Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-07-10
Written for The GRANT COUNTY HERALD
LITTLE STORM.
BY COLBY.
CHAPTER XII.

Vial ALI
Jim Dane was free at last, and it wa,
amazing how quickly his evil mine
dropped back into the trouble-hatchins
business. He rode very fleet horse
one that was capable of leaving Storms
pany, Jock" far behind in only q
score Of bounds-and he had not trav.
eled five miles before streak of re.
pentance over his late disclosures set in,
causing him to seriously entertain the
diabolical notion of pulling away from
his companion and leaving her to be
captured by any possible pursuing party,
while he would ride on and try to worm
the money secret out of the old man Of
the Rockies.
While Jim cogitated on this last bright
production of his mental incubator, side
by side the horses sped on over mile
after mile of wild country. Grass and
shrubbery bent their docile heads to the
rushers by; fire flew from hoof and flint,
while the very prairie seemed to run
away behind them. On they went,
dashing through fancy little streams
that sparkled sheeny in the pale moon
light, across well lit billy rises and
darkling hollows, holding ever toward
the Creators pyramids that doomed
grand and dusky to the westward.
On account of few after-thoughts,
Jim concluded not to desert Storm until
certain that they were followed, for
possibly he might not be able to finan-
cially manipulate the aged hermit with
out her aid. 1t would BIO better to let
her get the money, after which getting
he could easily take it from her by force
If the baffled guards from camp came
upon them, it would then be ample
time to put in execution his plan of
desertion.
When the first light of morning melt
cd over the prairie behind the flying
steeds, Jim was again forced to change
his calculations in regard to leaving
Storm behind, as his own spirited horse
began to show signs of WEAKNESS from
over work, while her animal continued
in its swinging pony gallop without
indications of fatigue. But this new
issue was soon passed upon. When
the knowledge of certain pursuit came
to him, he could pull Storm from her
pony and take it himself
In the haste of getting off, Storm had
neglected to bring Jim's rifle; but he
found a large revolver and abundant
ammunitionin hissaddle bag and holster.
With tins revolver he shot some small
game which Storm cooked over fire
when they halted for breakfast.
How pretty the girl looked as she
moved about the fire with exquisit nat
ural grace in every motion of her body!
The suns first rays flashed ON the
glossy hair that rippled down her back
and fiecked with rosy tints her healthy
cheeks and glistened on her snowy firm
set neck. But her eye! All, you would
have crawled two miles on hands and
knees to have gained second look into
its large, sweet depths. 1t was as rich
and velvety as purple pansy bloom,
and you would not have sought further
for brighter or truer thing to look
upon in this world. No country but
England could have furnished the foun-
1ation for that slight yet sturdy form;
no air but Americas could have painted
hose delicate roses on lips and cheek,
)r laid that lustre on neck and hair; no
SpOl VII III Oub blO WIN w ISL
nave brought into being and sustained
he pretty airs of unrestraint while re-
;training that marked her person, for
hey were caught from the mountains
ordly untamed rocks and flying rills-
rom the cloud-born eagle and the soft
stepping doe. This is no love story,
and the silken curtain will soon be rung
Town on the last scene, but you will
forgive my intruding this portrait of
Jur Storm-the Storm we have led all
his way with tender if not u brilliant
land-as, like the travellers toward the
star of Bethlehem, | would have you
Keep your eye on her brightness while
we pass through the somewhat shady
inal.
Breakfast over, Jim and Storm slept
IN hour, after which they re-mounted
and rode away. The day passed with
put any special event except that many
miles of rolling prairie and foothills
we're traversed, and before night shut
Down they entered a long defile lowered
over by gloomy mountains where silence
sat with bowed head at every turn.
''This boiler leads down 10 where your
iather's cabin used to stand, Fanny"
said Jim. Three miles furder on we'll
come to it and I'll show you the spot"
Storms heart fluttered like scared
thing. Only think how near she was
10 the mysterious spot that had known
her babyhood, that had witnessed the
of her home, that held in its
closed lips all those secrets which Jim
had so vaguely touched upon in his
appeal to her for liberty! Then, too,
Dane had picture of the spot in his
pocket, showing also the paths leading
from it to the cave of the hermit, which
he had drawn to keep the way in his
She was almost home.
Jim Dane was almost saved.
almost, but lost !''
On the still mountain air suddenly
broke startling, long-drawn howl.
Jim and Storm jerked their horses back
upon their launches and stood mo-
ment without hardly knowing why, for
the blood-chilling howl sounded close
behind them from the opposite side of
a short bend they had just traversedfn
the defile.
1t sounded again-two of them this
time-louder and closer. ''Ow-ow!-
ow owl Jim Dane was too intimately
acquainted with those two voices to
admit of possible mistake as to whom
they belonged, and he knew that it
would avail him nothing to fly, for the
coming feet were swifter than any iron
bound hoof, fresh or tired, so he whirled
his horse about and drew revolver to
face the coming danger.
He had but moment to wait. Around
the bend, measuring the ground with
six-yard leaps, bowling, foaming, reek-
ing with sweat, swept the two long
coupled trailers. When the dogs sighted
Jim's horse, their regulation ''lope"
into wild scramble and strife
of each vying with each to secure the
first taste of blood. Jim shouted to
them, but in their blind fury they did
not recognize his voice. He fired twice
before they reached him, but as his
horse was prancing nervously the bull
lets missed their mark. They throttled
the tired horse and dragged him to the
ground after brief struggle. In the
lull that ensued, after bringing down
the horse, by dint of kicks and shouts,
Jim managed to make himself known
to the dogs, and they skunk away quite
overcome with shame and remorse at
their unhappy mistake.
And now to Jim's ears from up the
mountain pathway came another sound
of ringing footballs. He knew what
that meant without consulting CYCLIC
pedia, and endeavored to raise his fall
en- horse, but all in vain. He was COM
pletely unnerved and refused to get up.