Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-13
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE PARISH AND CRY

AAno /" ~" oohA o0ouAciy laoVoAOu w uJ
saddle. | felt nothing; l looked lit was
gone. The thrill Of horror that at once
ran through me again gave me energy
pulled the pony stock still and
meditated. Thoughts of lynch law
flashed though my mind. Had indeed
lost tho gun 1t would be said that l
had stolen it-sold it, I would certainly
be arrested if / returned without 1t, and
held until news would be received from
the camp 1t would be known that the
gun had been given me. Apart from it's
pecuniary value. it was highly priced by
the owner. To what might bis extreme
rage incite his companions against me,
q stranger and friendless !! G.t,z
| AS we'll be hung for q sheep as alamb,
was a thought that for moment fit
ted through my brain. Should D not
seize the pony and hee to another places
Fatigued as 1 was, and come what
would, / must retrace my steps and try to
find the gun. The prairie grass, tram
| pied by my pony's feet, indicated to me
the course ( had Itaken.'|I turned him
back upon that path Again and again
was obliged tosdismount and drag my
sore AMI wearied limbs over the ground,
| which carefully scrutinized, to be sure
4 / could make no mistake. All tho
while I was tormented by the thought
that my agonized pains-taken might be
entirely useless, that tho gan might
have been stolen from behind me by
some wanderer as slept How could I
knowiI was but drowning man snatch
ing at straw IS stumbled onward. 1t
seemed ages as l searched. What time
was passing Even if / found the owner
with it at the promised houri Only by
giving it to him at that hour of entry
for the match could it prove as desired
by him, or receive the sos so logged
for.
With fevered brain and straining,
bloodshot.eyesI continued the search,
impatient and patient at once. Clouds
were gathering in the sky into one Of
them the moon now passed, and the
light SO necessary to me was obscured. l
remained motionless. Would l go madq
My power for collected thought seemed
vanishing. Again the moon came out
clear and bright, and there, close to my
feet, made shine something metallic. It
was the rifle ] bad found it,
must place it before me as rode
this time. With fragments of the bro
ken Irvine dangling from the saddle, l
fastened the breeoh to my left wrist, and,
remounting my horse, allowed the gun
to rest on my legs as I advanced. The
jounce, iounce of the weapon added to
my discomfort but, at least, it was
secure, and I was kept awake. But now
where was II Recognized no Landmark.
The aspect generally was strange to me;
I seemed to have neared the limit of the
prairie; a line Of hills lay against the
horizon and, beyond, the day was break
ing. With victory ready to my grasp,
was lost ? Suddenly l deserted in the
distance what seemed human habita-
tion. travelled toward it, and was re-
ioiced to have it prove ranch. ! reach
ed it, and halloed. When was within
few PAGES of the house, window in
the second story suddenly opened, and
rifle barrel was protruded, and aimed
directly at me. was thundertruck at
this proceeding. Had l come to the
lair Of q desperado9 But instantly I
bethought me of the suspicious appear
ance / presented, with my gun across
my knees, as if l were ready for action.
i have gone astrayr I shouted.
Where is Denver Z"
There was silence-still the rife was
pointed at me--and then I heard low
laugh. It was echoed back by the sill
very tones of pleasanter laugh-a wo.
mans laugh. l felt safe.
Denver is two miles further east was
now answered me, in a Juvenile voice,
| So I was not lost. I would triumph
in my mission. I was within easy
reach of my destination. With that
thought my overtasked energies assert
cd their weakness. I longed for q momen.
tary rest at least. Could I obtain il
heres l Fingered, despite the gsn which
menaced me. If they wanted to shoot
they would have shot, reasoned. By
the light now strengthening, they must
see that was not a rufian. / was right
the gun was withdrawn, and then reap
peared at the door of the house, in the
hand of a lad about Is years old, wht
laughingly approached nae, and said: