The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1893-06-07
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 a party had found
thetrail 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 markp' he exclaim-
ed, pointing down at the trail.
by gunsl it's the fasteners boss
shoel calculated Sam Pike after an in
stant's scrutiny of the footprints among
which were several larger than the rest
and showing the clear impress of a 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.
"Well" said Bill tentatively at last.
No one answered for moment. Then
Sam remarked: sit looks bad for Their
easterner, surei TIL hain't any one got
boss shoes like them in tn district 'cept
him. I'm sorry T tn feller's put his head
in ropes end, boys. Butwe'll have ter
foller him up. Who'll go backY'
A couple Of the party volunteered.
The men separated. Part of them NOV
ed forward ON the trail. The others
turned their horses at right angles to the
former line Of march and Hoped on to-
ward the eaeterneris cabin
The easterner, otherwise Jack Craig,
Of whom they had been speaking, had
been in Sage Bar only short time. He
was a tenderfoot, out and out. When
he came to the Bar he brought his wife
with him. She was 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 q mile or more away from town.
So Sage Bar had come to consider the
pair "queer lot" and to designate
them as 9Th easterner 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, despatched with mud, it was evil
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. Eyer wanted down ter
tn Bari
"Whats that" demanded the easterner
angrily.
"Yer wanted down ter tn Bari" Sam
repeated. "For boss stealingr' he added.
Craig's face was ahame in the instant.
He sprang from his seat, throwing back
his hand to his hip. But the others had
him covered, and his hand dropped
loosely by his side again. cts a -
lie," he said, 'and you know itr'
Just then q woman's figure appeared
in the cabin doorway. It was Craig's
wife.
whats the natter" she questioned
anxiously, seeing her husbands attitude.
Craig spoke up quickly: go back,
Dolly! They've got up dirty story
about me ard want me to go to the Bar.
But I'll como back in little WHILE"
s1Sam 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
horse, she ran to him and threw both
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 dashed 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 o
capital offense and short shift was
granted to offenders. But Sans protest
that nothing should be done until tho
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 not
make Its appearance. So Craig was
given something to eat and then was
fastened tightly once more, and the men
rolled themselves up in their blankets
in front of the cabin about II o'clock,
leaving only 10 Stetson on guard.
Stetson sat himself down ON stump
and lit pipe, and with his rifle across
his knees fell to thinking about some
mavericks" he'd had branded that day.
Presently he imagined he heard soft
step from the prairie. He raised his
head and listened. Just then the moon
showed rim beyond sailing cloud,
and Its light fell on a fgure-a womans
figure making its way toward the cabin.
Stetson rose to his feet, letting his rife
butt drop on the ground, and curiously
surveyed the woman, who was close to
him now. 1t was the easterner's wife.
us he In thereY she said, her voice
trembling tst.
YES" answered Stetson.
Can ! see himT' she asked. "Only
for moment" she added.
Cant do 1t, marm," said Stetson.
II. - -
longingly towsA,d the cabin and clasping
and unclasping her hands softly. The
man hoped she would go. He had hated
TO say no, and he didn't know how long
his determination to refuse would last.