Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-06-27

Ing III udrh CiuoOCIo Opoh hio Po!S
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 ia
the east, filled with romantic notions
about western life and adventure,
sometimes left their luxurious homes
and found their way out to the ranches
of the Pacific. Perhaps he was one OF
these.
As she looked at him, fancying all
this, and realizing the terrible straight
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 to restrain herself.
"Oh, how could you do lt2 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.
IL didn't do it. Upon my honor l
did not" he said. 1T was that man
Dennis"
Sacramento breathed a great sigh
OF relief. Horse stealing was held in
that section to be crime worse than
murder; and she was by no means
free from the popular estimate of its
grave nature.
"Oh, l am glad Of that" cried she.
But" she hesitated, and then went
on doubtfully; But, then, how was
it, Why did you run away"
1T was Dennis doings, their laying
it to nae. He did that to clear him
self. And after that you know as well
as / do that there would have been no
use in trying to prove myself limo,
cent. They always hang a horse
thief first and then consider his guilt
afterward. | had to run to save my
life
do you know that there is re
ward offered for your capture"
'Iknow that the regulators are after
me, answered the young man sullen-
ly. "They came pretty near catching
me too, this noon. | escaped them,
and came down the canyon by the
mountain trail. | have had hard
run for it, and what with no sleep for
twonty-four hours, | am about used
up. | felt as though l could not go
another step when | saw your house.
Now-you have been very good to nc.
[ shall never forget"
"But whata are you going to do now?"
interrupted Sacramento. You are not
safe here"
81 know it. But / threw them off
the track this noon, and L do not
think they are within five miles of me.
Now, l have had something to eat, |
will take to the woods again, l hope
| may get clear away. If | dom"
his voice trembled and tears came in
to his eyes. IF | don't shall get a
hanging, | suppose. On, what fool
| was not to prefer home to this sort
thing! And yet, [ wouldn't care SO
much, either, if it wasn't for my faith
err and mother" And there the poor
fellow broke down.
" Hark" Sacramento exclaimed.
She had been crying, too. She could
not help it.
They both listened. In a moment
they both heard plainly the sound of
horses coming down the trail. The
girl turned with instant elf-posses-
sion:
Go in there Quick, quick! There
is not moment to lose. Here. take
your hat"
After handing his hat to hun she
half pushed INN across the room and
,,,t, hnt 10 ha4 LODI
it. Then she hurridly 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 other two men by sight. They
were rough, but of the better sort of
those who made up the jewellers Of
Kelly Gulch. The faces of all three
were stern and forbidding, and they
evidently had been riding hard. They
dlsmounted together.
Sac" began her father, as he
entered the door, "hev you seen any
thing of a young chap afoot or a
horseback coming this Tay2'
Sacramento had expected the ques
ton and was ready for it. And she
meant, if possible, to answer without
lie.
"A young chap about eighteen
years of ago, and five feet and half
high, rather good looking, and with
red top boots?" replied she.
Yes! yes That's him. cried one
of the other men. Has he been
herc?"
II was only quoting from this
handbill," said Sacramento taking
the paper from the shelf where she
had laid it,
Then you hain't seen him at all?'
asked her father.
II have been right here all day,
and nobody has gone by except Pete
Larabee. 1t was he who gave the bill.
Are you sure that he came this way
he-the horse theft"
"No; but we didn't know but he
might The chances is that he Is
sloped off to the mountains, meanin'
to go through Stovepipe pass.
They'll get him though afore sun
down"
Its shutdown now observed Sac
ramento.
Then they've got him now" was
the sententious response. and we
should be too late for the hangin' Ell
we sh'd go back. Leastways' -thiS
was added to the companions you'd
better come in and have bite afore
you go"
SO presently the three men sat
down to the supper that the young
girl quickly prepared for them And
while they were eating, she herself,
at her fathers bidding went out to
take the saddle off Bueno, his horse,
and give him feed. AS she approach
ed the door once more. a few minutes
after, she heard words which caused
her to stop and listen.
II don't like ter say anything
against that kid o yourn, neighbor,
one of the men was saying, but it
hez kinder seemed to me all Their
while's though she sorter he'd some'at
on her mind like. Ye don't 'spose
she knows anything about that
young Teller arter alli"
Sacramento's father laughed at this,
as though it was too absurd to be con
sidered
The other, however, was not to be
laughed out of his suspicious.
For all we know" persisted he,
she may hev hid him here some
where on the nrpn nySiS