The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-03-31

Gwen make a clus search of il
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 fugi-
tive.
But no such shout was heard and
instead of it, a 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 himself in the
room and so 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 scarcely believe
that he could haze ave-, csept sssp. t5 shronSh It
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 wa 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.
I" Hist 1 am herein the tree"
The words came in distinct whisper
from directly above her.
She stood and thought a single mo-
ment before replying. Then she said,
" You must get away from here at once,
In an eager whisper. Zone of the men
suspects something. and they may at
any moment make search of the place.
am going into the house a minute.
Get down at once and go through the
garden and across the trail to a spring
that you will find there. It's at the foot
of big cottonwood tree. Stay right
there until l come.
Inen she went back hurriedly to the
house. The three men were still sitting
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 TO her own
room, and in a moment came out, went
about her work in the kitchen, and took
up pail, apparently to go to the spring
for water.
Ten minutes later, standing IN the
shadow of the cottonwood, young Som
ers heard step, and then Sacrame lto
leading Bueno all saddled and bridled,
appeared. He started forward.
Hush !" she said, "they may come
out at any moment. Listen to what
say. Your life depends upon it. You
must ride straight down the trail for q
quarter of mile. Then close by big
cottonwood, just like this, you viii
strike a path to the left. Bueno will
know 1t, once You get him in it. 1t will
bring you out, half a mile on, at a cor
duroy road that crosses the swamp.
This end of the corduroy has got out of
order and there are some logs laid
Lead Bueno across and then pull the
logs away. II you can do that it viii
make trouble for those who follow you.
Beyond the swamp is big plain. Strike
straight across 1t, keeping the s7;~-an
square on your right--tiAS moon Will be
up by that time-and three hours rid
ing Will bring you to the new railroad.
After that-God help you to get safe
away
Sacramento paused, and put out hel
hand. "Can you remember ?" she de
manded.
81 can, but can never forget"
Never mind that. Here, take this
1t is a little money. You will need it
Now mount and ride-slowly, little
way, and then for your life.
The young man still had hold of her
hand. The tears came into his eyes.
The next moment he was gone.
The next morning Sacramento told
| her father the story and coaxed him into
| forgiving her. And the following after
noon a man brought Bueno over from
\ the railroad town; and then she knew
that the fugitive was safe.
Six weeks later lawyer from Santa
Barbara appeared with letter from
Walter Somers. He was with his friends
at New York, and he begged Sacra-
mento to accept, as a gift of gratitude,
at least the amount of the reward that
had been offered.
And so it was that she went down to
| San Francisco to school that winter,
| after all - Youths Companion.