Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-07-12

evening, and started away to ride
alone TO a certain small stream, on
the banks of which | had been in
formed | would fine a plant of great
medical value, and also one exceed
ingly rare and difficult to obtain.
1t was a glorious morning; the
sun shining with a heat which, lat
er in the day, would oblige me to
seek shelter for few hours in the
deep shades, but which was now
only delightfully."- warm and invigor-
ating.
The red-bird, the oriole, and the
southern mocking-bird, filled the
air with melody, while on every side
hung great green and gray wreaths
of moss among the brilliant flowers,
which almost formed carpet for
my horses feet, they grew so lux
uriantly and so close to the narrow
path leading through the forest.
never felt in better spirits, in my
life, nor had less thought of lurking
danger and evil. | had, as l always
had, considerable money on my per-
son, besides valuable gold watch,
and several very costly surgical in
struments in my pocket-case, but |
did not once dream that anyone
knew that | carried them at all.
The only person that had seen
in my two hours ride so far, were a
couple of horsemen, Of whom |
had but glimpse, as they went over
the brow Of distant hill and dis
appeared, but | did not in any way
connect them with any suspicion of
harm to myself.
was riding along absorbed in my
own thoughts, when my horse sud
denly stopped, SHE'D, and threw up
his head with a quick snort of
alarm.
$50 on, Gray, old boy. There's
nothing to hurt you," | said, pat
ting the pretty creatures neck en-
couragingly.
But Gray snorted again and re-
fused to move an inch. | began to
look about through the thick brush
to see what was causing his fright,
when dark figure swiftly came
rushing out from dense thicket
and stopped in the path right before
me.
All! | knew that tall form, that
long, flowing black hair, those dusky
arms, now outstretched and waved
above the bare head with gesture
of entreaty. It was Crazy Pep.
barefooted and tattered, her coun-
tenance wilder than ever, her deep
midnight eyes flashing like living
flames, as she waved her arms, and
said, in low, deep tones:
Back, captain!-back for your
life! It is death to 60 OIL in this
path! | told you Pep would come
if you needed her. ! tell you now
you do need her. She is here. Go
back, captain-go back"
"But, Pep, what is it?" l asked.
us Black Donald on my track?
Is there no danger to you as we'll as
to me?"
mo, no--not to me!' she almost
walled, her head and hands droop-
ing as she spoke. bad as he is,
he will not dare harm Pepita! I'm
less he knew | had warned you,
then he might, | don't know. But
you saved me, when was dying
alone in the old hut, and old Pep
knows how to be grateful. Go
back, captain, say. That way,
you may find safety! have been
to the fort have told them, they
will send men to help you, and cap
ture him, if they can. don't want
them to find him; evil as he has
treated me, ] can't see him hung
like dog. Go back and meet them
before they reach this place, cap
tain"
mo, Pep. | am armed and can
defend myself"
mo, no!' she cried, waving her
arms yet more wildly. Against
men, you might. But / tell you,
Black Donald's gang are not men,
they are devils! /"
At that instant the sharp gallop
of horses was heard behind me, and
Pep clasped her hands, and cried
out:
BLESSED be all the saints, the
soldiers are coming! ! have saved
your life, captain. Poor Pep is"
Oh, what a pitifNl thing came
then. Even as she said the words,
there was shrill hiss, a shot, and
poor crazy Pep fell in the road at
my horses feet, while not far in
front of me the swift rush of rapid
riders told the tale of the ambuscade
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