The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-16

day" shouted Dan as they reached stretch OF
clear ground. I'm goin' to ride up little,
and il you fellers has got horses that's any
good, you can keep me in sight"
DE dashed away and all three followed,
squirting their horses to keep him we'll in pistol
range. But how easily he outrode them
| Gradually, carefully, and without abuse he had
trained his saddle horses TO the utmost endur-
| ance, until the poorest was capable of n speed
hard 20 equal. He drew rein Just before reach
ing heavy growth of cottonwoods Mt the mar
row entrance of q canyon, and allowed them
TO overtake him. Their horses were perspiring
and painting. for they bad headed several
| gulChes which Dams broucho bad leaped The
men, with alert faces had their hands on their
weapons
Dan led the way through the canyon, which
soon widened into spacious park with long,
| high, rocky ridge on either side.
"Aint it, about time for us TO be gittin' In
sight Of where you're takin' us tor" queried
! one OF the men.
Dan rose in his saddle, pointed to barely
perceptble break in the steep wall on the right,
and said:
MY girl lives In a little glen that widens
out of this here very gulch." Then he led the
way into the gloomy opening.
!" But the den of thieves" demanded the
mystifed guestioncr.
This is them. My girls the head thief, for
she stole me away from my father"
They emerged into tiny, grass grown park,
crossed by ribbon of clear water that flowed
from ncver-failng spring. At the upper
edge of tho park on a well-selected rise of
ground, stood a very small cabin. Before its
door played a doll-iko child whose head was
bright with natures gold-a princess whose
wee head nature had crowned. Her play con-
sisted in cementing together with mud the frag-
ments of a china cup. Dan dismounted and ad-
vanced toward her. AT sight of him she drop
ped the cup and ran forward, uttering n chorus
of glad cries and beating the air with her little
muddy hands. Dan caught her up and pressed
her baby face against his rough cheek, while no
pulled down his hat 10 hide his eyes The
men looked on in amazement while the child,
utterly regardless of their presence twined her
fingers through Dams hair and finally circled
his neck with her chubby arms. Presently he
pushed back his hat, faced his amazed hunters,
and though his eyes We're half blinded, he said
resolutely:
This here's my girl that I've hen tellin' you
about She's a thief, for she stole my heart
and moron that, she's got story that's with
listenin' TO. Her ma was mighty purity girl
once, but her mas pa was SO watchful over her
that he shut the door on all the good young
men. So, as might be nat'ly expected, she elm
outen the winder and run off and married
drunkard. But he's dead now. He's takin'
his long nap down on the Huerfano, where he
was trying some gun play aud found a chan
that was quicker nor he was He's ben out
the way bout year now.
And this little girls ma is down there IN
the cabin tryin' to do sewin' that I've gathered
up for her in town, when they amt a month
tween her and the grave. That's why I've
ben courtin' my girl so regular the past year,
and totin' her grub and picture books and sich
And this girls got grandpap, too, but she
don't know it. He told her ma when she got
married never TO darken his door again, nor
even dare TO write letter, aud she's minded
him. He sets IN his conf table cabin when the
wind blows cold and warns his shins by the
fire, and eats good beef and bread and canned
truck"
The wind dipped from the hills; it swept
down the glen, lifting the old mans white hair
and freshoning his death-like face As his
thin form shook like thoaspens beside him, he
exclaimed in heart-piercing tone:
Then, Dan, you amt no thief Oh, I'm
s'glad! I'm s'glad :"
No father, this girl of mines tho thief !"
"And what was her mas Eame when she was
a galr" continued the father, in q sinking
voice.
Melissa Sanders. and she's down there
toilin' away in that cabin, with not month
tween her and the grave"
o Lord Lord !" shriekcd the old man.
as he cOnvulsively clutcbed his thin, white
hair. " Il sha'n't be Ii sha'n't be! Money
and doctors aud care can do wonders in
month. Help me 10 the door. Dan; help me
TO the door, for my old legs is sinking under
me. Help me 10 the door, where my old eyes
can see nay gal, SOS l can remember the love
she give me when she was baby like this 'un |
here"
The two neighbors waited without while Dan |
led his father into the cabin. There was a Joy |
full reconciliation after which Dan left the |
father and daughter together and returned 10 |
the waiting pair. As be approached them his |
sad face became grave. he at once proceeded |
to inform them how for weeks past he had |
been watching certain parties in a neighboring |
County. Within the last few days he had re. |
ceived certain proof that they were responsible |
for the missing stock. he also unfolded excel |
lent plans for exposing and breaking up the |
band. And il may as well be stated that these |
plans were subsequently acted upon the band /
driven out Of the country, and much OF the |
missing property recovered.
And David Sanders's cabin was not so lonely |
In after years. A sweet, patient woman glided |
about. cooking dainty dishes and making cor |
ners clean and dark places light Before the |
open door, into which the warm sunlight |
lovely child, with her gladstone |
song, cbeered hearts that were once sad. G.. |
tranged and gloomy.