The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-01-26

Are you sure he came this way, the
the-horse.thief p
"No; but we didn't know but he
mighter. The chances is thet he slop Sd
off to the mountains. meanin' ter go
through Stove-pipe Pass. They'll git
him, though, afore sundown."
"Its sundown now," observed Sacra-
mento.
"Then they've got him now," was
the sententious response. "And we
should be too late for the hangin' ef
we sh'd go back. Leastways this was
added to his companions-"y you'd bet
ter come in and have a bite afore We CO."
So presently the three men sat down
to the supper that the young girl
quickly prepared for them. And while
they were eating she herself, at her
fathers bidding, went out to take the
saddle off Bueno, his horse, and give
him his feed. AS she approached the
door once more few minutes later she
heard words which caused her t. stop
and listen.
"I don't like ter say anything against
thet kid O. yourn, neighbor," one of the
men was saying, "but it hes kinder
seemed ter me all ther while s though
she sorter he'd some at on her mind
like. Ye don't 'spose she knows any,
thing bout thet young feller, arter alp"
Sacramento's father laughed at this
as though it was too absurd to be con-
sidered.
The other, however, was not to be
laughed out of his suspicious.
Fur we all know" persisted he,
" she may hev him hid here somewhere
on the premmysis."
"It's easy enough to see," returned
the proprietor of the said "prem-
nysis," testify. "Where dye think
she's hid himp In her bedroom?"
AS he said this Sacramento, who was
now near enough to see into the kitchen,
aw her father rise from his chair and
step to the door of the room where she
bad concealed the fugitive. Her heart
almost stopped beating as she saw him
push open the door and enter the room,
followed by his companions.
"We'Q make q clus search of it
while we're about it," she heard him say
within.
And then she stood there in terrible
suspense upon the porch, expecting
every instant to hear the shout that
would follow the discovery of the
fugitive,
But 10 such shout was heard; and
instead of it, moment after, the two
men came out again, her father still
laughing at his friend
What could it mean +? Had the
young man been able to conceal him
self in the room and 80 evade their
search =? That was not possible. Then
she thought of the window. Could he
have escaped from the room by that?
The window was so small she could
believe that he could have
crept through it. And yet he must
have done SO.
She went hurriedly to the back OF the
house and then down beyond the horse
sheds. No one. could be seen. She
halted moment under live.oak tree
just at the edge of the garden. The
evening was very calm and still, and
the twilight shadows were deepening
fast. Was it the rustling of the wind
in the boughs overhead that caught her
ear? She listened.
"Hist I am herein the tree"
The words came in distinct whisper
from directly above her.
She stood and thought single mo-
ment before replying. Then she said
" You must get away from here at
once," in an eager whisper. Gone OF
the, men suspects something, and
they may at any moment make search
OF the place. l am going into the
house minute. Get down at once and
go through the garden and across the
trail to spring that You will find there
It's at the foot of a big cottonwood
lee. Stay right there until I come"
Then she went back hurriedly to the
house. The three men were still sit
ting at the table, and Sacramento felt
rather than saw that one of them still
regarded her suspiciously as she came
IN. She did not speak to them at all, |
but went directly through the kitchen |
20 her own room, and in q moment |
came out. went about her work in the
kitchen, and took up pail apparently
20 go to the spring for water.
Ten minutes later, standing in the |
shadow of the cottonwood, young
Somers heard a step, and then Sacra. |
nento, leading Bueno all saddled and |
oridled, appeared. He started forward.
"Hush p she said; "they may come
'ut at any moment. Listen to what I
'ay. Your life depends upon it. You
must ride straight down the trail for q
quarter of a mile. Then, close by big
cottonwood, just like this, You will
'trike path to the left. Bueno will
Know 1t, once you get him in it. 1t
will bring you out, half mile on, at q
corduroy road that crosses the swamp.
This end of the corduroy has got out of
'rder and there are some logs laid.
Lead Bueno across and then pull the
ogs away. If you.can do that it will
make trouble for those who follow you.
Beyond the swamp is big plain.
strike straight across it, keeping the
noon square on your right--the moon
will be up by that time-and three
lours' riding will bring you to the new
abroad. After that-God help you to
,et safe aTayI'
Sacramento paused and put out her
land. "Can you remember" she de-
handed.
II can, but can never forget"
"Never mind that. Here, take this.
t is little money. You will need it.
Vow mount and ride-slowly, little
Vay, and then for your life."
The young man still had hold of her
land. The tears came into his eyes.
The next moment he was gone.
The next morning Sacramento told
Ter father the story and coaxed him