The Lamar register., 1892-12-17

4
was plainly down hill. 1t was a long
incline leading to the lotion lands oil
the Smoky Hill River, and the grass
grew thicker and taller as they went
farther on.
A sleeper slope told them that they
| would soon be on level ground along
the river, when suddenly a shout OF
giee went up from the band OF pur.
suers.
The horse ahead had done lust
what they had expected some of their
own would do while racing through
a weedy ravine-its feet had become
tangled in the long slough-grass and
it had fallen.
In moment they were surrounding
the form OF the rider which lay still
and helpless partially under the
broncho with face hidden by the dark
ness and the mass OF weeds and grass
which overhung.
They lifted up the head covered
with the wide felt hat-a white round
tace could be traced in the starlight
now struggling through the clouds.
Markham leaned closer down to get
a better view. Then with a startled
glance he turned to his comrades.
Boys" he exclaimed, .'its a calp'
Had a meteor fallen in their midst
no greater surprise could have been
manifested by the party.
81 'lowed," said one sheepishly.
'that we was followin' Blake"
"Of course you did an so did the
rest OF us" spoke up the southerner
IN his cool, sarcastic way. "But we
made n pretty spectacle OF ourselves,
didn't we, chasin' this little gal over
the prairies a cold night like this. But
now lett get her back to tn cabin
Merl was insensible and one arm
hung limp and moveless by her side.
Markham lifted her to his saddle and
the remainder OF the party were Just
mounting their horses when a crackl-
ing sound in the bushes and dry weeds
attracted their attention.
a dozen revolver hammers clicked
All waited and watched eagerly un-
til at once they saw number Of
/ points OF fire in a semi-circle before
them and then dark forms came cauti-
ously forward.
/ Cattle, as I'm a sinner" calculated
Markham. Boys, tits d bunch OF
the Occidental's herd wandered off an
here we was goin' ter"
1 The cattle came nearer and one OF
the herders recognized them and swore
I with string of oaths nearly as long
as his lariat that Markham was right
and the tall grass in the bottom
lands, spriukled with brush had prov-
ed an affective hiding place for the
stray animals eyen had the season
l been later
1t was far past midnight when the
/ party drew up at the neartst house,
7 f3n- 4
her here but it's too far in any other
direction, said Markham, ian We kin
send fer some OF the women.
Blake met them a mile or more fro NJ
the house, as he had sadiled his own
horse and followed to see what was
the fate OF his rescuer.
Blake" said Markham, when they
had laid down their burden on the
rude bed and lighted fire, 1--WE hev
| bin n pack o. tarnel fools an but fer
that brave lassie, thar, you'd be hang
in from some neighborin' cottonwood.
Ie would, fer fac"
Blake's face whitened as he thought
OF it for he knew that he had little
10 offer against the party's eircum-
staDtial evidence.
/ BY Daylight Mrs Markham and the
bhlS iuAal bEtltiiAlii- " lHttAClildAlOEt,
the paymaster OF the Occidental Com
pany, were at the cabin.
shes bruised pretty bad" said
McCarrick, as he felt OF the girls head.
Her arm is broken and she has had
other injuries. She must not be moved
for week. Then she'll be all right.
They stepped outside the cabin to
have further consultation and did not
notice that Blake returned to the
house.
He knelt by the side OF the white
faced sufferer. She was conscious
now and blushed as she saw his beard
ed face so near her own. The doctors
words were repeated and then he
added some other words, the import
OF which was that she need not ever
be moved from the cabin if she would
but say yes.
"But-but-the school marm?" she
stammered. with n half-iealous parg.
1.-The school MANI" repeated Blake.
'sDo you mean my sister, Nary"
There was no more hesitancy and
when with Markham and the rest
standing around, McCarrick, who was
also a justice OF the peace, made the
settler and his rescuer husband and
wife, no one was sad but Mrs. Fleege
who thought what a good servant she
had lost and how angry her husband
would be.
And it's Thanksgiving, too" ex.
claimed Blake when he had received
the congratulations OF his late enc,
mics.