San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-28

He had reached his present position with
great difficulty. The trail across the bog
was quite unknown to him, and he had been
obliged to dismount and lead his horse The
storm that followed had washed out his
tracks and prevented those who came after
from suspecting his presence. He was too
far away to hear what Bob said to Mrandy,
but he could see her sad face-her eyes
seemed big with tears-and her long, brown
hair which hung down her back, resting in
wet masses on the yellow "slicker," gave her
the look of some lovely martyr maiden in
the grasp of a vicious giant. He burned to
distinguish himself, to rescue helpless virgin
ity from the power of the monster. Not
only was here an innocent female being car
ried off by force, but she was his inamorata,
Dulcinea del Tanos whom he had so loug wor-
shipped, silently but faithfully.
He watched Bob ride into the stream; he
saw his horse lifted OFF his feet and carried
down by the flood current; he saw him re-
cover a foothold again; then he heard Bob
shout to Mirandy: "Go back! go back" and
he realized that the horse was fast in the bog,
for Bob was cutting him right and left with
his heavy riding whip, while the animal was
churning the water into foam in his frantic
efforts to escape.
Now was the Don's chance There was
the wicked monster, helpless to harm his
Dulcinea, while here was he, her savior, free
and unfettered. So touching Rozinante with
his heel he dashed out from behind the chap
arral and rode straight at Mirandy. She
gave a little scream when she saw him COM
ing; it was not like Mirandy to indulge in
such feminine weakness, but just then her
nerves were quite upset. The Don endeav-
ored to reassure her. Fear not, maiden;
fly with me- Twill save you,n he said, and
he laid his hand upon her bride rein.
HALT" cried a voice.
The Don looked up and his eye caught sight
of shining object that seemed suspended in
the air without support like the coffin Of
Mahomet. 1t appeared to occupy space to
the exclusion Of everything else, for the Don
could see nothing but the sinister looking
weapon, except the more sinister eye of Bob,
which glistened behind it.
He saw it was pistol, and although he
showed no emotion, he mentally raved at his
own rashness. He had stupidity put his head
into the lions mouth Bob had got the drop
on him with forty-five, at ten yards A
nice predicament, truly, for one who wished
to appear well before Mirandy,
"What you monkeyin' bout here furp'
asked Bob, sternly, and his gray eyes looked
wicked as he snapped out his words. "Put
yer hands up-put EN- up, / sayp
The Don reluctantly obeyed. It was a
most humiliating position for a knight like
himself to be placed Unjust as he was about,
to rescue his Dulcinea-but what could bel
dol He was not afraid, he was simply yield
ing to circumstances. Bob's persuasive airl
and six shooter-when he raised his hands
and sat there on Rozinante, dripping from
every angle.
Bob studied the situation a moment
what he'd we better do, Mirandyn bel
asked I've notion to turn my forty-6vel
loose into him-fur mixin' himself up I'M
family affairs. How'd he get here, anywayrl
"Better get outen that quag fist, Bob,
said Mirandy, with good sense; 'you kim
shoot him most any time"
"That's bout so, Iguess. Look here, you, VI
be said to the Don, "what you hsngin' round
here fur, anyhow
~ come here to rescue Inneroence-fromI
q villain, an to have-Vengeancs," said the
Don, with an effort, for his position, with his
hands above his head, was a tiresome as well
as ridiculous one.
"Haw haw~ laughed Bob, hoarsely.
"You seem to be dom it in great shape.
None o. that! Put em up" he added sharply,
as the Don lowered his aching arms little.
oval, you are tenderfoot," said Mirandy,
looking at him scornfully. "Fust place, I
amt innercent, an Bob amt villain
We're on our way to Sanity Rosy to get mar
riedr'
Married! The Don was thunderstruck.
He had not expected this. 1t was not an alb
duction, but an elopement after all. Here
was he blocking the wheels of Loves chariot,
when he believed he was pushing them out of
the slough Of despond Mirandy going to
marry Bob! Then she could no longer be his
Dulcinea! What should he do? At first he
trembled with indecision and doubt, but in
a moment, like the true knight he was, he
bowed to the lady's choice and saluted her
gracefully Mirandy watched his face at
tentively, and, as he bent forward in obeis-
ance, said:
81 reckon you kin put up your gun, Bob
He's all solid, and Bob returned his pistol to
its holster
Then the Don sat manfully to work to
smooth the path of trIIe love, which
thus far had been rough enough. Ifhe could
not be the very best man, he would be the
next best, and he hurriedly united the raw
hide lasso that hung in neat coil from the
saddle horn, just in front of his right knee.
All this time Bob had been seated on his
mired horse in midstream, quite powerless to
help himself or his animal The Don rode
to the edge of the bank and said:
81 cal'late to chuck this over We, Bob, and
git We outen thar. Look out" Bob nodded
his acquiescence.
Very deftly the Don swung the loop about