Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-04-20
A RIDE FOR LIFE.

Inc sun was SHINING brightly upon one OF the
large plains of Texas, dotted here and there
by settlers houses, and the glltterimg waters
of the Rio Grande.
Riding up the dusty brown road at slow
pace was an army officer. He rode large
sorrel thoroughbred, which seemed very i'm
patient to move more rapidly onward.
The rider was young man, with hand
eyes, a light mustache hid his well-cut lips,
| and wealth of dark brown curly hair
clustered around his head.
| As he was passing wayside house, the
owner came out and hailed him:
"ColOnel, hold a minute
The young officer turned his horse, and rode
| up to the man.
"Colonel," said the man, shat Mexican
band Of thieves crossed the river this morning,
and they mean to be up to mischief"
eyes," said the colonel, those Mexican
raiders are the plague of the country. Have
| you seen the rascals?'
eyes; met them this morning, when they
crossed the river, and they told me they in
tended to kill the Thomson family before they
go back; so concluded to tell you. Thought
you might warn Thomson to get out of the
way
"WhY, what have they against Thomson ?"
ooh, you know Thomson chased two Of
them away when they were trying to steal his
horses. They have boosted that they intended
to Kill every man, Woman and child in the
| family.
"When do they intend to do it?"
Gas they come back. They have gone
| down in the valley; but from what they said
think they will be back in two hours or %
GAS soon as that ~ said the Colonel; "thcn
will not have time to ride to camp for
troops"
ono; and they may be back in an hour; no
telling"
'sWell, if they may be back so soon, I'd
better be going if l wish to save the family.
Good day"
"Good-day," said the man, as the Coloners
horse bounded at rapid pace up the road.
Thomson's house was about mile and a
half distant. Reaching it, the Colonel rode
hastily up to the door and koocked.
"Hello, Colonel Charlie" said the good
hearted farmer, "come in and have drink of
milk, and cool yourself. 1t is mighty hot
day"
'No, thank you; that band Of Mexican
cutthroats have crossed the river again,
and"-
care tley?" exclaimed the settler, wiping
the sweat from his brow.
eyes; and they have threatened to murder
you and your family"
"And have no mercy to expect from them
That thief hurt for attempting to steal one
Of my horses was one of their gang, and
suppose they are thirsting for revenge"
best thing for you to do is to leave here as
soon as possible, and 60 to camp"
The settler FASTENED away to alarm those
within
The family consisted of Thomson, wife
brother and two children-a boy and girl
The boy was about dozen years of age, anC
the girl was six.
After quickly hitching pair of horses tc
, the wagon, twas soon loaded, the colone
| working as industriously as any. The children
: were put in it, and Thomson's brother in law
: drove away, leaving the rest to fill the remain
ing wagon.
The man had driven but short distance
when the little girl began to cry for her doll
, ''Oh, never mind your doll, II. buy you an
other" said her uncle.
ooh, please let me go back and get ny
l DOLL" cried the child. cpl go straight t
r She cried and begged SO hard that at las
her uncle put her out and told her to hurr,
: straight to her mother.
7 Gong back she entered the house unob
y served, and sitting down on the floor sool
t fell asleep.
r It was soma time after the wagon had start
c cd that the other one was ready. They there
2 fore had travelled nearly two miles befor
: overtaking it. Then the mother, putin,
her head out of the wagon, called to her boy
'Where is your sistern
ssShc is with you,' said the boy.
5 'Isn't she with you?'' cried Mrs. Thomson
e to her brother.
II ono; she is in your wagon.
q ooh, heavenp' cried the mother, ssmy chill
q is left behind"
: For a moment all were silent, gazing il
d each others faces, till Thomson said:
e 81 fear 1 could not get back pefore til
. bandits would be there. That dust N til
u distance, suppose, is caused by the band
: Perhaps they may not njure the chUd.''
u But" cried the mother, frantlcally. "the
is child in the house. If they should spare he
8 they would carry her off into slavery, whic
- would be even worse. Oh, my child, m
5 child"
IS 81 know not what to do" exclaimed tn
Il bewildcred father.
said the young officer. "J'll ride back, an
rescue her if it be in my power.'
e "God bless you, colonel, God bless you
Il May heaven reward you'' exclaimed tn
- mother, her eyes filing with tears as sh
\ saw the noble young fellow turn his hors
3 and gallep down the road.
e Tie colonel galleped on till he reached tn.
. settlers house. Then riding around to tn
o back he looked in through the open window
+ There lay the child upon the floor ASLEEP
;, grasping her doll
y ooh, Colonel Charlie, where's my man
4 MAJ" cried the child when he had awakene
II her.
a s'Your mother has gone away; but hav
# come to take you to her Now, come to tn
+ window, and will lift you on the horse. B
: quickv'
If Lifting her up before him, he clasped he
r firmly about the waist, and turning his horse
o head, plunged up the road.
y He could plainly distinguish the bandit
y now as they were moving toward the house
He had ridden about half mile when th
Mexican band had caught sig ht of him. The
" Immediately changed their course, not d
h rectly toward him, but so as to intercept hill
- about midway between the settlers home an