Connecticut western news., 1893-09-14
A PLUCKY WIFE.

A PLUCKY WIFE.
 Sage Bar was excited. Six horses were missing from Bill Hines drove Fifteen minutes after Bill had reported his loss at the bar party had found the trail and ridden off toward the south west. Presently, as they were crossing . wet bit of land in a hollow, Bill, who led the party, looked sharply at the hoof prints sunk deep in the soil and refined up quickly.
 Look at that shoe mark" he exclaim- ed, pointing down at the trail
 By gunsl it's the easterner's hoss shoel" calculated Sam Pike after an in- stant's scrutiny of the hoofprints among which were several larger than the rest and showing the clear impress of shoe. The others were those of unshod horses Then the party scanned the marks close ly. Then the men looked at each other with ugly frowns
 sWellY said Bill tentatively at last
 No one answered for moment. Then Sam remarked: "It looks bad for ther customer, surei Tn hain't any one got hoss shoes like them in tn district 'cept him. Pm sorry'f tn feller'sput his head in a rope's end, boys. Butwe'n have ter foller him up. Who'll go backr'
 A couple of the party volunteered The men separated. Part of them mov- ed forward on the trail. The others turned their horses at right angles to the former line of march and loped on to- ward the easterners cabin
 The easterner, otherwise Jack Craig, of whom they had been speaking, had been in Sage Bar only a short time. He was a tenderfoot, out and out. When he came to the Bar he brought his wife with him. She was 8 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 8 mile or more away from town. So Sage Bar had come to consider the pair ''queer lot," and to designate them as eth customer an his wife," which was intended to be anything but complimentary.
 When the trailing party refined up in front of Craig's cabin, they found the object of their search sitting on log before the door smoking From his dress, bespattered with mud, it was evi- dent that he had just returned from rid ing. The party exchanged glances of understanding.
 Sam Pike came to the point at once. Craig" he said. yer wanted down ter tn Bari"
 "What's that2" demanded the easterner angrily.
 "Yer wanted down ter tn Barr' Sam repeated. For hoss stealingl' he added. I Craigs face was afame in the instant. 1 He sprang from his seat, throwing back his hand to his hip. But the others had i him covered. and his hand dropped loosely by his side again. "It's - He," he said, ''and you know itr' | Just then woman's figure appeared in the cabin doorway. It was Craig's i wife.
 "What's the matter~ she questioned andously, seeing her husbands attitude k Craig spoke up quickly: "Go back, Dollyi They've got up a dirty story about me and want me to go to the Bar But I'll come back in little while"
 Sam had great fear of women's tongues and tears, and immediately or dered Craig to mount horse which another man at word secured from the stable near by. The woman had looked on dumbly, seeming hardly to compre- bend what was taking place, but as she saw her husband walk over toward the | cL <o l; | IL. arms about him, holding him tight to her. He unclasped her arms gently after an instant and mounted the horse, and turning in the saddle waved his hand to her. Then they rode away, and after they had gone piece Sam looked back and saw the woman still standing there, her hands loosely locked before her. watching them with wide open eyes. She's grit ter tn backbone" muttered that worthy and lashed his horse into a gallop.
 All Sage Bar crowded around the party ! when they drew rein in town, and there were some who would have strung Craig up upon the spot when Sam had told the story. Sage Bar was in that stage of progress where horse stealing was 8 capital offense and a short shift was l granted to offenders. But Sam's protest that nothing should be done until the ! Hines party returned was needed, and the prisoner was put in an empty cabin, tied hand and foot, several of the men agreeing to stand guard
 | The afternoon waned away, and even. ing came. and the Hines party did moi make it's appearance So Craig was given something to eat and then was fastened tightly once more, and the mer rolled themselves up in their blankets in front of the cabin about Il o'clock
 leaving only Jo Stetson on guard
 Stetson sat himself down on a stump
 and lit pipe, and with his rifle across
 his knees fell to thinking about som,
 mavericks" he'd had branded that day
 Presently he imagined he heard sof
 step from the prairie. He raised hi
 head and listened. Just then the moor showed rim beyond a sailing cloud
 and its light fell on 8 figure-a woman'
 hgure-mabdng it's way toward the cabin
 Stetson rose to his feet, letting his rife
 butt drop on the ground. and curiouaI surveyed tho woman, who was close t< him now. It was the easterner's wife.
 "Is he in there" she said. her voice trembling bit.
 "Yes," answered Stetson.
 l "Can see himY' she asked. "Only for a moment" she added.
 Cant do it, .marm," said Stetson.
 For amoment she was quiet. looking
 longingly toward the cabin and claspint
 and lunclasping her hands softly. Tn,
 man hoped she would go. He had hatet I tosay no, and he didn't know how lon.
 has detsxmiuatdou to refuse would last
 "1HtL ihAz sA1 tAez'rs EQtns te tzy hin