Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-06-09


spring, and the door swung open, ad.
uniting Hal Kruger.
Quick. Bill" he cried. addressing
the storekeeper: "a brace of revolvers
| and some fresh cartridges, I'm off for
! The Jail have the pardon and there's
no time to lose" And before the feel
| ing of surprise and establishment had
| Worn away he had buckled the belt
J containing the revolvers and cartridges
around his waist sprung into his seat in
! the saddle and was rapidly gallOping
| down the road.
| As the flying steed and his rider dis
/ appeared down the valley the crowd re-
! gained their senses and began 20 talk.
| Why, that's old Wells son. he what
/ was a-courtin' Mats girl afore his old
/ man was killed and her dad 'cused Of
| the murder But the lad loves the
/ gal. and when he rived home from tie
/ east where he had been studyin' fcr
/ some perfeshun 50 long. he stuck TO il
! that il was an accident and old Matt
didn't kill his dad .'HowsoIneyer.
reckon the lads got the biggest kind 81
job on his hands bout now. for let
alone the country he's got 10 cover. its
! full Of wolves and they're on the ram
/ page this time o the year
| These and sundry other remarks were
! made. but meanwhile handsome Hal
| Kruger. with the governors pardon
/ slowed carefully away in his coat peck
! ct and the warm kiss OF Jennie Hender-
son on his lips. was rapidly covering
the first part Of the fifty miles that lay
betu cen him and Ashland courthouse.
away from the village store, and though
familiar with every step OF the way.
yet he realized that he had undertaken
no light task. He knew that wolves
/ were devastating the country. being
driven Wild with hunger. and that they
had been reinforced by their drawer al
lies. the dogs. which had deserted the
lum bermen some winters before: vet
remem berin- the love light shining IN
Jennie's eyes he accepted the task and
felt that could he escape the wolves ne
could cover the distance and save his
sweeth carts father.
The moon Shone clear and bright and
the horse seemed 10 realize the hopes
and fears of his young master as he
rapidly gained On the long distance be-
fore him. The crust over the snow was
frozen into one vast sheet OF ice and
gave back a crisp, ringing sound he
meath his flying feet. Onward he swept
in long and regular leaps and mile after
mile OF the long journey passed rapidly
behind At one o'clock Hal looked al
his watch: he was close TO Cheouame-
gon lake. Full half of the distance was
behind him and he knew that the long
sheet of ice stretching away before him
and narrowing here and there TO a
small river in width and thickly lined
on either side with dense underbrush
reached 70 the end OF his journey. He
knew that here lay the danger from the
wolves, and he could not help the cold
shiver which shook his sinewy form as
long, mournfu howl greeted the ring
ing hoofs of his steed as they struck the
ice Involuntarily his hand fell to the
handle of revolver and he frightened
his grasp on the bride. while his keen
eyes swept the field of shining ice in
anxious suspense
His horse seemed to scent the danger.
and his ears rose like sentinels. as II
listening. while his already rand pace
seemed to increase. On they few, horse
and rider, like two vanishing specks
upon the bosom of the lake. while, as
minute after minute stole on, the howis
grew in volume and in number until
the terrible truth stole over the brave
lad that the hungry wolves were in full
pursuit and increasing their forces every
minute He leaned forward IN the sad
de and spoke 10 his noble steed. almost
as though addressing a friend: On.
Billy. on, We must not be overtaken;
we must save her father" The noble
animal threw his ears straight back.
and, gathering all his strength, as if in
answer TO the appeal. fairly few over
the slippery surface.
The moon sunk low in the western
sky. and just as he was nearing the
na-rows Hal turned in his saddle, and
the sight he saw made his heart sink
within him The hungry wolves were
rapidly growing in number and were
slowly but surely gaining upon him.
He knew that full ten miles lay be-
tween him and safety. Gould he fght
them off? Would brave Billy hold out
at this fearful pace?" These questions
flashed like lightning through his mind.
and. drawing revolver from his belt. he
turned in his saddle and fred once.twice
IllIlcS- anu edcn SnoI q wO1f
leaped in the air and fell. to be instantly
set upon and devoured by his hungry
companions The relief was only mo-
mentsry. for now they had tasted blood. I
and the taste and smell after their long |
hunger made them wild beyond fear,
and. with fearfu! bowls. on they came |
with renewed force. The noble horse /
seemed 10 culver and tremble beneath |
his rider-his breath came quicker and /
his flying hoofs seemed hardly 70 touch |
the ice Again and again Hal turned |
in the saddle and fired into the bowling |
mass, and though every shot brought its |
mark to the dust. yet they seemed to /
spring up from every side. and she dis |
tance between pursuers and pursued /
was growing rapidly shorter. Already /
he could feel the hot breath and hear |
the fierce swapping of the hungry jaws |
pressing close upon him Again he /
leaned forward and spoke to his noble /
steed: .'On. Billy. on, We are almost /.
there-we must escape-we must save /
him Then while the animal seemed |
to gather all his forces for one tiua. /
struggle, Hal turned and fred his last |
charges into the pursuing pack
Suddenly right in front the lake |
and almost before he realized |
il the way became only a narrow strip
of ice lined on either side with dense
underground. After a short distance
the watery way turned sharply to the