Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-07

corner of the house, the horse barely main
taining his footing Half way up the slope,
and few rods above the house, stood the
stout stump of a cedar, and his lariat hung
at his saddle-bow. How he blessed
his practice with it, The first
cast was suceessful-the loop lay over
the stump and a pull frightened it.
In a moment he was at the back
window; in another. Edith, stepping
from the sill, sat behind him, and chung
10 him. Again he guided Comanche to
the corner, and wound the lariat around the
pommel of the Mexican saddle. He
the torrent The thoroughbred was
swept off his feet before he had gone
ten yards, but he swan strongly and
boldly; the lariat was taut as a bow
string, but it held. 1t seemed an hour
before the middle of the stream was
reached. His heart beat fast the girl
said nothing, but he felt her clasp
tighten; and still the horse swan on,
and the torrent, baked by the stout
lariat of its prey, actually aided their
escape. They neared the slope
Comanche gained his footing; they were
saved Jack had never taken his ewes
off the horses head and the knot on the
pommel, and he had never seen a
stalwart, bearded man gallop down the
slope and jump from his horse Just before
they gained the land. Now. to his amaze.
ment, this man lifted Edith from Comanche
and folded her in his arms. Shortly he
raised his head.
You needn't look so sort O surprised.
young Teller" said he; you bet it's all
right. | haven't got card case about me,
but my names Simpson, and-and-"
His manner changed in n second God
hlacS for nh nlo
as | ever saw III all my life. He will bless
you, too for you've saved the life of my
little girl, that's the apple of my eye" Still
grasping his daughter tightly with his left
arm he wrung Jacks hand, and the tears
stood in his eyes.
Just then, with many crack and groan,
and almost, one would say, a cry of dis
tress, Simpsons ranch house was torn from
its frail foundation and swept down the
valley.
Never mind let her 60" cried he,
I'll buy dozen blamed old shanties like
that for you tomorrow, If you want EN-"
Next day all the neighborhood knew that
Simpson had come back, and why he went
away how the partner who had defrauded
and nearly ruined him years before had
written him from his sick bed in his ref
uge in Manitoba how he had made resti-
tuition; how Simpson had been for months
beyond the region of mails and telegraphs:
how he had come home and ridden up the
valley behind Jack.
" l didn't know you were ahead of me-
he told him. "0f course il was my horse
you heard but knew short cut to the
mesa, and turned off by it, but you were
too quick for me. Oh, yes know it's all
right. | wouldn't cross the little girl, any
way. Ii she is willing, am; and if she's
going to leave her old father, Pm mighty
glad she's going to have man to take care
of her that's got sand.'
The day the engagement was announced
in Pueblo the Arcade saloon did the larg-
est business of the season, From the
Sheriff of the county down to the humblest
cowboy on the range, everybody was
pleased. Broncho Sam celebrated the
event in accordance with the rules of the
Moderation Society rather than those of
the Total Abstinence Organization.
That thar's as pooty couple ez yer kin
lind in this yere country said he; IAN
Simpson he'd come back an done the
squar' thing but l amt caught on 10 his
stayin' away an sendn' no word. say
thar warn't no sense in il, no how. IA
A. Hayes, in Harper's Bazaar.