Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-20
HEROINE OF THE SIERRAS.


| melting rapidly, Will soon be roaring
food and the boys working in the tunnel
will all be drowned unless somebody gees
| and warns them,n said an old miner ner-
Tously as he rushed into the saloon at Cleft
rock and interrupted the drinking and
gaming.
No one volunteered. The darkness, save
| when the ragged crests OF the SierraS were
| illumined py the first faint flashes of light
ming, was almost palpable to the touch, the
ride of nearly dozen miles down the
canyon. difficult even in the sunlight. and
the deep mutterings of the thunder fore
told what the storm would be when at its
| height.
'eNo one go?'' continued the old man.
Then God help them. I am too much
broken up to make the attempt. Bad, bad.
Every living soul there will pass in their
| checks without having a chance at the
DEAL" and he called for and drained
| hearty draught to assist him in bearing his
regret.
a woman sat at one of the tables shut
! fling pack of monte cards. The instant
| she heard the news her face became
| troubled and her fingers worked nervously.
/ She was in age about twenty-five, over
dressed, dark complexioned, slight but ex-
| ceedingly muscular, under the usual height,
with firm, passionate lips that, when parted,
revealed a line of white and unusually
| sharply pointed teeth, with nothing re-
| deeming in her face except splendid, fiery
| brown eyes and soft, brown hair that chung
in baby curls around her low brow and
neck.
Her social status was very low. It needed
but single glance to discover the signet
stamp of sin that once impressed upon the
brow of woman, is rarely, if ever, effaced,
except by death. She had lost all that
makes her sex approach very nearly TO the
| dIvlne, all but love, and that was all-absorb-
ing, all-defying.
lis Mart Culversan in the tunnell'' she
asked, in a low, strained voice, of a man sit
ting near. The answer was in the af1irma-
tive, and, springing to her feet, she shouted
to the old miner: IN go, Tom Owens.
Some one get my mustang ready, and in
stantly."
''Youl You Lou2" exclaimed every
one, in astonishment.
Eyes, and don't any dare to stop me, p"
and the white line of teeth flashed danger
ously from between her lips, as she ended
The sentence with ''You cowardsr '
not 60"
without pausing in her scanty prepare
tons.
Because you would perish"
us not Mart Culverson therel"
s'Yes, but"
''That settles it."
my good woman, you shall not CO."
Good woman! No no, bad to the core;
but love him and he shall be saved, or 1
will die in the trying"
He would have held her. She squirmed
out of his hands, drew a revolver from her
bosom and fairly Kissed: LET any one try
to stop me if weary of life. ] am going to
Mart Culverson or my dead body and his
shall be washed together out of the tun-
nell"
All knew her nerve-that she was skill
full with the pistol and had no hesitation in
using it when aroused. They gave her
free passage-saw her go to the bar and
drink enough to have staggered a man and
leave the room. A few minutes later they
heard the ringing of hoOfs down the black
dangerous canyon, the bowling of the storm,
the sound of the coming water, but above
all, echoing as battle shout, Il love him
will save him or dep and knew she would
keep her word.
Deep in the tunnel Mart Culverson and
his mates were working-were tearing
shining ore from the hard quartz rock
Nothing of what was passing without could
come 20 their ears. a little stream trickled
beneath their feet, but when its volume of
water came from above, 1t would swell to a
mighty torrent and sweep everything be-
fore it.
''Harkr' suddenly exclaimed Culverson,
resting upon his pick. 81 thought heard
Lou call"
always thinking of her," laughed his
particular mate.
by heavenl it was her voice. Listenr'
"You must be mad, Mart. Look We, it is
midnight. How in the name of common
sense could she get here? The canyon is
black as VOLTS mouth and the rocks sharp
as its teeth
"Listen!"
A faint sound could be heard. It was so
low, so uncertain at first, no one could tell
what it was. But constantly it came
nearer, grew stronger, and at last they
could distinguish:
Mart"
With one impulse all within the tunnel
rushed in the direction from which it came
''MarGl Mart CulversOn."
It was near enough now. They knew the
voice well-knew some terrible calamity
was impending to bring the woman there
''Mart Martp'
eyes, Lou, Pm coming. Great heaven!
what is the matter2"
'The rain is coming down in torrents,
the snow or the mountain is melting, the
canyon is fast becoming q roaring river.
Hurry or you will be drowned. Thank
God - and she fell fainting in his arms as
the last word was breathed.
There was no thought now for anything
but life. All the gold in the mountains
would not have tempted them to remain
another instant. With the insensible girl
in his arms, a little burden for so tall, mus
cular man, Mart Culverson fought his
way out Of the tunnel. Then the cold air
and rain revived her and she gasped:
''Not that way, Mart; we must go down
stream. NIerciful heaven, my poor horse
has been swept away and there is no hope
for usl',
''TkeTe is a cave little way below and
we'mQst try and reach it. Come, my brave
little girl, we will make a fight for life.
.Blfheayens, what a ride you must have
MD. and how you must have suffered
Why did not some of the men comet"
Because they were towards; but don't |
talk now, Mart. We will need all our |
breath and mine is most gone. -
He threw an arm around her to sustain her |
and they hurried on, scarcely able to keep |
their footing, now and then plunging into |
holes and then lifted and whirled as straws |
down stream.
There is tree hanging lew down, see? |
We must catch it and swing inty the shore |
or be carried the Lord only knows wherel" |
CulFAFson said hoarsely and with great |
Effort.
81 see.''
S She did momentarily by the glare of the |
lightning, and then again ali was dark |
ness. Both were swimming now. They |
We're beng dashed against ragged rocks |
and threatened to be crushed between rae
ing logs.
The whirling of an eddy swept them in
shore. simultaneously the hands of both |
grasped the tree. The limb broke. Another |