The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-27

used 1t again. That was just Jim.
But after the first memorable tussle
when it had been so emphatically de
cided whose will was to be obeyed, mas
ter and horse came to very good under
standing. Red Mustangs affection, in
deed, had something pathetic in it, and
the fact that she showed the reverse to
every one else certainly did not lessen
Jim's for her.
| Over the prairie the little cavalcade
started. Red Mustang, with that easy
swinging stride Of hers, taking the lead
and keeping it. But Jim pulled her up
sharply as there came triumphant shout
from behind, Heres the trail!''
Riding up, Jim looked at it with his
keen eyes. ''That's no trail!" he said
CONTEMPORARY.
Now, the rest Of the men having stated
that it was the trail, and being at least
as well able to judge as Jim, did not re-
ceive his remark in the pleasantest spirit.
cit are the trail" said Daryl Dash, in
quietly conclusive way, as if that set
tied it.
'tBut it aren'tw said Jim squarely.
Now, Daryl Dash was one of the most
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 sternly. Here's trail, plain
as can be; and we're goin' to follow it up
I'm not foolin'," retorted Jim, with a
kind of desperate earnestness. ''That
trails too plain for Iajins 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.
"T2ke it, or leave it." the men had said
as they galloped off upon their trail
Away in the east the sun was touch
ing the sky with red gold light. Great
crimson bars, fecked with orange,
cleaned out broadly, and then melted
into the softer harmony around. and be-
fore one knew it, the whole shining mass
united and out flashed the sun. But be-
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 a direction which was every
moment taking them farther away from
the right track.
"My God!" he said wildly. Was it a
prayer from those rough Hps?-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. never 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 doomed
in sight, he knew that his work was cut
out.
"Quiet! old lass! quiet" he said.
cautiously dismounting and patting her
with look on his face that few but
Dolly or Red Mustang had ever seen
there.
The gallant beast seemed to under
stand, and suppressing whinny, rubbed
her nose wistfully against the cares
sing hand.
Half gliding, half creeping forward,
Jim took in the situation 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 yards
away, lay Dolly reposins 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 fash the
three were off.
DIM said Dolly, clinging in blissful
content to the rough red shirted arms.
"Ay," Jim answered, glancing down
at her as he frightened Red Mustangs |
girth; ''you 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 on her
back
Dolly he said with shake which
made Dolly open her sleepy eyes, Il
want yo1 to do somethin' for me-" he
went on persuasively; Il want to get
down hare, I've - I've partic'ler
reason for wanting to get down here
and the arm holding Dollys as gently as
a woman's kept her head turned well
forward. Cred Mustang II take Won