American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-01-25
VOL. XXIII.

is it not so, CharlesT'
6 Yes, L reckon so; she'll be down a
the stables, l guess"
! Antoine was silent for few minutes
and apparently absorbed in a knotty prob
| lem of great importance, Judging from
the many and varied expressions tina
came and went on his mobile features.
"YOu wanted to see me about"
"Yes, yes! One second, and you shat
learn what want. You have heard o
| re cOlonel's new mare, Bessie?''
Eyes, and she is puzzler to me, ant
| more besides. The kernel seems to b,
backing her lively, and he's not a man t.
lose money if he can help it. I'm afrait
of the critter myself-she'S been kept too
dark; and Ringeur's moves are rather de
ceptive sometimes. Do you know any
thing about her, Tony?'
What the after conversation between
the two worthless produced will be learned
further on; but as they parted, Antoine
shook Charlie heartily by the hand. and
whispered; ''If Ia belle Saurage will dc
this, two thousand shall find its way into
your pockets You understand ~ To
which he responded:
"All right, Tony; anything fora square
pile. Keep still as a COmanche on the
trail, and I'll see what can be done. But
the gals a catamOunt when she gets n no.
ton into her head and if her mind is set
on the mares success, it will be barl to
manage. Why, as much as she loves me,
L can't get word out of her about Bessie,
and she'll neither say lay nor don't lay.
The job is worth the money"
Hidden from view among the dense
brush by the creek-side, about three hours
after Tauter and Vezan had parted, stood
two persons, conversing in low but rapid
tones. One was an Indian girl about
seventeen or eighteen years of age. She
was small in stature, but superbly pro-
pOrtioned, from her well-posed head
down to the slender feet encased in the
daintiest braided moccasins. Her hair
was long. thick and black, her face oval
and her features regular and handsome.
At the present moment her large dark
eyes were afiame with excitement, and
the pouting crimson lips dOwndrawn at
the corners, as in pleading, angry sor-
row. She was clad in a soft, gay tunic of
fawnskin, and short leggings, ornamented
with shells, beads and stained horse hair.
and every emotion; every gesture.
showed how 1.-THE and supple was her
girlish form. The other was Charlie
Tauter, who seemed to be anyrily expos
tulating with his companion; his argu-
ments and entreaties, however, were too
thickly interspersed with oaths to bear
repetition. The following portions of his
conversation you may render as spicy
as you please:
''But Redlips, my gal, I'll lose pile if
you refuse.''
'sOh, Charlie! Redlips would do any
thing for you but this. Don't ask her to
betray the man who has been her friend
ever since she was a mOtherless papoose."
"Who is your best friend 20 he roughly
Winding her bare arms around his neck.
and kissing him passionately, she replied
and lOve-smile frightened her sad
dened face-''You, my brave Redlips'
only love-"
'Th,n why can't you obey your best
friends command, eh?''
She was silent.
Thrusting her from him with fierce
Tauter exclaimed, ''Redlips.
this. now, if you don't do
what I've told you, you need never speak
to me again if you do I'll shoot you.''
Fawneye staggered against a cotton
tree and sObbed cOnvulsively as she muir
INJURED, sob, Charlie, Redlfps would die
for you gladly, but she cannot turn trait
''Redlips, my little gal, forgive me ~
cried Charlie, and throwing his arms
about her waist. he toyed caressingly with
her hair, and kissed her until her head
dropped back on his shoulder, and her
heavy lashes trembled on her check.
And then he spoke to her tenderly and
lovingly; and ere long she whispered in
faint, tremulous tones, ''Redlips is a
will obey"
We must now proceed to Col. Ringeur's
stables, where at various times have been
st. bic the fastest PAGERS, trOtters and rum
ner in the Western country. Redlips stood
leaning against the hitching post, polish
ing pair of large Mexican spurs Rim
geur was sitting astride of the cOrn-chOp-
per, with his keen eyes fixed searchingiy
on the face of his girl-iockey.
Wall, Redlips, tomorrow is the race"
SHE bent her head and rubbed more en-
SPECIFICALLY on the glittering rowels.
''Now, you know the mares tricks as
we'll as you know your own yOu know
what she can do, and what she can't. She
AN beat any horse or mare in tie stable,
md she can't stand being fretted on the
mouth. Be careful on this point; never
mind how she throws her head, don't
,auten on the bit. If you do, she'll break
ler pace and lose the race. You must
come in at least two lengths and a half
ahead, and I'll give you one-fourth of my
Redlips bent low her face, as though to
breathe on grease stain, but at the same
time her lips quivered piteously, and the
husky pink on her full cheeks gave place
to sickly paleness.
Biting off a fresh quid, and clustering
in an abrupt, peremptOry man
"Gal. look me in the eyes no finch
ng."
Redlips slowly lifted her face and
obeyed.
''what pile has your boss, Charlie Tau
;er, laid altogether"
- Redlips does not know
g You lie. Has he laid on Bessie Have
you been blabbing of what she can do? ~
md his voice grew hard and stern.
- He has not laid picayune on Bessie.
sedlips' tongue has been silent. He has
aid on Jack and EtOile."
"Oh, all, good!" Rising, he was about
o leave, when, turning quickly, he said,
n suspicious tones, "Gal. I've heard that
he Frencher and Charlie had long con-
alb together the other day. Do you know
what they were talking about?''
no"
'Humph! You are such a liar when
hat boy is concerned. that | never know
what to believe or disbelieve. Fore go,
I'll run over the orders again, so that yOu
won't forget. First and foremost, Bessie
must come in by at least two lengths and
| half. Don't let that leave your head for
IN instant. Nova to the ways and means.
)f course, you know it's a three-mile
neat hold i'm on the first mile and half of
he second; give her half her head on
he last of the second; then, in spurs
md whip, give her her own way, and. |
you have to kill her, land her home
number one. Now, mind you, gal, she
AN do it if you help her. IT you lose this
iyar, I'll shoot you on the stand ~
Rcdlips shook in every limb and grasped
he post to steady herself. Noticing her
CITATION, the colonel added in a kindlier
manner:
"Don't be scared, gal Bessie will do
he thing il you obey orders"