Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-05-20
A PLUCKY WIFE.
How Sho Saved Hor Husband from
 Judgo Lynch.


 Sage Bar was excited. Six horses were missing from Bill Hines drove. Fifteen minutes after Bill had reported his loss at the Bar a party had found the trail and ridden off toward the southwest. Presently, as they were crossing q wet bit of land in n hollow, Bill who led the party, looked sharply at the hoof prints sunk deep in the soil and refined up quickly.
 Look at the shoe mark" he cx- claimed, pointing down at the trail.
 "By guns! it's tho customers hoss shoc!' ejaculatcd Sam Pillo after an in stant's scrutiny of the hoof prints, among which were several larger than the rest showing the clear impress of n shoe. The others were those of un- the marks closely. Then the men looked at each other with ugly frowns.
 "Wcll," said Bill, tentatively, at last. No one answered for moment. Then Sam remarked: "It looks bad for thcr customer, sure! Tn haint anyone got hoss shoes like them in tn district 'ccpt him. I'm sorry f tn fcllcr's put his head in a ropes end, boys. But we'll
 
 back?"
 A couple of the party volunteered. The men separated. Part of them moved forward on the trail. The oth- CTS turned their horses at right angles to the former line of march and lopcd on toward the customers cabin. The customer, otherwise Jack Craig, of whom they had been speaking, had =, e1, T1 was tcnderfoot, out and out. When he came to the bar he brought his wife with him. She was a bright, pretty little woman, but they hardly knew her in the settlement. Craig always had been reserved, and the two had kept by themselves in the little cabin which stood milo or so away from town. So Sage Bar had come to con Bidcr the pair a ''quccr lot" and to designate them as "thc customer an his wife," which was intended to be | anything but complimentary.
 When the trailing party rrinrd mp in | front of Craig's cabin they found tine | object of their search sitting on ln4 | before the door, smoking. From his | dress, bcspattcrCd with mud, it Wu% evident that he had just returned from riding. Tho party exchanged sslanrrs of understanding,
 Sam Pike came to the point at once. "Craig," he said, yer wanted down ter | tn Bar"
 "What's that?" demanded the cast Crncr, angrily.
 "Yor wanted down ter tn Bar." Sam repeated. "For hoss stcaling." he added.
 Craigs face was nflamc ia the instant. He sprang from his scat, throwing back his hand to his hip. But the others Ina, him covered, and his hand dropped loosely by his side again. 'It's lic," he said, "and you know it.'
 Just then Q woman's figure appeared in the cabin doorway. It was Craig's wife.
 "What's the mattcr?" she questioned anxiously, seeing her husbands atti tude.
 Craig spoke up quickly: GO back Dolly! They've got up dirty story about mo and want mo to go to the Bar | But I'll come back in little while"
 Sam had great fear of women' tongues and tears and immediately or dcrcd Craig to mount horse which an other man at word secured from tn stable near by. The woman had looked on dumbly, seeming hardly to comprc bend what was taking place, but as sh saw her husband walk over toward tn horse, she ran to him, and threw bot arms about him, holding him tight t. her. He unclasped her arms gentl, after an instant, and mounted the hors t and, turning in the saddle, waved hi hand to her. Then they rode away and, after they had gone piece, Sar looked back and saw the woman stil standing there, her hands loosely locke before her, watching them with wide open eyes. "She's grit ter tn back r bone," muttcrcd that worthy, an 0 lashed his horse into gallop.
 All Sage Bar crowded around tn party when they drew rein in towr and there were some who would hay strung Craig up on the spot whe in that stage of progress where hors stealing was Q capital offense and ' short shrift was granted to offenders But Sam's protest that nothing shoul be done until the Hines party returnc was needed, and the prisoner was pr in an empty cabin, tied hand and foo several of the men agreeing to stan guard.
 The afternoon wancd away and ever ing came and the Hines party did nc make its appearance. So Cralg ws given something to eat and then WE
 fastened tightly once moro, and tl men rolled themselves up in their bla1 kets in front of the cabin about eleve o'clock, leaving Jo Stetson on guar