Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-07-30
A FAIR FREEBOOTER.

A FAIR FREEBOOTER.
How well remember my introduce
ton to Bell Layton. IL was not the
orthordox fashion. was riding along
q somewhat broken and uneven trail,
taking it easy. As rounded little
turn, | saw before me- going in the
same direction, a woman on horse
back. | was not little surprised at
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 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 you?"
Il don't know, sir. You see, Dixey
Just stumbled and broke the girth, u
and she turned appealingly to me a
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 veritable
frontier beauty.
If you will allow me, | will see
bat | Il tn in hA IL afrD7
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; l can hold both at the
same time"
"Oh, you need not trouble; Jack will
land well enough without holding"
But | would rather be sure. |
would not like to have him run off 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
note of the damaged girth. was on
one knee examining the strap, when
heard slight flutter of her dress, and
looked 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, pleasen
What on earth do you mean?"
Just what / say. Up with EN-,
quick"
complied with the request. but |
could scarcely believe the evidence Of
my eyes and ears. Why do you do
this? Can't you explain? Why should
you put the drop on me?"
Young man, you are just too sweet
and fresh for anything. You do as |
say and ask no more questions, if 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 me the
bride. Take that old saddle off. You
can pitch it away. Now walk off there
to the left until | tell you you can stop.
While | was executing her orders
had a little time to think. Il suppose
you intend that shall finish my
journey on foot"
"You are correct my young knight.
I'm sorry to put such an Obliging boy
to the trouble, but | need a new
horse"
We'll, / suppose you've got it,
though | cant say you're welcome.
You've got the drop on me, but if 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"
I'm sorry for you, Sir Knight, but
step off and keep your hands up. I'm
in hurry
| complied, and stopped when she
called Halt" Then she gave Jack u
cut with her whip, whistled to her
own horse, and dashed away, while
looked helplessly on. As she went
from sight around a turn in the road
she waved her hand TO me as a mute
/ gOOd-by.
/ had plenty of time TO muse upon
the trcachery of woman as | walked
/ the fifteen miles to the next town.
| And during that walk passed "a 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
guns that horse belonged to her and
it didn't make any great difference to
her how she got rid of you. She's
lightning on the trigger and has eigh,
men in her private graveyard that We
know Of.
OF course | was put out at the lost
OF my horse, hut | procured another
and continued on my wa.
Three years after: in another state
joined Il party to help hunt to the
death a gang of horse thieves that had
been running off lot of stock. Mar
hunting was not asport that | enjoyed
but rather than be thought coward
which would mean ostracism, | joined
the party. A stern chase is Il Ions
chase, but in this case the thieves hat
SO many horses TO handle that they
could not make good time as some il
large drove will always lag. II
three days the trail was so fresh tina
they could not be more than five miles
ahead of us. We slackened our speed
TO wait for nightfall, as we did no
wish to run upon them by daylight.
Shortly after sunset our scouts came
in and reported them as fixing for thu
night about eight miles ahead in ;
creek bottom, where there was littl'
water. They did not seem to suspec
that they were followed so closely
We stopped to give our horses ltttl'
a t,,l- l.