The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1880-11-02
ONE NIGHTS RIDE.

the coming pigeon shooting match of
the following day. The prize to be
awarded to the victor in the match
was no less than $1,000, u sufficient
payment for days work, in the opin.
ION of everyone. Much did l wish
that was skilled s'ot; 81 would
have been a prize for me. l was. in
the phrase current j. that country,
strapped fat on my back-dead
broke" / was even hungry, and
knew not where to turn for meal.
As I was gloomily meditating upon
my future, q remark Of new conner
"a miner appareatly-struck my
ear.
I'D give $40 if ] had ny rife here
that I'm used to. | can't do much
with this"
sprang to my feet in an instant.
"Ten dollars. did you say" | ex-
claimed. Ill bring it! Where is
it,"
"You can't do it. ! shall want it
early tomorrow morning"
Where is it,"
Down in the camp. a, Silver Gulch.
thirty miles from here"
Thirty miles, Give me full
meal, and q good horse. and you shall
have your gun at the time you wish"
A hearty laugh greeted my pro-
posal. The miner gOod-naturedly
surveyed me from head to foot. Fam
ished as was. looked young, healthy
and strong.
"Well, you shall have a square
meal at any rate
! insisted that ! could accomplish
the feat, although the sun was then
setting, and soon after was given full
directions and a horse which a had Sc
lected mys-lf, a wiry and fiery mus
tang. Sixty miles to be travelled be-
fore 3 o'clock the following morning
had set myself a painful tack. but
the 80 was to receive would enable
me to look about me for ten DAVIS, and
and something might then. or before.
turn up.
had Come TO Denver in hope of
employment. which my education as
civil engineer might grant me. ] found
that some five surveyors were ready
+; to offer their services where one was
wanted. had gradually run out Of
funds.
! ThoJ ,ho,.,,, ,,,, MN ,toov uall aS
regarded his endurance. ! trusted TO
my bon semanship to conquer his wild
ness. His wicked eye was proved not
to belle his spirit. As coon as ]
mounted, disregarding any attempts::of
mine to guide HIN, he galloped on as
though possessed by a demon. He
was proceeding in direction but lit
tie divergent from that which l wish
ed. ] was half content. and coon, up
on reaching al open plain. / forced
him to acknowledge his master. We
were now along in an ocean Of prairie
grass. The moon shoDe out bright
and full. and | guided myself by the
stars.
Although l was in rather a lawless
district, / entertained no fears of bod
lily harm from any passer l might en-,
counter Indians and other maraud-
ing bands had well nigh disappeared
from the neighbOrhoOd. There had
been talk of gang of Mexican ban,
dts n month before. but nothing had
been heard of them since. I felt
even ccstatic as We jagged on at the
easy trot into which my pony had
fallen after nv first burst of speed.
The atmosphere wac delightful: q gen.
tie breeze famed nv cheek. lex.
perienced sense of freedom. of indie
peudence, Of loneliness. as / looked
about me- over the vast plain. II was
not until lights cleaned in The dis
lance that he dropped into a walk,
and as We drew nearer them he again
voluntarily broke into agalIop.
We reached our destination at about
ii o'clock. having travelled 81 rather
than 80 miles in FIVE hours. ] SION
found rny employers partner. although
he had to be vigo,u usIy shaken before
he could be awakened-I fancy
whisky had something to do with bis
profound slumbef-: stated nv bust
ness, aud presented a written mi-sive.
l obtainel the rife. a breech-loader Of
magnificent construction, valued at
$500. | secured, "a well, some re-
freshments for myse,f and horse, and
after an hours delay started ON nv re-
turn trip.
My mustang appeared to think be
had done his duty for the night, aud I
found it difficult to urge him from the
camp. At the expiration of two
miles-indeed, when myuhand relaxed
lis pull on the rein-his head would
slowly return to the camp, and but for
watchfulness on my par. would have
found myself there again. I was now
in quite drowsy condition, aud would
easily have fallen asleep on my pony's
back. By-and-by. as became con-
WINGED that the animal would proceed
as wished. yielded to a feeling Of
extreme lassitude and slept. How
long slept ! could not tell. l awoke
with a start and at once placed nv
hand behind me to assure myself that
the rifle was still fastened to my sad
die. 1 felt nothing! looked it
was gone. The thrill Of horror that
at once ran through me again gave I
me energy. / pulled the pony stock |
still and meditated. Thoughts of |
lynch law flashed through nv mind. |
Had I indeed lost the gum L.
would be said that I had stolen it.
sold it. / would certainly he arrested
if 1 returned without it and held un.
til news would be received from the
camp. 1t would be known that the
gun had been given me. Apart from
l,s pecuniary value it was highly