once again they studied, suggested, rejected, and finally, in the hours
approaching dawn, the order sheet was filled out. The articles
enumerated ranged from the teething-ring and rattle, a baby buggy, a
high chair, silver mug, one pair silver-mounted spurs, one
silver-mounted bit, a small-sized saddle, bridle and a gold bracelet
"for a lady" that was to be inscribed "from the boys of the Diamond H."
A letter explained the circumstances and eventful arrival, and asked if
the head of the store would take special care with the order, and pick
out a nice bracelet, as they were all cowpunchers and didn't know
anything but cows,--perhaps the store-keeper might get his wife to pick
out the right sort of bracelet.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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