Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-06-28

relevant questioning
He blushed and stammered an Jol.
ogy, and she sat for moment on q
rock that projected from the side of the
road over the mountain edge. She had
gathered stray flowers on her walk, div.
ing under bushes and behind rocks, and
was fastening them on her hat and man.
tie. A scarlet creeper ran round the
base of the rock down the side of the
mountain.
"'Oh, that suits me, / must have If,
she said, rising to her feet, and drop.
ping hat and flowers in the excitement.
just then a sudden eddy of wind came
twisting round the corner of a assure,
and whirled hat and flowers round and
round, lodging them beyond her power
of recovery on a narrow ledge of per-
pendicular rock jutting out and mac
cessible from the road.
"'How now, what will you do?' l
said, half in sport at the possibility of a
bare-hesded companion for the rest OF
the trip.
"TO my surprise, she looked the i'm
age of despair and grief; the color had
faded out Of her rosy cheeks, even her
lips were ashy pale. Her hands were
clasped in the most agonizing express
sion, as she mutely gazed at the slen-
der shape below, mocking her with its
airy grace of blooms.
"'Oh, my friends! can't you recove-
that hat for me? Do, in pity, and will
thank yea to my dying dayi'
d" No mother, appealing for lost
child, could have been more piteous,
while tears stood in her eyes. l was
half angry that any woman could be
metamorphosed by the loss of hat.
The merchant whistled, looked bewil-
dered, but evidently didn't choose to
risk his life. The driver and horse
sheer came to her rescue; they fastened
a hook on to the end of coil of rope,
saying:
"'Don't fear, miss, nor look so anx-
ious; we'll rig something, an get your
hat,'
1.-The driver, stretched at full length,
with only his head and an arm over the
precipice, and anchored firmly by the
rest of the party, threw his rope, har-
poon fashion, with an unerring aim. 1t
caught in the rim, the hat was drawn up
carefully and restored TO the young girl,
who. with exhilarating color and spark
ling eyes, thanked the men most pro-
fusely. They cut short her rhapsodies
BY jumping on the drivers box, and
telling us to pile in
"Once inside, she said:
"'As you are all my friends, l must
let you into the secret of my hat. All
he money l possess is hidden in the lin
ng-quilted in-and no man, not even
4 highwayman, would ever suspect the
treasure hidden in such a cell, now
would they?'
1--WE, of course, praised her ingenuity.
"'A good thousand, is it?' said the
merchant.
"'The very sum- she replied.
1t was about O'Clock in the morn
ng. Viewer well out in the most for
passes, driving briskly towards
he Canadian Fork. The full moon
lighted our way, making the bushes
md trees adjacent cast sharp, decided
shadows across the road. l had ex-
changed places with the sheer. Inside
hey were doing, but was wakeful and |
Ilert. We beguiled the weary hour by
tory telling. Suddenly, l saw some
hing moving in the shadow of the road |
IN beyond us.
"'What is that?' / said.
"The driver looked, his eyes round
ng like the moon.
Nothing but burro!' referring to
he pack-mules that frequently strayed
own the mountain side 1t disappear
d quickly in the shade, and from
hence, instantly, as if by magic, jump
d out into the road two men. They
Tere hidden in huge slouched sombreros
nd army cloaks. The stoutest
aught the bride of the leaders; the
Their, covering US with his rifle, shouted:
"'Don't stir, or you are dead menu
advancing closer, and keeping us
yif Thin tho rapDa of b,a v,,p11la 10 n.,ol