The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-24
AN OUTLAW
IN PETTICOATS.
From ths Cincinnati Commerclal.

From the Cincinnati Commercial.
Mamie Leatherbury rocked up and
down in big rocking chair on the YER
anda of long, rambling two stored
heuse, which nestled in a garden abloom
with semi-tropical plants ana trees,
down by the Red River, Tex. Quite a
frown gathered on her piquant face as she
dwelt on her mornings mishaps. She
and her fiance, Forrest Fairfax, had only
been in Texas few days-he for the pur-
! pose of looking after some cattle interests
and she for the love of change and to see
her married sister, with whom they
were staying. Mamie Leatherbury was
a veritable gypsy at heart, for she never
was so happy as when she was wandering
about with the same restless fever which
is the heritage of that picturesque tribe.
Flicking the dust off her riding boots
with her whip, she rose and walked rap
idly up and down in high temper.
why did they send me such an IN
| broken beast2 I'm not a circus rider;
| besides, no girl on earth could sit such a
| chain lightning performer"
Her eyes filled with tears as she talked,
and the show she had made of herself,
| turning somersaults and landing on her
| head in cactus bed before the amused
natives, an hour or so before, was vivid
| memory. Forrest Fairfax was sitting on
flower bed below, to the detriment of
| jasmine vine, which was timidly climbing
| a frail trellis
''It was the best they had, Nan, so the
| livery stable keeper told me-" looking as
| concerned as it was possible for any one
to look with his round, pink face, whose
not
| of good humor and health.
Just at that moment her attention was
| drawn to a dark object, which drew
nearer and nearer over the prairie. The
| object proved to be two hOrses-a woman
| rode one and led the other Being lover
of horsefesh, like all her country people.
she involuntarily took in all the points of
horse. Suddenly eXclaiming with lively
| interest: Now, that's the sort of a mount
| take pleasure in. See how even his
| gaits are, and how well bred he is
| The woman halted in front of the house,
and in twinkle jumped off and advanced
| to the steps, leading the horses, with
| bright smile on her tanned face. Mamie
| noticed that she was very young-not
| more than 10 or II at the most. She wore
| brown breaches and boots. Her short
cloth skirt was similar to those worn by
women on the moors in Scotland. Around
| her throat was twisted a yellow silk
| handkerchief, and her head was pro
tected from the brilliant sunshine by
large sombrero, such as the cowboys wear
! Good evening, lady. 1 heard this
| morning down at the ranch that you are
| looking for saddle horse, so I've brought
one to show you.'
She took her sombrero off as she spoke
| and wiped the perspiration from her fore
head, where short black curls clustered in
| damp little rings
Her ungloved hands were tiny and
brown, but anyone could see they were
| strong as steel
Mamie walked out on the grass to ex-
anime the beautiful animal closer, as she
answered, Il am looking for one to hire.
but don't wish to buy, because we shall
only be here few weeks"
A shade of disappointment fell over the
little horse dealers face, but frightening
up, she said coaxingly: Come and have
a ride on him, and think you may
change your mind"
Forrest began to feel uneasy
is he gentleY' he asked, as the nervous
creature put back his ears, snorting at
such familiarity.
"Oh, perfectly. You see that I've only
plain snaffle on him. His mouth is like
velvet"
Nannie's admiration prevailed, so she
insisted on mounting, and in moment
| was IN the saddle.
''Shal come along, tooP' he asked.
MY horse is just around The field in a
| shed"
'Oh, no, thank you'll" she answered
lightly. II think we can get along very
well" and she smiled down into the be-
witching eyes of the little horse dealer,
who seemed very much pleased with the
arrangement, as she jumped on her horse
without any assistance In a second they
part Of the prairie where there was fine
going.
Il shall only be gone for an hour For
rest" she called back as they broke into a
canter.
He was standing in small group OF
men who had collected on the lnwn in
front of the house. One of them was a
United States deputy marshal from Little
Rock.
Great Caesar, but think I've hit it?''
| the marshal muttered, as he gazed after
the retreating forms of the two women.
what do you meang' asked man near
him
why, believe I'm on the trail of the
Starr gang.
what, those outlaws from the Indian
Territory"
THE same," he answered. "Did any
of you recognize that bay which Miss
mo, can't say1 did, " they replied, look
| ing puzzled.
well, that is one ofthe horses that the
Starr gang cut out from the San Diego
herd with a lot of others. This one isn't
branded, but knew him by the white
blaze on his forehead the moment l saw
him"
Forrest Fairfax began to be really
| frightened, as he cried out; "Thls
woman can't be on of the STAIRS. She
said that she was living on a ranch near
here"
The marshal scorned such credulity.
| why, | know every ranch around for
miles, and have never seen that woman.
Starr has wife, and I'll bet anything
that this is she But they must be hard
pushed to trade on such dangerous
ground"
Lets follow them suggested Forrest,
as he ran around to get his horse.
IAN right" answered the marshal.
but we must take a circuitous route or
our bird will escape. That woman rides
like an Indian, l hear. Will you fellows
join u.s." he inquired of his companions.
Half of them volunteered, and the 9TH
ers pleaded important engagements when
they thought of their families, for they
knew only too well what desperate crimi-
nails the Stars were.