The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1892-07-15


fore mornun."
"I'm not skeert," replied he, settling
himself in the saddle, land besides the
folks at Wabash and at the creek ought
to be warned, And you know the mail
has to go as long as it's anyways pos
sible."
The spur touched Dolly's flank more
often than usual, but she kept up brave
ly, and Danny clattered into Wabash
ahead of time. Imparting the alarming
intelligence to old man Beck, the post
master, and C3utioning him to get the
family ready and start for the post with
out further delay, he rodeNon toward
Crooked creek
"Jewhillakersf'' exclaimed one of the
watchers. Whats Danny ridin SO all
fired fast about? Must be suthin up"
They soon knew, and scattered for
their respective claims to prepare for
fight ere the storm burst.
Danny clinched the saddle tighter and
looked to his weapons ere he mounted
for the home ride, He was not afraid.
Had he been a coward he would have
remained safely at the fort. But an
Ominous dread fell upon him as he
thought of the dark Cimmarron. He
arrived at Wabash and looked In at the
open door of the Beck and Tartan
households, Everything was topsy tur-
Wy, as left in the hurry of departure.
"Well, Rosie is safe anyway" he con-
fided to Dolly with a sigh.
Their flying shadows grew longer and
longer, and finally night dropped on the
plains. Before him loOmed the CHM
marion. He could see the misty vapor
rolling up like smoke.
"If they're anywhere they'll be down
there" he unused. They'll want to lay
along the trail and catch some of the
settlers maxim for Dodge. Wonder il |
hadn't better cross further DOWN"
1t was a good idea, and he turned
Dolly from the trail and directed his
course further down the river,
The reins changed from right to left
as he entered the mist, and his right fell
upon the protruding butt Of a revolver
in his belt, A twig cracked under the
horses feet and gave the rider start.
Down into the waters of the CimmarrOn
they splashed. Dolly pulled at the rein.
mo, no, Doll; can't drink this time. "
he murmured.
He climbed the bank on the opposite
side and rode out on the plain, breath
ing easier.
"Spang"
Dolly bolted forward and a fame of
light flashed in the darkness up the
river.
"Yip-yip-yipr' 1t was the war cry of
the Arapahoe. The fight and fight was
on With yell of defiance he fired at
the dark mass tearing after him, and
bending low over the saddle horn spoke
encouragingly to the horse:
Dolly, if you ever run, do it now,
You're faster thun any of them, Dolly, if
you'll only try, Look out for gopher hills,
that's a good horse. Whewl that one
was close. Now you're gettin down to
it, Dolly. Well beat the red devils yit.
On, Doll Remember, we've got the
mail, and it must be saved. Here's the
trail. Now see how fast you can run,
OUGHT Oh, God, Pm hit, and hit home
at that. It's all with you, Dolly; it's all
with you"
And he clung to the saddle horn and
gave the mustang free rein.
Horse sense; we hear it alluded to in
a jocular way. Did Dolly realize that
in her fleet feet lay her masters only
salvationH think SO, you may not.
But she ran like frightened antelope
hardly seeming to touch the ground,
while Danny, with closed eyes and
clinched teeth, chung to the saddle horn
with the desperation of death.
Halt, who comes thereF challenged
the guard as a horse and rider came
into the fort,
"1The United States mail" came the
faint reply, and Dolly galloped up with
blood in her nostrils and blood on her
tanks, quivering like an aspen.
Dan, are you hurtY queried the sol
der, lifting him from the saddle.
'Fm hit dead, ," he replied with a moan.
They carried him into the barrack room
and the surgeon was summoned, but
there was no hope, he said. 1t was a
wonder he had lived as long as he had.
Soon the news spread to the camp, and
the rough soldiers and fugitive settlers
gathered around him, watching with
breathless interest for the end to come.
A girl came pushing her way through
the crowd-a scared faced girl, wiring
ing her hands in agony. She bent down
and took the sufferers hand.
"Rosie," said he, with panied smile,
"Pm goner, Iguess. Goodby, Rosie;y you
can have Dolly, and take good care Of
her, for she did all she could to save me.
Goodby, boys. Yonder's the Gimmar-
ron. That's a good horse, Dolly"
eDelirium,' said the surgeon.
"Get ont of the way of the United
States Inaip---- TT.
The end came Another daring spirit
had passed along that unknown trail
that leads through the dark, dreary des-
ert Of death Charles Maurice Craytou
IN Chicago Inter Ocean.