The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-02-23

HELP! SHE CRIED.
when in swimming with other boys.
When the PROV of his strange craft IT n
its nose upon the silt bed he laziIy
climbed upon the outer end and
sprawled out in the sun to dry.
"Oh, sir! can you not get NE out of
this dreadful position? If the current
should rise a foot l would be swept
away"
Certainly. miss! Allow me-" He
sprang ashore, calamity assisted her
to get upon the log and pushed of.
Then he seated her as comfortably as
possible and sat down beside her. He
looked at his watch and ascertained
that it was not yet noon. The girl,
who had at first turned pale with
fright, began to get calm in the pres
ence of his utter indifference to en-
vironment.
Excuse me-" he said, abruptly.
Now. how in the deuce-I beg your
pardon-I mean, how did you get in
such a place as that. Come down in
Il balloon?"
IF it wouldn't be impudent, sir,
might l enquire how you came aboard
such a craft as this?"
81 was hurled off the precipice by 4
section of the rock giving away. When
saw this big log floating with a nice
moss back, l just naturally climbed
aboard and concluded to take little
ride before dinner"
"HOw wonderful! But. really,
can't you assist me to the top of the
canyon wall again? My friends will
be crazed at my absence"
Certainly, ut the first opportunity.
| wouldn't mind meeting your friends
myself. particularly if they happen to
have Il morsel to eat along, and little
Old rye to brace one. This is great
atmosphere for something bracing.
You haven't informed me how you got
on to that silt bed No living being
can climb up or down these walls
My story is brief and not so thrill
ing as yours | was out collecting the
strange, wild flowers that grow in
this country, and gradually worked
down favorable incline of the can
yOn until got to the bottom. l tried
to get back but couldn't climb up. l
shouted for help, but could attract no
attention. Finally | saw the log and
man asleep on top. His lack of real
ization of danger gave me courage.
You know the rest"
"Oh. no! l don't know the rest.
What | want to know is, how beau
tiful-beg pardon-how a young lady
ike yourself ever got into this blasted
country. any way. Why. it's an al
most uninhabited area of thousands of
square miles. The Bad Lands border
it. The very land where l found YOU
is a part of Sitting Bulls reservation.
You were trespasser, liable to ar
rest"
Not so fast. please, Mr. -"
They exchanged cards.
Not so fast, please, Mr.. French.
/ am daughter of an army officer
Oh. dear, how papa and the folks will
worry Ny father, General Edward
Harrington, is in command of this
army division. What is it, DEPART
ment of the Missouri? Well, we were
on an inspecting tour, that is. papa,
and were encamped on the bluff. We
must be long way from camp now."
She looked II the frowning walls
which seemed to grow higher and
higher, and for an instant an express
sion of despair and terror was visible. |
do not fear" said the young man.
gently. I'VE are moving at IA rate of
twelve miles per hour and must soon
get to an opening. Even if we do not,
ii is our hope of escape. / am thank
fal even for life, to be serious. Few
people who fall two hundred feet know
what the enjoyments of life are. You.
too, were in mortal danger. Our i
means OF ultimate escape are beneath /
us. We have much to be thankful for
besides the preservation of our lives.
This log might be so small that we
could not sit on it high and dry above
water. 1t might have been slimv and
slippery instead of beautiful and heavi-
" overgrown with moss. By the way,
poor child. doesn't your back ache on
account of sitting up so straight with
nothing to lean upon?"
Yes. very niue h; but don't mind
it You have given me courage and
hope. Do not also worry about me-"
1--WE can mend matters by sitting
with our backs together if you don't
mind"
The pair arranged themselves, seated
in an upright position with tii-ir backs
together. Somehow, when they spoke
they turned their faces so that their
cheeks rubbed together. at which Miss
blushed violently and
hastily turned her head, while the