Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-29

long black hair tossing In the wind and hi
big eyer full OF concern He reached insid,
the door and got his bride, saddle, quirt anC
spurs. and rs he strapped on the last asked
shortly:
Who seen Babe last7''
Her was a maxim mud pies by de we'll wher
eat nv dinner" piped small voice.
II guv her an apple jist as school was TOXIN
up, said another.
''She asked me to let her 20 pick some pity
fowers,' and thought she meant the milk weed
pods over there by the WELL and told her to rur
along and not bother me. That was Just as
called school at o'clock Perhaps she il owe,
among the tall weeds by the quarry?''
mo, she Amt, responded Modoc. he slap
ped the saddle on his pony, which had come al
his whistle; ''she amt round we're, an stacks
! 1t up she air strayed Of som'ers."
At this the frightened children set up
| vail and began to huddle around him.
Now, cheese that chin music" he ordered
! angrily. as the bowling cherubs caught hold oil
| him. "Samooss into that school house an
stay thar. No stampedin' round yere now.
One stray critter at time air anuff. Miss Sary,
you ride herd this we're bunch, and / per-
| ceeds to round up Babe all proper"
He jumped into the saddle, pausing for an in
slant, standing high in the stirrups to take a
look over the country. just then Mizoory came
tearing around the corner OF the school house
| on his mustang
/
like her mighta went ter they Kiote. I'll go this
here-a-wsy by they new ford. an you go down
! to they BRIDGE" and laying the quirt about his
ponys TANKS MiZoory raced away, while Modoc,
| accepting the advice, struck out for the lower
/ ford, leaving the teacher in white despair over
the probable fate of her baby sister, yet exert
| ing herself to calm the terrified children.
The "Kiote" ran near the school house and
emptied into the Arkansas river some 200
, OF 800 yards distant, to the south and west.
v gNI Sx.af H.
bridge, while beyond the river long
range of sand hills, over which the Indians still
hunted buffalo. The proper name of the creek
was the Coyote, but, like many other western
names. II had been peculiarly transformed into
"kiote"
Modoc reached the brink OF the stream and
glanced anxiously along its banks, but no child
was In sight. The water quite low and
easily forded, but he knew that the little fodder
could not have crossed there. Just then his
eve caught the CLEAN Of a bit Of white flutter-
ing from a bridge tie just across the creek. He
dashed through the water and up the bank and
swooped down on the bit of cambria, to find it
to be the 'handkshif' that Babe usually
carried in her apron pocket. Raising 1t high
above his head he waved il toward the anxious
group about the school house door and pushed
on.
what asks mvsef il how that little trick
navergates that high bridge all safe. an how
she effaces herse r from this we're landscape so
sudden he solIloquized half aloud as he
scanned the wide expanse of hill and valley.
Just then he passed a point OF high land that
iutted down close to the creek, and u startled
exclamation broke from his lips.
Not u mile distant, to the north and bearing
directly toward him on the strong north wind
was big prairie fire. He could hear it crackle
and roar as it leaped and darted through the
lowland blue stem. That was not the only
danger that menaced. however
just ahead OF the fire and flying from it was
drove Of Texas cattle, thousands in number.
Their mad believing aud the rumble of their
stsmpeding came like distant thunder above the
roar of the oncoming flames. Modoc could see
the herders trying vainly to turn the fright
ened cattle to the west. out of range of the
hre. but just as they seemed to have accom-
plished this the whole drove swerved suddenly,
and. Ike an avalanche, swept swiftly down on
the bewiidered boy and directly in the track of
the flames He had paused but an instant and
then il was to rise in his stirrups to scan the
level space near the railroad for the truant
child. His search was this time rewarded.
Nearly half mile away he a tiny figure
clambering over the high embankment from the
south. on which side of the railroad was COM
parative safety, to the north, and directly in
, danger from both fleeing cattle and flames.
Poor Modocs heart gave mighty bound,
then fell like a lump of clay he set spurs in
Pawnees sides and headed him for the fated
child. He felt that his efforts we're futile for
the stampeding cattle were in direct line with
and much nearer the child than he but he
meant to rescue her or die
Faster and faster sped the black pony, SEEM
ing to know intuitively that something beyond
the common run OF racing was depending
upon him. Lying low on his neck Modoc urged
him with whip and spur till the mettlesome
beast, unused to such rough treatment from
| his master. madiened with rage fairly flew over
the rough prairie. Leap by leap they gained
| on the believing herd. Modoc saw that he
could make 1t, and with wild veil of exultl-
ton gave his faithful Pawnee a cut with the
quirt that brought the blooi from the sweating
tanks With q snort of terror the brute gave a
mighty spring. bringing him between the rail-
road embankment and the child. Modoc
swoOped to the right and caught the little one
by her dress a. he dew By, jerking her from be-
meath the hoofs of the foremost cattle
His cry of exultation had hardly died upon
his lips as he held Babe an instant poised in air
above Pownees head when he felt ighty
shock and was dImly conscious that the child
had slipped from his grasp. Then came obliv-
ion.
II say. pard, yer circus summersets amt up
In u yet lou don practice enough, mebby "
Modoc heard the voice half in "A dream with
out recognizing that he the one addressed
bat the next instant he felt little fat hand rub
bins his nose the wrong way and heard a COO
Ing baby voice.
Nausnty Mouot, 10 sleep In daytime. waite
| mp Babe loves 90, 'es her does, If 90 did fro
her in de mud
Modoc opened his ewes to see Babe all drip
ping with Shiny mud. kneeling beside him
Her sunburned face was dirty and tear stained
and her yellow curls damp and tangled and
altogether she presented woful appearance
Beside her stood one Of the COW punchers'
well. psrd, it can't be laid up agin you that
| You didn't go 70 the slaughter pen this trip.
What in Gehenns you an the kid doin' out
we're? You amt tenderfoot. What dad
hinged bull hesdedness made you ride into a
stampede hathaway? You certainly makes me
/ tired.
Babe were lost an / were a roundin' of her
up" replied Modoc family.
Lost echoed the cowboy as he gazed al
/ the morsei of humanity. Lost, did you say?
How in blazes did veal calf like that git so far
away from the corral. Say, kid. how did you
git yere?"
81 wunned off," replied Babe, tearfully.
''Thara thed wath a bower. an her bwaked my
heart, her did and wunned ever'n ever SO far. -
We'll, I'm kiote il you didn't" CALCULATED
the cowboy, struck with the childs indie
pendence. They'd better brand you an turn
/ you loose, You'll soon pick for yersef."
How did you git away from me- Babe?''
! questioned Modoc, as he began to regain his
| senses.
You frowed me- you did, Modot," she sobbed
| indignantly a. his question brought back her
| condition los DIES picked up off the
I ground an frowed me over Pawnee's head wife
in a mud puddle under the wall woad, an