The Coconino sun. [volume] (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1891-1891, 1891-07-18
A FAIR FREEBOOTER.


same direction, woman on horse
back. was not little surprised al
coming across woman in such an
out OF the way place, and rode quietly
behind, wondering who she could be.
She was riding slowly and noticed
that the horse she rode was q poor
nag and lame in one Of his fore legs.
As the trail made another. turn, she
glanced back and saw me and passed
on out of sight. When ! reached the
turn saw her dismounted, standing
beside her horse, and rode up TO her
She was looking ruefully at the broken
end OF her saddle girth in her hand.
Pardon my impertinence miss, but
can | assist youp" ..
Il don't know, sir. You see Dixey
just stumbled and broke the girth "
and she turned appealingly To mo n
pair Of melting blue eyes, saw at a
glance that she was handsome. Light
curly hair, cut short oval face and
delicate pink cheeks--a workable
frontier beauty.
'If you will allow me, will see
what | can do to repair the damage. q"
you are so kind, and | shall be so
much obliged to you if you only will "
swung quickly from my saddle,
only too glad to be OF service.
Hand me your strap. I'll hold
your horse, sir; can hold both at the
same time"
ooh vOn paad mn. ,.o,blo, Ill. ,,.;ll
stand well enough without holding"
''But / would rather DO sure. I
would not like TO have him run of and
cause you trouble through your kind
ness"
She looked so pretty, and her voice
was so sweet, that was captivated,
and just to please her handed her the
check rein. She stood between the
horses heads, holding them, and /
went to the side of her horse to take
rIote Of the damaged girth. i was on
enc knee examining the strap, when |
heard a slight hutter of her dress, and
booked up. She was sitting in my sad
die. was surprised at that, and my
surprise increased when ] saw that the
muzzles OF a couple of revolvers were
pointed at my head.
Hands up, pleased"
What on earth do you mean"
Just what / say. Up with 'em,
quick!'
complied with the request but !
could scarcely believe the evidence OF
my eyes and ears. why do you do
this? Can't you explainp Why should
You put the drop on me?"
Young man, you are Just too sweet
and fresh for anything. You do rs |
say and ask no more questions, il you
want your ma TO see her boy again"
was stupefed, but / had enough
sense left to tell by the tone OF her
voice that the fair creature was not
fooling.
Come get your wits about you,
and take Dixey's bride off. Keep
your back this way and your hands
away from your belt. Hand mo tho
bride. Take that old saddle of. You
can pitch it away. Now walk off there
to tie left until i tell you you can stop.
While was executing her orders |
had little time to think. II suppose
you intend that / shall finish my
journey on foot" ..
"You are correct my young knight.
Tn sorry TO put such an obliging boy
to the trouble, but I need new
horse"
well, / suppose you've got 1t,
though | can't say you're welcome.
You've got the drop on me, but II you
didn't have It, | would not harm hair
OF your head, you're too pretty, and
though / blush to say it, you're not
the first girl that's fooled me, but
hope to get wisdom by and by"
Pm sorry for you, Sir Knight, but
step of and keep your hands up. I'm
in IL hurry"
l complied, and stopped when she
called Haiti" Then she gave Jack a
cut with her whip, whistled to her
own horse, and dashed away, while /
looked helplessly on. As she went
from sight around turn in the road
she waved her hand to me ms a mute
good-by.
l had plenty OF time to muse upon
the treachery of woman as / walked
the fifteen miles to the next town.
And during that walk passed reso-
luton TO shun all pretty young women
in the future, When ! reached town
and described my adventure, they
laughed and said 'Bell Layton" and
''don't you fret young man. She's
held up many an older man than you.
After you got within range OF her
gums that horse belonged to her. and
it didn't mako any great difference to
her how she got rid Of you. She's
lightning on the trigger, and has eight
men in her private graveyard that we
know Of"
OF course was put out at the loss
Of my horse, but | procured another
and continued ON my way.
Three years after, in another state,
| joined party to help hunt 70 the
leati gang OF horse thieves that had
,een running OIL lot of stock. Man
uniting was not asport that | enjoyed,
ut rather than DO thought coward,
bich would mean ostracism, Joined
p party. A stern chase is long
liase, but in this case the thieves had
o many horses TO handle that they
f,uld not make good time. as some in
large drove win always lag. In
hreedays the trail was so fresh that
boy could not be more than five miles
read OF, us. We slackencd our speed
wait for nightfall as VIC did not
ish to run upon them by daylight.
Shortly after sunset our scouts came