The Osceola times., 1880-11-20

stumbled onward. II seemed ages rs I
| searched. What time was passing?
Even II | found the owner with it at the
promised hour? Only by giving it to
| him at that hour of entry for the match
could II prove as desired by him, or | re-
ceive the $40 so longed for.
With fevered brain and straining,
bloodshot eyes / 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 now necessary to me was obscured.
remained motionless. Would l go mad?
My power for collected thought seemed
vanishing. Again the moon came out
clear and bright, and there, close to my
feet, shone something metallic. 1t was
the rifel l had found it!
i placed it before me as | rode this
time. With fragments of the broken
twine dangling from the saddle, / fasten-
ed the breech TO my left wrist and re-.
mounting my horse, allowed the gun
TO rest on my legs as | advanced. The
jounce, iounce OF the weapon added to
my discomfort; but at last it was secure
and | was kept awake. But now where
was |? / recognized no land mark. The
aspect was generally strange to me; /
seemed TO have neared the limit of the
prairie: line of hills lay against the
horizon, and beyond the day was
breaking. With victory ready to my
grasp was | lost? Suddenly | discerned
IN the distance what seemed human
habltation. Itraveled toward it and was
reached 1T and halloed WhenI was
NIT hin N fax.y .,f ha
dow in the second story suddenly opened
aud rifle barrel was protruded and
aimed directly at me. was thunder
struck at this proceeding. Had come
to the lair of desperate? But instantly
| bcthought me of the suspicious appear
ance presented with my gun across my
knees, as if l were ready for action.
II have gone astrayw shouted.
"Where is Denver"
There was silence-still the rifle was
pointed at me-and then heard low
laugh. 1t was echoed by the sllvery
tones Of a ploasanter laugh-a woman's
laugh. l felt safe.
Denver is two miles further east" 4"
was now answered me, In rather a juve-
nile voice.
So was not lost. would triumph in
my mission. was within easy reach of
my destination. With that thought, my
overtasked energies asserted their weak
ness. l longed for momentary rest, at
least. Could obtain it here? / fingered,
despite the gun which menaced me. II
they wanted to shoot they would have
shot, reasoned. By the light now
strengthening they must see that l was
not ruffian. / was right; the gun was
soon withdrawn. and then reappeard at
the door of the house, in the hand of q
lad about eighteen years old, who laugh
ingly approached me, and said:
Excuse me, stranger, but you are
rather an early visitor. see you're a
gentleman. Fathers away, and the wo-
men are easily scared. l thought it
would be best to be on the safe side"
"Td like a little refreshments" was all
| said in response.
was really in fainting condition, as
pale as death. The lad instantly took
pity on my plight, helped me to alight,
and led me to seat on the portico of
the house, to pillar of which he tied
my horse. He entered, and returned
with glass cf wine, which gave me a
life at once, and told him the loss of
my rifle. was in the midst of nara
ton, when beautiful face appeared
timidly at the door, and hand out
stretched to the lad a sandwich, which
he gave to me. ate and told my story
as the reader has it, gaining another
listener in the person of charming girl
of sixteen.
1t was now o'clock. had two hours
in which to travel two miles, but |
had best set about it. The mustang was
as tired as mys elt He proceeded at a
walk. However, as we reached the con-
fines of the town he increased his speed
and it was at liyely,trot that he entered
the stable 10 which he belonged. / ex-
hibited little of the same spirit when l
presented the coveted rifle to its owner
and received the $40.
Twas sufficiently recovered from fa-
tigue, at the close of the day, to be
among those who were congratulating
the winner of the prize-my employer.
He forced upon me another $40 bill. He
would admit of no refusal, These two
$40 bills proved the foundation of quite
little fortune. am at present married,
and living in The ranch l have men
toned, but expect soon to leave for the
East. My wife, being still very young,
is curious to see the higher civilization"
of RoStnp onI othar fitias