The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-05-19
BLOCKING A GAME.
BY p. A. VINAL.

Hello, Thurman l thought Won
were over the mountains, old fellow! -
We'll met, maiorl Faith, man, how
well you are looking!"
They shook hands with the heartiuess
of old friends; these two men, who were
both such splendid types of manhood
Major Eustis, tall, with a superb phy-
slque, and the blue eyes and vivid gold
en- hair Of a Viking; Robert Thurman.
splendid, sinewy, as though every mus
Gle was OF tougheDed steel, clear, gray
eyes, with CLEAN i'll them as of a flash
lng scImeter, and hair the color of a
fipened chestnut.
How came you over here in Star
City, Thurman ?" questioned Major
Eust1s. =" | thought you were In Aus
tin. What's up old friend? You look
as haggard and CHASTITY as though you
had been troubled by the ghost of our
grandmother!
am IN trouble, major" said the
other, Ill a strained voice, that told of
tense nerves, "and it's bitter trouble.
too. For month or SO / have cen
prospecting up in the Humboldt Range.
Yesterday, Bill Cleaves-I did him a
ia OhNNJ anu lIC bWOJt bIldG lie WOuI0
never forget it-drew rein beside me.
and in few hasty words told me that
Joe Vance, his pardner, and the black
est-hearted gambler III Austin, has his
plans all laid to carry off my little sis
ter tomorrow night God help my lit
tie snow-bearted girl ii she falls into
ms ctutches!" groaned Thurman, while
great drops OF cold sweat stood on his
forehead. F." Well" he went on,
Cleaves' message caused me to strike
out for Austin in hot haste; but e
reds got after me, chased me In here.
aud gave my horse bullet of which he
dled half an hour ago; and here L am
with a hundred miles between me and
Joe vance,
Major Eustis brought his hand down
on Thurman's shoulder heavily.
You have come to the right man to
help you, old fellowp he said firmly.
I've owed you one ever since the time
that Judge Lynch mistook me for a
horse thief, and you saved me from a
hempen dance by your timely words,
backed up by resolute face and a re-
volver; and | am glad OF chance to
square up that old debt 60 some extent.
Perhaps you have heard of my stallion,
Brownie Well, he's right here In Star
Clty, and he's at your service. Never
fear but what you'll have the chance to
block that blackleg's little game; for, if
do say it, Brownie will put more miles
behind him between sun-up and sun set
than any horse in Nevada. Let's go
right down to the stables and have the
little brown beauty trotted out.
God bless"
!" Not word, Thurman It's all
right, said the major, heartily, linking
arms with the man, whose white face
was working strangely at this evidence
of true friendship, for Thurman well
knew that the majors famous stallion
was dearer to him than the apple of his
eye.
Out of the great bar-room of the Oc-
cldental Hotel, where the meeting had
taken place, went the two friends, and
with quick steps took their way to the
only stable which Star City afforded.
And Brownie was led out of his stall.
An involuntary exclamation burst
from Thurman's lipsl
Peerlessp
The magnificent creature arched his
slender neck, and touched Thurman's
hand with his velvety nose, as if to add
his own Endorsement to this tribute to
his beauty.
For surely as hapelier creature never
stood rs model for Laudseer. The
light of the stable lamp glinted over the
tanks OF shining brown where the great
muscles showed like pillows placed side
by slde-over the flowing chestnut name,
as soft and sIlken as any tresses ever
confined with blue ribbon snood, with
great eyes, bright with an intelligence
almost human.
You would like to be off to night,
OF coarse, SAID the major, stroking his
favorite with touch soft and caressing
as mother s when brushing her dar-
ing S halr back from his soft, white fore
head.
am wild to start now!" replied
Thurman. But l suppose the best
policy Is to wait until moonrise. So. at
midnight, major, I'llstartover themoun-
taIns with more of zest than ever the
blue bonnets went over the Scottish bor-
der.
la the east the red rose of dawn "
was beginning to unfold, and flush as
OF roses lay on the for reaching expanse
OF Salt Desert, and the mountains which
surrounded It.
A zone Of exquisite coloring. like the
glrdle OF the gods, were these mountains,
their vivid red and brown tints contrast
ing strlkingly with the great heaps of
snow white sand piled high at their
feet.
But Salt Desert was gray expanse
level as floor and sixty miles in ex-
tent. 1t stretched from mountain SIDE
to mountain side, with never a drop
OF water TO moisten it's blistered
breast.
The depths of salt that lay hidden be-
meath crust of sediment had long ago
drank up the water tbat once Law. over
them; for Salt Desert had all heappear-
ance OF being salt lake. But now it is
one of Nevada's deserts.
Through pass ia the mountains on
the western side of Salt Desert led "A
well-detined trail, that wound around
he desert, in and ont among the foot
hills at the base OF the mountains, out