The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-07-14

looked in at the open door OF the Beck
and Tartan households. Everything
was topsy-turvy as left in the hurry of
departure.
We'll, Rosie is safe anyway" he con-
fided to Dolly, with sigh.
Their flying shadows grew longer and
longer, and finally night dropped on the
plains. Before him doomed the Cimmar-
ron. he could see the misty vapor roll
ing 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 if l
hadn't better cross furtIer down?"
1t was good idea, and he turned Dol
ly 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
volver in his belt. Atwig cracked I'M
der 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 fame of
light flashed in the darkness up the
river.
"Yip-yip-yip.' 1t was the war cry of
the Arapahoes. The fight and flight
was on. With yell of defiance he fired
ut the dark mass tearing after him, and
bending low over the saddle horn spoke
encouragingly to the horse:
Dolly, if you ever run, do 1t now.
You're faster than any of them, Dolly,
if you'll only try-look out for gopher
hills that's good horse. Whew! that
one was close. Now you're gettin
dowh to it, Dolly. Wen beat the red
devils pit. On, Doll. Remember, we've
got the mail, and it must be saved.
Here's the trail. Now see how fast you
can run. Ouch! Oh, God, I'm hit. and
Dolly; it's all with you
And he chung 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
salvation? l think SO, you may not.
But she ran like frightened antelope,
hardly seeming to touch the ground,
while Danny with closed eyes and
clenched teeth chung to the saddle horn
with the desperat on of death.
"IIalt, who comes there?" challenged
the guard as horse and rider came
lounging into the fort.
"The United States mall" came the
faint reply, and Dolly gallopcd up with
blood in her nostrils, and blood on her
TANKS, quivcring like an aspen.
Dan, are you hurt?' qutricd the SOL
der, lifting him from the 81, Idle.
I'm hit dead" he rcplied, with a
moan. They carried him if 60 the bar.
rack-room and the surgeon was sum
moned, but there was no hop1>, he said.
1t was wonder he had lived IS long as
he had. Soon the news spread to the
camp, and the rough soldiers and fugi-
tive 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, wringing her hands in
agony. She bent down and took the
sufferers hand.
Rosie" said he, with a panied smile,
I'm a goner, guess. Goodby, Rosie:
you can have Dolly, and take good care
of her, for she did all she could to save
me. Good-by, boys Yonder's the
Cimmarron. That's good horse,
Dolly"
"Delirium," said the surgeon.
Get out of the way of the United
| States mail"
The end came. Another daring spirit
had passed along that unknown trail
that leads through the dark, dreary
desert of death.-Charles Maurice Cray.
ton, in Chicago Inter Ocean.