Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-03-31
"You don't often como tbis va,

horse-thief has stole my Romus and Re-
mus my two best horseS-anl we TO
after him, You see.'
chow do you know he stole them?"
Martha ventured.
know. Well, my dear. johnson he
seed a strange lad warderin about near
my stable, bout nine o'clock at night
He had come to the tavern that even
ing. and he walked about town pros
pectin', as you may say, and johnson
he says he's the moral of young Cave,
and he's the right hand man of Amos
White. the boldest horse-thief in this
county. Well catch up with HIM"
1--WE aint sarched these premises
grumbled the dark looking rutiian they
called johnson. "Maybe he's hid in
the hen or somewhar."
You are welcome to search, gentle
men," said Martha, rising with alacrtv.
The strain was too much for her. and
she felt Us if she was in danger of
screaming cloud, or going into fit of
Mysteries before them.
'Therc's pony tracks up to this here
gate, said johnson. scowling at her.
Had anybody been here to-day"
drawled Colonel Gardner. who WIS
striving to be courteous.
80 yes" she answered readily; sold
Mr.. Maxwell brought our meal, and
Jim Pendleton rode here to get father $
scythe."
"Well, we'll sarch-meanin' no Of
fense. my dear" and the Colonel
waddled into the house. while the men
scattered into the outbuildings. Nerved
on by the emergency, Martha strove To
60 Oh quietly with piece of WORK she
had hastily caught up. In Il few min
utes they returned, the old Colonel
putting and blowing. and tanning him.
self with his hat. lie sank into seat
near her.
''Pm sorry your pa wasn't here" he
said; "but | hope. my dear. you aint
scared. My girls don't scare worth 4
cent, but you're stranger, and punv
to boot. and you're not used to or
ways. You see, in Texas we don't low
criminals to git away.
''Aint that woman master hand to
work?' looking curlously at the leaf
raker. "Aint she that German woman
your pa hired last week?''
Martha had not time to reply before
Robbie, his nap over, ran out on the
porch.
"Why, if there aint Bertha" he
cried. spying the well-known dress and
sunbonnet, and was running out to join
her, when his sister caught him.
YOU'RE not to disturb Bertha till she
finishes her work. Robbie. If you do,
I'll punish YOU"
Rob looked up in astonishment at his
sisters angry tone, but Colonel Gardner
laughed approvingly.
you'll do to tie to. young miss.
That's the sort l like. You git all the
work out of your hired people, and You
don't let 'em shirk it. Hailoo, if here
aint Job Lyons" as another wild
looking horseman dashed up to the
gate. "Got him, Job?'
"No. Curnel, but we've got your
hosses. They was a-grazing near
BOggy Creek. You brought lis, Curncl,
on wild goose chase. fur them hosses
amt bin stole. jest slipped their halt
ers and got away. I'm OF to my work.
and he galloped away.
Delight and dismay chased each other
over the COlOners broad face.
"Wall, now, gentlemen" he said
deprecatingly to the men who had risen
and were preparing to move off, "Pm
mighty sorry l troubled you"
"You mought have got us in heap
worse trouble eff we had broken that
yOungster s neck, as you and johnson
wanted" said one of the men sternly.
"We ought to thank our stars he got
away"
"Wall, now" said the Colonel, help
lessly, ''we've-bin chasin' fellow for
nothin', eh?''
"Looks monStrously like it," said
the man who had just spoken; ''and
we were within an ace of hangin' him
to the first convenient limb. fur nothin' =,
too. Look here. Curnel, you don't git
me out agin when your hosses git
away"
They rode off. leaving the crest fallen
Colonel to follow at his leisure.
AS he rolled his portly bulk to the
gate. Martha heard him muttering:
"Wall, now, how in thunder did
them hOSses break loosep'
1t was over-the fear and suspense.
Martha had never tainted in her life.
but she felt faint and sick, and closed
her eyes for few minutes. When she
opened them, the young man had taken
Off his disguise and was in his own
clothes, and looking at her gratefully.
81 can't thank YOU" he said
you've done so much for me that l
can't express myself. But for you
should have been dangling to one of
those trees. They wouldn't have given
me ten minutes.
YOU'RE safe now," she said.
"Yes. But l wouldn't have showed
myself even when heard all. because
it might have injured you with your
neighbors-for assisting supposed
horse-thief. My name is Burton-Har-
ry Burton; and my mother will thank
you some day for this"
"Why did you leave home to wan
der around in this way?" Martha asked
curiously.
Harry Burton looked little confused,
but said:
"Wcll, the fact is, thought I'd see
a little of the world. To tell tho truth
I've been away from home two mon h.
and had written my mother that i wa,
coming back to look after matters on
the farm again, when all this happened
to ME. l will 60 and look for my horse
now, and perhaps, when your father
returns. he will set me across the river.
Pm going to ride all night, for I'm just
wild to see home again"
Martha directed him to the place
where his pony had been turned loose,
and then sat down to think quietly.
What an afternoon it had been! And
all these things had happened in 4 few
hours. Robbie was looking every
where for the supposed Bertha, who
had vanished, and wearied his sister
with questions as to where she had
gone. and who was the strange man
who had come from behind the house.
1t was sunset when Mr.. Willis re-
turned. lie was seriously angry and
frightened at Martha's imprudence,
and the risk she ran in sheltering a
possible felon; but he was proud. too,
of her bravery and presence of mind.
"Never do such an act again, my
girl" he said. 1T was dangerous