Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-05-26

fergot it IN twenty years, an don't in
tend ter begin now. It's all right any
way, fer Whoa What's that2"
She had left the high prairie and was
driving through a narrow ravine, the
sides of which reached upward on either
/ hand.
A rattling Of wheels caught her ear,
Nearer and nearer came the sound and
then over the crest of a little knoll in
advance came two horses heads, and be-
hind, crealSing and swaying as the ami
mails dashed madly down the deelivity,
a white canvas-coyered prairie schoon-
err" that familiar ship OF the plains SO
often freighted heavily with hope OF
disappointment
Frightened, yet with her wits about
her Hester refined her horse to one
side and gathering her skirts .leaped TO
the ground A white face showing in
side the approaching wagon determined
her to stop the runaway at any cost.
Snatehing the dag by its staff from
her buggy, She suddenly waved it with
all her strength directly in the path of
the horses, now SO nearly upon her
With bound they leaped backward
and then aside, bewildered by the
strange sight. Then crash and then
the heavy wagon was lying on its side
among the dead suntlower stalks and
tumble weeds, while the furious horses,
broken loose from their fastenings, had
left the ravine and were tearing away
across the level prairie.
what have done?" moaned Hester,
her nervous strength vanishing as she
saw the chaos at her feet.
groan from the heap of wheels,
boards and canvas at the foot of the
little bluff aroused her
Going to the heap of debris she tore
away the cloth from the top Of the
wagon. mans form lay beneath it,
pinned down by a heavy cross board
which had been part of the wagon
box. A brass button on his coat told
that he was not a stranger to the flag
she had waved, and with stouter heart
she set to work to drag him from his
position.
At last she succeeded and had laid the
now fainting form on patch of grass
dimpled with violets that lurlxed in the
recesses Of the ravine She turned the
form over and wiped the dirt and blood
from the clean-shaven face.
With cry she started back and sank
for a moment helpless beside her
charge Then with an effort She pulled
her strength together and went on with
her task
Reverently she wrapped the stars and
stripes around the stranger, and some
how managed to lift him into the old
surrey. Then with one arm steadying
the unconscious man she turned the
horse homeward.
Stretched out on the scrupulously
clean bed in the plain yet comfortable
cabin he was not bad looking. A frank,
boyish expression was on the still face, !
and yet gray hairs told of mans
years. Sickness had evidently made /
-avages in the faces fullness and the |
hin hands were almost ghastly in their |
.enuousness.
Having seen that the stranger was |
ying quietly, Hester closed the door
behind her and taking her buggy set
IF at the old horses best pace across
he prairie after the individual who /
the professions Of agriculture
md medicine for n livelihood.
SIS that you, Miss Hester?' asked
he jolly doctor as she rode up to his
abin after three miles journey. |
Not sick, hope" he added before
he could answer.
"No, but" then she stopped the
lelicacy of the situation dawned upon
Ter sensitive mind and the faintest sus-
,icion of a blush freshened the wind
AIMED cheek. You see it was this
vay," She began, rcsolutely. II took
man from a runaway an he's over to
h house, unconscious. You must come
n fix him"
In moment the two were jogging
long over the plain. As they APP
roached the 'shaclS" Hester grew Wis