Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-12
a quietly conclusive way, as if that set

1NOW, Leti " )dtSil Wsto O1lC VI tAAO LlOSl
trusted hands in the camp, and being
backed by Big Ben, the rest naturally
took his side.
",This amt no time for foolin'," they
said very steTnly. "Here's trail, plain
as can be; and we're goin' to follow it up"
''Fm not foolin'," retorted Jim, with a
kind of desperate earnestness. "That
trails too plain for Injins to have left,
unless they done it a. purpose. 1 can
find the trail right enough if you let me.
Trust me, boys"
My poor Jim! AS man sows so shall
he reap. What had he done, in all his
reckless, dissolute life, to be trusted
now? He was not trusted; nay, more,
he was left, half mad with anger and
despair, to find his trail alone.
"Take it, or leave it," the men had said
as they galloYed off upon their trail.
Away in the east the sun was touch
ing the sky with red gold light. Great
crimson bars, fiecked with orange,
CLEANED out broadly, and then melted
into the softer harmony around, and be-
fore one knew it, the whole shining mass
uAiUcd 0ld Oub lixLolCu U4Ic Suus I)ub Dt-
fore it did that Jim had made up his
mind to do very risky thing-to rescue
Dolly single handed. Who else was
there to do it? The others had ridden
away in direction which was every
moment taking them farther away from
the right track.
my God!" he said wildly. Was it
prayer from those rough ips?-a prayer
which the Good Shepherd heard and
answered? For Jim played hero's part
that day. He found the trail. For the
sun, glinting downward, caught the
light of small pink object ON the brush
wood and rested there lovingly. Moth
ing much-just the torn string from
little child's sunbonnet. But at the
sight Jim broke into a suppressed
whistle of triumph, and raced Red Mus
tang forward as she had never been
raced before. Inever like to think about
that ride. Enough, the Red Mustang
responded Loyalty to the situation. From
moon to dewy eve" she carried jim
steadily. But when, trembling, foam
fecked and parched with thirst, he
stopped her as the Indian camp 1oomed
in sight, he knew that his work was cut
out
''Quiet old lass! quietr' he said,
cautiously dismounting and patting her
with a look ON his face that few but
Dolly or Red Mustang had ever seen
there.
The gallant beast seemed to under
stand, and suppressing a whinny, rubbed
her nose wistfully against the cares
sing hand.
Half gliding, half creeping forward,
Jim took in the situa ton at glance.
The Indians had evidently only just
stopped and were hastily improvising a
sort of camp. But, unsuspicious as they
were of being followed SO soon, Jim
knew that this first careless hustle of ar
rival would not last long, but that SEN
tries would be set to guard against any
approach. Suddenly his blood thrilled,
for there before him, not dozen wards
away, lay Dolly reposing on an old
blanket in the healthy sleep of child
hood.
1t was a foolish thing to do, perhaps,
considering the state Red Mustang was
in, but then Jim was desperate. How
he crawled forward, seized Dolly and got
back to Red Mustang unperceived he
could never have told himself. But get
back with her he did, and in flash the
three were off.
"Dimr' said Dolly, clinging in blissful
content to the rough red shirted arms.
cay" Jim answered, glancing down
at her as he frightened Red Mustangs
girth; 'tyou go to sleep, Dolly"
So Dolly's little brown head nestled
down, and Jim and Red Mustang made
what speed they could, which was not
a very great speed, although there came
sounds from behind which made the
mare tear forward and turned Jim
white. The Indians were in pursuit
Mile by mile, hour after hour, that
fearful race went ON. The rugged line
of hills which marked the camp were in
sight now, but could Red Mustang hold
out? She was already trembling omi-
nously, and Jim knew that the time was
come. If she were to. reach the camp at
all, it must be without his weight onher
back.
"Dolly!" he said with a shake which
made Dolly open her sleepy eyes, 81
want you to do somethin' for me, }" he
went on persaasiyely; 81 want to get
down here, I've Eve "a particfer
reason for wanting to get down here'-
and the arm holding Dolly y assgently as
a woman,,s kept her head turned well
forward. "Red Mustang II take you
to the camp albright, if-youn bea-brave
little gdl, and go alone"
'sOh!' and Dolly's frightened clutch
was very firm.
:'Wil you, DollyY' said Jim feyerish-
ly. Dolly! Dolly! Little lasst Will
you? For me-"
s'Iss, Din," said Dolly with quiSering
lips.
Dismomting, ~ Jim fastened her swiftly
and firmly to the saddle and gave Red
Mustang the word. "Good-by, Dolly"
and Jim's moustache brushed the rosy
lips.
''Dood-by, DIM" said Dolly.
Red Mustang whinnied uneaSfy. But
her master had told her to go, and drshe
went.
''Shen do it," said Jim with a great
sigh of relief.
The Indians were very close now.
In curious, concentrated kind of
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