Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-03-11


Jim's for her.
Over the prairie the little cavalcade
started, Red Mustang, with that easy
swinging stride of hers. taking the lead
and keeping IL. But Jim pulled her up
sharply as there came triumphant shout
from behind, Heres the trailg
Riding up. Jim looked at it with his
keen eyes That's no trail!" he said
contemptuously.
Now, the rest OF the men having stated !.
that it was the trail, and being at least
as well able TO judge as Jim, did not re-
ceive his remark in the pleasantest spirit.
at are the TRAIL" SAID Daryl Dash, in
quietly conclusive way, a. If that set
tied 1t,
"But it aren'tl" said Jim squarely.
Now. Daryl Dash was one of the most
trusted hands in the camp, and being
backed by Big Ben, the rest naturally
took his side.
"This amt no time for foolin'," they
said very sterniy. Here's trail, plain /
as can be-; and we're goin' TO follow it up" |
"rm not foolin'." retorted Jim, with
kind of desperate earnestness. THAT
trails too plain for Injins to have left,
unless they done 1t a purpose. can
find the trail right enough if you let me.
Trust me, boys"
My poor Jimi As a man sows so shall
he reap. What had Inc done, in all his
reckless. dissolute life, TO be trusted
nows He was not trusted; nay, more,
he was left, half mad with anger and
despair, to find his trail alone.
Take it, or leave it." the men had said
~ they galloped off upon their trail.
Away in the east the sun was touch
ing the sky with red gold light. Great
crimson bars. fiecked with orange,
CLEANED out broadly, and then melted
, into the softer harmony around. and be-
, fore one knew it. the whole shining mass
united and out flashed the sun. But be-
l fore it did that Jim had made up his
: mind to do very risky thing-to rescue
I Dolly single handed. Who else was
a there to do it, The Others had ridden
: away in a direction which was every
h moment taking them farther away from
4 the right track.
(" my God!' he said wildly. Was it {
q prayer from those rough lips?-a prayer
which the Good Shepherd heard ant
a answered. For Jim played hero's par
10 that day. He found the trail. For tn
!. sun, glinting downward, caught tn
"a light of small pink object ON the brush
n wood and rested there lovingly. Moth
m ing much-just the torn string from
m little child's sunbonnet. But ut tn
4 sight Jim broke into suppresse.
n whistle Of triumph, and raced Red Mus
IN tang forward as she had never bee
AZ raced before. never like to think abou
= that ride. Enough, the Red Mustan
Al responded Loyalty 10 the situation. Fror
"noon to dewy eve" she carried Jill
No steadily. But when, trembling, foar
al fiecked and parched with thirst,
a. stopped her as the Indian camp loome
ia in sight, he knew that his work WAS CT
nv out.
10. Quiet! old lass. quietT he sal,
vi cautiously dismounting and patting h
I'M with look on his face that few bl
W. Dolly or Red Mustang had ever see
there.
ny The gallant beast seemed to unde
nd stand. and suppressing "a whinny, rubb'
see her nose wistfully against the care
cir sing hand.
Nv. Half gliding. half creeping forwar
be Jim took in tho situation at. a glanc
In. The Indians had evidently only ju
led stopped and were hastily improvising
,ad sort of camp. But, unsuspicious as tn,
a n were of being followed 10 soon, ii
the knew that this first careless hustle OF a
he rival would not last long, but that Sc
ose tries would be set to guard against al
The approach. Suddenly his blood thrille
for there before him. not dozen var
,en away. lay Dolly reposing on an O
the blanket in the healthy sleep of chill
he hood.
,er. 1t was q foolish thing TO do, perhaI
her considering the state Red Mustang W
tile in, but then Jim was desperate. He
he crawled forward, seized Dolly and 1
bin back to Red Mustang unperceived
Iyr could never have told himself. But &
Iyr" back with her he did. and in a fash I
sed three were of.
n a "Dim.' said Dolly. clinging in blissi
ur content to the rough red shirted arms.
dye "Ay," Jim answered, CHANGING doV
ed, at her as he frightened Red Mustan
lose girth; ''you 90 TO sleep, Dolly"
wk. So Dolly's little brown head nestl
old down, and Jim and Red Mustang ma
cen what speed they could, which was I
a very great speed, although there car
nd sounds from behind which made
,or mare tear forward and turned j.
lful white The Indians were in pursuit.
ave Mile by mile, hour after hour, Il
ON fearful race went on. The rugged Ii
Ids Of hills which marked the camp were
sight now. but could Red Mustang h'
for out? She was already trembling OF
veil nously, and Jim knew that the time v
ace. come. II she were to reach the camp
lily. ell, il must be without his weight oss
Ted. back.
to HDollyr' he said with shake VIII
And made Dolly open her sleepy eyes,
her, want you 10 do somethin' for me"
Tore went on persnasiveiy; II want TO
.rce down here. I've - I've - a partic'
tied reason for wanting TO get down here
Ill and the arm holding Dolly's as gently
( it a woinans kept her head turned "
forward. RED Mustang II take J
wed 10 the camp all right, If You'll he br'
All little CELL. and go alone"
,uld ''Oh.' and Dolly's frightened clu
was very firm.
nest will Won, Dolly said Jim fever
ly. Dolly! Dolly! Little lassi v
you7 For me.
cav '.Iss, Dim" said Dolly with quiver
a 1' lips.