Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-11-12

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stock stjll and meditatcd. Thoughts oft
lvnch law flashed my mind Had I'M
decd lost the gum II would hc said
that had stolen it-Sold Id | would
certainly be arrested ii returned with
out il, AMI he'd until news would he
known that the gun had been given
mo Apart from its pecuniary value.
i was highly priced by the owner. 10
what might his Extreme rage incite
MS companions against me.a stranger
and friendlcSss
IS Well lie hung for Il sheep rs Il
lamb was a thought that for i moment
lifted through my brain should not
seize the pony and fly to another place
would. | must rctrace my steps and
try IS lind the gun, The prairie grass,
tmmped 10y my pony'S feet. indicated
to me the course had taken. turn
ed him back upon that path. Again
and again was | obliged to djSmouut
and drag my sore and wearicd limbs
over the ground, which | carefully
Scrutiniled, 10 he sure could make no
mistake. All the while Twas torment
ed 10y the thought that my agoni2ed
painstaking might he entirely useless,
that the gun might have been stolen
from behind me hy some wandcrrr as /
slept How could know | Was hat
4 drowning man snatching al straw
rs stumbled onward ltseemcd ages
rs searched What time was passing?
Even if found the owner with il ut
the promised hour Only hy giving
II to HIM ut that hour 81 entry for
the match could il prove as desired hv
him, vr | receive the SlO ! SO longCd
for
With feyered brain and straimng
hloodshot eyes | continued the search,
impatient and patient at once, Clouds
were gathering IN the Sky, into one 81
them the moon now passed and the.
hight 50 necessary to me WAS ohSCurca
| remained motioness. Would J so
mad? My power for collected thought
seemed vanishing. Again the moon
came out clear and bright, and there,
close to my fcct sh0nr something
metallic ltwas the rifle had found
it.
| must place i before me rs | rode
this time. With fragments of tho
broken twinc dangling from thcNaddlc. |
| fastened the hreech to my left wrist
and, remounting my horse, allowed |
the gun To rest on my legs us advanc-
ed The jounce, iounce of the weapon
added TO my discomfort; but. IT least, |
ii was secure and was kept awake. |
But now where was |? recognized no
landmark. The aspect generally was
strange TO me; seemed to have
ncarcd the limit Of the prairie: a lime
of hills lay against the horizon, and, |
beyond, the day was breaking
With victory ready to my grasp, |
was lost Suddenly de |
serted in the distance what seemed
human habitation. travelled toward |
it and was reioiced TO havcit prove n
ranch. | reached il, and halloocd |
When | was within few PAGES ef
the house, window in the second T
story suddenly opened, ard n rifle
barrel WAS protruded and aimed direct
~ II me. | was thundcrstrucll IL this
proceeding. Had come to the lair
of 4 desperate, But r,stdtlv hethouaht !
me of the suspicious appearance |
with my gun across my
knees, rs i ! were ready for action
j have gone astrayn ! shouted.
where is Denver
There was silence -still the rinc was
pointed ut me and then heard low
laugh. II was echoed by the siNcN
tones Of il plcasanter laugh il Noman's
laugh. ] felt safe.
Denver is two miles further east. T
was nov answered mel rather iuvcn-
lie voice.
So was not lost. would triumph
in my mission. was within easy
reach Of my destinations With that
thought my oycrtasked energies assert
cd their weakness. ! longed for mo
mcutary rest, nj least. Could | obtain
ii here? fingered despite the gun
which mcnaced me. If they wanted to
shoot they would have shot, | reason
ed BY the light, now strengthening,
they must see that was not rutlian.
J was right the gun was soon with
drawn, and then reappcared At the
door Of the house, in the hand OF lad
Is years old, who laughingly approach
Cd me, and said:
FAGllse me. stranger, nut You are
rather an early visitor see you're
gentleman Fathers away, and the
women folks are easy scared. Thought
i best 20 bo on the safe side 4
Id Like 4 little rcfreshmcnt, was al
said in response.
was really in fantng condition,
l. pale as death The lad instantly
COX pity On my plight helped me 70
blight and led me 70 seat iii The
portico Of the house to q pillar Of
which he tied my horse. lie en-
cred. and returned with glas.
# vino which gave me life III
1ncoi and told him Of the loss Of my
life. was in the midst Of tic
when i beautiful face A.
1earcd timidly at the door, and a hand
to tho lad sandwich he
ave 70 me. ate and told my story
Is the reader has it, gaining another
lister CT IN the person Of charming girl
II H.
II was now o'clock. bad tuo
lours in which 10 travel two miles, but
thought had best set about it. The
IA iiGtaDc vas ~ tirnd a. Y,n,.solf III