The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-08-14

She came 6ut presently, auu oos luo
things before him, bringing also the
teapot from the stove and pouring for
him cup of tea. Then she went and
sat down by the window, and watched
him furtively as he ate.
La spite Of his caution, he had taken
off his hat while he was eating. She
could better see what he was like. II
was almost q boyish face, worn, bat
not wicked, with the curling hair lying
in dark clusters upon his pale brow.
In the hands, small and well-shaped,
and in all his motions and manner,
she felt that she could read something
of his story. She had heard before
this how young lads in the East, filled
with romantic notions about Western
lie and adventure, sometimes LETT their
luxurious homes and found their way
to the ranches of the Pacific. Perhaps
he was one of these.
As she looked at him, fancying all
this, and realizing the terrible strait he
was in and the probable dark fate that
was before him, her heart yearned
with true womanly sympathy, and her
feeling found expression before she was
able 10 restrain herself.
"Oh, how could you do it? How
could you do it?" she suddenly ex-
claimed. her voice quite full of what
she felt.
He looked up at her in wonder, but
as his eyes met hers he understood
her.
II didn't do it. Upon my honor l
lid not" he said. ''lt was that man
Dennis" Sacramento breathed great
sigh OF relief Horse stealing was neld
Ii that section to be crime worse
than murder; and she was by no means
free from the popular estimate Of
grave nature.
''Oh, am so glad of that!' cried she.
But" she hesitated, and then went
on doubtfully, But, then, how was it?
Why did you run aways"
1T was Dennis doings, their laying
it to me. He did that to clear himself.
And after that you know as well az l
do that there would have been no use
trying to prove myself innocent. They
always hang q horse thief first, and
then consider his guilt afterward. l
had to run to save my life"
'Do you know that there Is q reward
offered for your captures
II know that the regulators are af-
ter mo-" answered the young man sui
lenly. They came pretty near catch
ing me, too, this noon. [ Just escaped
them, and came down the canyon by
the mountain trail. / have had hard
run for it, and with no sleep for twenty
four hours, am about used up. | felt
rs though | could not go another step,
when / saw your house Now-you
have been very good TO me. | shall
never forgot"
But what are you going to do now?"
INTERRUPTED Sacramento. ''You are
nos safe here"
- know it. But throw them off
the track this noon, and l do not think
they are within five miles of me. Now
have had something 10 eat, | will
take to the woods again l hope l may
get clear away. Ii / don' e'-his voice
tremblcd and tears came into his eyes.
''If don't, l shall get hanging sup
pose. Oh, what fool | was not TO prefer
home to this sort of thing! And yet, |
wouldn't care 50 much either, if it was
not for my poor father and mother"
And here the poor fellow fairly broke
down.
"Harkr Sacramento exclaimed. She
had been crying, too. She could not
help it.
They both listened. In moment
they both heard plainly the sound OF
horses coming down the trail. The girl
turned with instant self-possession:
$50 in there! Quick! QUICK! There
is not moment to lose Here, take
your hat!'
After handing his hat TO him she
half pushed him across the room and
in TO her own little room that led off
from it. Then she hurricdly cleared the
table again, barely finishing the task as
the horsemen halted at the door.
There were three of them. One was
her father. Sacramento knew the 9TH
or two men by sight. They were rough,
but of the better sort of those who
made up the dwellers of Kelly Gulch.
The faces of all three were stern and
forbidding, and they evidently had
been riding hard. they dismounted
together.
Sac began her father, as he en-
tered the door, ''hoV you seen anything
of a young chap afoot or a horseback
coming this way?'
Sacramento had expected the ques-
ton and was ready for it. And she
meant, if possible, to answer without a
lie.
"A young chap about 1S years of
age, and five feet and a half high, rath-
er good looking, with red top boots?'
replied she.
''Yes! yes! That's himr' cried one
of the other men. Has he been here?''
81 was only quoting from this hand
bill" said Sacramento, taking the pa
per from the shelf where she had laid
it.
Then you hain't seen him at all?'
asked her father.
Il have been right here all day, and
nobody has gone by except Pete LARA
bee. 1t was he who gave me the bill.
Are you sure that he came this way
thc-the horse thief?"
mo; but we didn't know but he
might. The chances is that he sloped
Off TO the mountains. meanin' to go
through Stovepipe pass. They'll get
him though. afore sundown."
ITS sundown now," observed Sac
ramcutO.
Then they've got him now." was
the sententious response. And we
shall be too late for the hangin' eff we
sh'd go back. Leastways' was
added to his companions-'y you'd bet
ter come in and have bite afore you
70"
So presently the three men sat down
10 the supper that the young girl quick
ly prepared for them. And while they
were eating, she herself, at her father S
bidding, went out to take the saddle
off Bueno, his horse, and give him feed.
AS she approached the door once more
few minutes after. she heard words
which caused her TO stop and listen.
Il don't like ter say anything against
thet kid o. yourn, neighbor," one of
the men was saying. but it hez kinder
seemed ter me al Their while's though
she sorter he'd some'at on her mind
like. Ye don't s'pose 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-