Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-01-14

window, down on the first floor, in lean
to addition of split oak shakes.
'Martin! Martin!'
''Who is it"'
Mr.. Rawlins. Pull on your clothes,
take q blanket and come out here quick.
Don't make a noise"
The boy was at his side in minute.
They jumped the fence again and ran to
the buggy: r,,.
Wilson home. Get back in bed before
and don't whisper a word of this
you can trust me, Mr.. Rawlins."
Rawlins shook the boys hand, lifted his
hat to Flora and ran back, down the hol-
low. splashing across the brook, straight
ND the path. He heard their wheels rattle
once, and then no more. Mary was sitting
where Rawlins had left her, crying softly
to herself. She had been scarcely nfteen
minutes alone.
They walked on at once, and he told her
of Flora's departure, praised Martin, made
the most cheerful remarks he could think
Of, happy if he had the slightest assent eha
broke out: "What will become of himE"
ssHe is a splendid rider, Mary-none bet
ter in the region-and his horse will carry
him safely all night, unless" The
teacher stopped, aghast at his own stupid
.sUnless what, sir?" said the trembling
girl.
at is not likely to happen. They might
roll down a hillside, but then that might
not hurt them much; and Roland is so
sure-footed, think we may hope for the
BEST
..Oh, SIR" she whispered. az am SO glad
YOU think so. I've always liked Antoine"
She said as simply as child. I'VE played
together long ago. He saved my life down
at the creek one day. It's natural should
like Antoine"
.!Of course it is; and don't you think he,
too. remembers his childhood?"
"But perhaps not the same way.'
"Perhaps not" said the schoolmaster
musingly. Mary" he went on abruptly,
'.you are seventeen; | am thirty in years,
and more than that in experience. | tell
YOU that you can live without Antoine.
like-but don't fail to keep at the head of
your classes, and do everything just as you
did BEFORE"
Mary only began to cry softly again, and
he felt compunctiously that this was
rather stern preaching for the little
maiden sobbing at his side. He put his
hand gently on hers as it lay on his
arm. "I'm just as sorry as l can be,
Mary; You'll try to be brave GIRL won't
Eyes. sir" she answered.
snow, let US talk of something else"
And he talked to her cheerfully till they
reached the Kester cabin.
He went directly home to Michenay's
No use looking for Antoine until morning.
At daybreak the anxious teacher went to
Martins room and called him. Only an
hours sleep the boy had had, yet he came
out ready and smiling, q boy OF a million
for an emergency.
Martin, did you ever know Roland to
run away with Antoine:"
Yes, indeed, sir, but Antoine brings him
down"
Suppose he was foolish enough, just
for bravado, to jump on Roland unsaddied
..Gracious, Mr.. Rawlins, Roland 'ud run
to the top of Mount Lassen before he
sto e.VP Led Gonna down to the stables. Mar.
TIM
In ten minutes they had caught and sad
died the two best colts in the ONE nadnGda;
in ten minutes more had swan the river
and were galloping across the pasture be-
yond; in third ten minutes had found the
trail-as who, indeed, could help? 1t was
like a blaze through a forest. Here Roland
slipped and staggered; there, he plowed
through the ground, hinging black mud far
and wide; this giant fallen pine he leaped ;
yonder he swayed in sudden fright. Mar
tin asked no questions, but he fully COM
pretended the emergency, and brought all
his woodcraft into play.
All here Roland left the grassy low
lands, and took the hillside paths He
twisted like a snake about the pines. There
he ran between two tree trunks, and hardly
mark of Antoine's boot heel. Wonder
bough would have killed him had he not
been lying on his face, clasping Roland's
name.
Rawlins. Straight for the Big Slide, the
horse has turned. Ride faster, Martin
faster, We can follow his trail at gal
iop:"
down, and Roland's hoof-marks are hardly
three feet from the edge. All. he SHE'D
back and ran off, but Antoine brings him
up again. Here they approached the cliff
once more, at a higher point. and brave
Roland has reared, whirled, and again es
capped.
Martins face grew suddenly pallid. ''Mr
RawIins," he cried, Antoine did that o
Of. PO'' " ' ~
.How do you know"
"He put handkerchief in his mouth
back there piece, an pulled him round
See how steady he went?"
1t was true. Antoine had gained partia
control of Roland, and twice had forced
him to the precipice, only carried back {
hundred yards by the resolues horse. Thu
third time he faces death; he brings Ro
land. perhaps blindf olded, up to the verg'
where, quarter of a mile below, thu
Jagged rocks lie. Great heavens! Tn,
edge fairly crumbles under his feet, but thu
grand creature fought his way backward
inch by inch. Yes he had broken the inn
provised rein, and bounded off for tn
lowlands with long, irregular strides. \ e
Roland did not know what fear was. You
could ride him against Il wall of hre, o.
into the jaws of death. BIT on this occa
sion he somehow had no confidence in An
tome; he could not yield absolute obedl
ence.
.Hurrah, Martin !" cried Rawlins. "Ro
land viii save Antoine in spite of him
self"
They rode down the hill in tearing gal
lop, giving the horses the rein, and shout
| ing to urge them faster. At last, IN pei
| of sage brush barrens, the trail was los
| for an hour. When it was picked up again
| it led through a thorny tangIe OF chap
| paral. Maddened with pain, Roland hac
| hurled himself forward as if he wer
charging a battery, and had rent ant
| crushed path into the open pastures be
| yond. Fluttering fragments of Antoine
| garments, and drops of blood on tn
| rocks, showed what passage it had been
| The rescuers followed fast on the track
such a wild journey could not last forever
| field: then heard the lowing of cattl
among the hills beyond. They were ap
! preaching some house. A rod further tn
trail whirled about the clulnp of oaks int
| foot path and past giant boulder; iron
| heyond, with sudden distinctness, cam
the sound of falling water; the ravines
| long tending toward each other, met, an
| disappeared in a quartz-walied valley. IN
| end had come here. Rawlins and Martil
urged their horses on; but they suddenl,
reared and snorted wildly.
| "Antoine. Antoine"' both man AM
| boy cried in a breath.
| Feeble as a baby's vail, out OF tn
depths of the ravine, came human CRY
piercing the ripple of waters with 1t agon
lied appeal.
| They left their horses, uncoiled their lar
| iats and went down among the rocks. Ro
lands feet had slipped on the smooth edge
| he had crashed through sycamore tor
| and there he lay, more than hundred Zee