The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-14

| Mott, and she feared he would proven,
] her taking any part in the evenings
! happenings.
Silently she crept from the cabin ano
saddled the best riding animal in the
| corral. Another she led behind, and
! lashing both horses into run set on,
through the night.
! 1t was no ordinary ride, and the fear
that she might be too late urged hel
/ on. She remem bered having heard
! Williams say that his host had gone to
the county seat, forty miles away, and
/ would be absent over night, and she
] trembled to think what might be the
/ fate of the slender artist in the hands
! of the rough and heartless westerners.
As she passed the spot where she had
heard the conference in the afternoon
she involuntarily halted a moment,
thinking the same place might have
been made an evening rendezvous.
To her listening ear came the sound
! of horses hoofs and of mems eager
voices. She gave her horses rein and
was off. So fast did she push the ami
mai she rode that the other could not
keep step, and a moment later tn e
bride rein was jerked from her hand
and the led horse was loose. He trot-
ted leisurely away and little cry of
vexation and encouragement escaped
the girl as she saw one portion Of her
plan defeated
But she rode faster now. The pony
fairly flew over the level expanse of
earth. The night was clear and still
with an occasional glimmer of sheet
lightning on the edge of the plain at
the far horizon.
After awhile as she looked back she
saw outlined against the quick flashes
the forms of horsemen a mile or two
behind.
The band gathered by Emmett Mott
was on the way, and the results of pre-
vious visits of the band to persons I'M
desirable to It's mem bers made the out
look dark for anyone against whom
their anger was turned.
The flying figure on horseback
plunged forward, skirting a piece of
plowed ground, then through field of
growing wheat. steadily nearing the
artists boarding place, where light in
the window was now plainly visible.
The artist was more than satisfied
with his quest after illustrative mate
rial. He fattered himself that he had
correctly fathomed the thought of the
piece de resistance of the midsummer
number. He was looking forward with
considerable interest and promise of
pleasure to the hour when he should
place his sketches before the editor.
His work in the west was nearly over,
and he sat up far into the night put
ting delicate touches on the crude
sketches and fitting them for final in
spection.
On this night when but one more
sketch was needed he devoted his en-
tire energies to his work, only pausing
now and then to lean back in his chair
and get better view of the growing
representation of prairie life before
him.
Eyes, she's capable of something"
he spoke out, as if addressing some one,
''if she only had half chance He
leaned far back, but this time his eyes
went beyond the paper and saw ruddy
laughing girl-face, crowned with
wide brimmed hat and long dark eurls.
Hark! horses hurrylng hoofs sound
on the sod outside. Nearer and nearer
they come, and Williams, startled by
the unusual visitation, rushes to the
door, arriving just as his model spring
ing from her pony aights at his very
feet.
what! you here?" he calculates.
''Yes, and they're comin'," is the ex-
cited answer.
''They-who do you mean by they?'
''Mott and his gang-a dozen of them,
maybe"
''Well, what of it?"
"Why, they're comm here to hurt
you, to drive you out of the settlement,
to whip you, maybe. l heard 'em talk
in about it when l went home, an I
stole out of the house to warn you"
why should they hurt me?"
'Nothin', only you wear good clothes
an" and her self-consciousness
would allow her to ge no further and
tell that she was herself cause of dis
sension
But never mind" she hurried on;
''you must fy-and take your pictures.
My pony is the best in the neighbor-
hood Cor
81 can't" said Williams, with his
manhood squirting him, land leave
you"
They won't hurt me. Hurry 1 can
hear them now"
Both caught the sound of horses hoof
pattering on the hard prairie sod.
The girl stepped to the easel and took
from the apex his artists hat. Eagerly
she urged him to action and as We
hemently he expostulated that it was
not becoming in him, man. But all
the time the horsemen came nearer.
The girl made final appeal in which
her heart-love for him she sought to
save burst forth; then hurrying across
the room with a breath extinguished
the lamp.
There was a hurried consultation in
the doorway, Williams felt quick, hot
kiss on his hand and as the band of per-
secutors came near the house they saw
q dark figure, identified as their victim
by the stylish derby hat it wore, leap
to the saddle of a waiting pony and
with the speed of the wind strike out
across the plain.
There he goes, the rascal" shouted
Mott, and plunging the spurs into their
ponies the calvacade raced in pursuit.
Again and again the horses felt the
cruel steel, but the rider ahead was
we'll rnnunta5 and ,,sa their host an