The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-07-23

NV hdhihS any paw M thc t'ShIhS
happenings.
Silently she crept from the cabin an
saddled the best riding animal in tn
corral. Another she led behind. an
lashing both horses into "a run set OF
through the night.
1t was no ordinary ride, and the fea
that she might be too late urged lie
on. She remembered having hear
vii Jams say hat his host had gone {
the county seat, forty miles away, an
would be absent over night, and SIN
trembled to think what might be til
fate of the slender artist in the hand
of the rough and heartless ~westerners
AS she passed the-spet.w where she ha'
heard the conference. in the afternooI
she involuntarily halted a moment
thinking the same place might hav
been made an evening rendezvous.
To her listening car cam the SCUM,
of horses hoofs and of mems cage
voices. She gave her horses rein an,
was off. So fast did she push the ami
NAL she rode that the other could no
keep step, and a moment later tn,
Va u iCIi vas JSihCt VI MI bdilS
and the led horse was loose. He trot
ted leisurcly away and n little cry o
vcxation and Encouragement escaped
the girl as she saw one portion of hel
plan defeated.
But she rode faster now. The pony
fairly flew OYER the level expanse o
earth. The night IA clear and still
with an occasional glimmer of sheet
lightning on the edge of the plain n
the far horizon.
After awhile as she looked back sh,
saw outlined against the quick flashes
the forms of horsemen a mile or two
behind.
The band gathered by Emmett Mot,
was on the way, and the results of pre-.
vious visits of the band to persons I'M,
desirable to its members made the ont.
look dark for anyone against whom
their anger was turned.
The flying figure on horseback
plunged forward, skirting n piece of
plowed ground, then through a field of
growing wheat, steadily nearing The
artists boarding place. where a light in
the window was now plainly visible.
The artist was more than satisfied
with his quest after illustrative mate
rial. He flattercd himself that he had
correctly fathomed the thought of the
piece de rCsistanee of the midsummer
number. lie 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 hut one more
sketch was needed he devoted his en-
tire energies to his work, only pausing
now and thento lean back in his chair
and get a better view of the growing
representation of prairie life before
him.
YES. she's capable Of something
he spoke out, as if addressing some one,
IF she only had half a chance" He
leaned far back, but this time his eyes
went beyond the paper and saw a ruddy
laughing girl-facc, crowned with Il
wide-bripmed hat and long dark curls.
Ilark. Il horses hurrying hoofs sound
they come, and Williams, startled by
the unusual visitation, PUSHES to the
door. arriving just as his model spring
ing from her pony alights at his very
feet.
What, yOu here?" he calculates.
"Yes, and they're comm" is the ex-
cited answer.
"They-who do you mean by they?"
''Mott and his gang-a dozen of them,
maybe"
"Wcll, what of it,"
"Why. they're comm here to hurt
you, to drive You Out of the settlement,
to whip YOU, maybe. l heard EN- talk
in about it when | went home, an l
stole out of the house to warn you"
"Why should they hurt me?!"
"Nothin', only you wear good clothes
an and her sclf-consciousness
would allow her to go no further and
tell that she was herself a cause of dis
sension.
But never mind" she hurried on;
you must fly-and take your pictures.
My pony is the best in the neighbor-
hood. Co.
Il can't" said Williams, with his
manhood squirting him, land leave
you.
"Thcy won't hurt me. Hurry l can
hear them now"
Both caught the sound of horses hoof
patterfng 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, a man. But all
the time the horsemen came nearer.
The girl made n final appeal in which
her heart-love for him she sought to
save burst forth; then hurrying across
the room with n breath extinguished
the lamp.
There was a hurried consultation in
the doorway, Williams felt a quick. hot
kiss on his hand and as the band Of per-
came near the house they saw
a 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 r~ascal!' shouted
Mott, and plunging the spurs into their
the calvacade raced in pursuit.
and again the horses felt the
steel, but the rider ahead was
well mounted and use their best en-
deavor the breach betwce en- pursuer and
pursued did not become narrower.
The dark cabin was left far behind
and the still night gave no light other
than that of the stars to guide their race
A mile was passed, then another and
another, and the single rider was still
iim and shadowy in the distance.
snake n rush. boys" shouted Mott,
whose horse YVES becoming u little
short Of breath