Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-21

men at work, the man who had come for
us and his partner, couple OF COW hunters
from some distant ranch, and our cowboy.
you'll lead my horse" said Mr.. Jack
son, jumping of, throwing his coat across
the saddle and handing me the bride rein.
This was something, but 1 soon felt it was
awfully little, as looked at the men in the
heat and smoke fighting silently. de-
terminedly, and was debating the feasi-
bility of tying the ponies and taking hand
as best could, when the cowboy came up
and looped his pony's bride over the saddle
pommei Of my horse, and the next moment
the COW hunters and the other two followed
with theirs, till had a string of iour led in
my right hand and one contrary fellow that
had to be coaxed along, in my left.
II wish could help" said l to the last
man as he gave me his horses. "Y'are help
ing lot, he answered; sit always takes
one hand for horse rustler, you're saving one
mans work"
This was better. The men fought and
fought, and followed and followed. Every
little while dilapidated figure would come
to my caravan ont of the smoke and flame
with grimy face and burning eyes and drink
long from one of the canteeDs on the ponies.
and it was usually only by the pony that he
went to that could judge of his identity.
1T WAS HARD FIGHT.
Sometimes the fire would burn low and
seem almost under control, then, with rat
tie like that OF musketry, would burst out in
a group OF tall sotol stalks snd bulbs, or a
thicket of greasewood or live oak scrub, and
burn and rage and roar with resinous odor
and poppings and crackings like torpedoes.
The afternoon wore away; the sun went
down red and angry, the horse rustler grew
cold in anite Of tho plosa Droyimitv of the
fire. 1 was as cold as the scorn OF the un-
feeling world--colder. The marrow in my
bones was chilled; my private opinions were
frappie; my very innermost thoughts and
secret convictions, even my ulterior designs
were CONCEALED within me. but what was to
be done?
The fire was pretty we'll in hand, but
every body was pretty we'll exhausted.
eff we don't meet the fellows from over
on Howard soon after we get over the top of
the divide here, we'll be give out. 1 heard
one say.
But hurrah! hurrabl! We met "the fel-
lows from over on Howard" right on the
top of the divide! They had cleaned every
thing up so far and so had vel The fire was
out and all was welll
NOT USED TO THE FAIR.
When '.the Howard fellows" caught sight
of riding habit they SHE'D like ponies at
some hideous object. am never wantonly
cruel or ruthless and would have turned of
little to help them out, but Mr.. jackson
called out grimly, "Here Walker. here's
Miss MacGowan."
Poor Walker came reluctantly forward.
There was nothing but the name left of the
jaunty gallant 1 had met at so many dances.
The smoke and SCOT and burning heat had
done their deadly work. Afterward, when
I reproached Mr.. j. with his cruelty, he
grinned and said: 20. he wanted to stam-
pede, but thought he ought to come up
and take his share along with the rest Of
u.s."
The fire was out; every man came and go,
his horse. Mr.. j. Jumped upon his: "Come
Well have to go like the very deuce, u
said he, "we're all wet with perspirationr
and it's cold"
We went. We went at a dead run. My
ideas began to thaw and circulate, my heart
leaped, my blood turned in my face anc
tingled through all my veins. Long before
we reached the ranch house my side achec
and my head was dizzy.
But what false show, what make-believt
could ever stir the blood like this living
reality? ALICE MAcGowAN.