The herald., 1893-06-14
A PLUCKY WIFE.

his loss at the bar party had found
the trail andridden Off toward the south
west. Presently, as they were crossing
wet bit Of land in hollow, Bill, who
led the party, looked sharply at the
hoof prints sunk deep in the soil and
reined up quickly.
"Look at that shoe mark" he exclaim-
ed, pointing down at the trail.
"By gunsl it's the easterner's hoss
shoer ejacnhted Sam Pike after an in
stant's scrutiny Of the footprints among
which were several larger than tho rest
and showing the clear impress Of q 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 a moment. Then
Sam remarked: at looks bad for ther
easterner, surel Tn hain't any one got
hoss shoes like them in TIL district 'cept
him. I'm sorry'f TIL fellersput his head
In ropes end, boys. Butwell have ter
foller him mp Who'll go backY'
A couple of the party volunteered.
The men separated. Part Of them NOV
ed forward on tho trail. The others
burned their horses at right angles to the
iorner line of march and loped on to-
ward the easterner's 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 camo 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 q mile or more away from town.
So Sage Bar had come to consider the
pair q queer lot" and to designate
them ms 9th easterner an his wife,
which was intended to be anything but
complimentary.
When the trailing party refined upin
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 evil
dent that no 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
til Bari"
whats thct?" demanded the eastorner
angrily.
EYER wanted down ter tn Barr Sam
repeated, For boss stealingw he added.
Craigs 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. ''lt's a -
lie," he said "and You know It'll"
Just then woman's figure appeared
in the cabin doorway 1t was Craig's
wife.
"What's the matter?" she questioned
anxiously, seeing her husbands attitude,
Craig spoke up quickly: go back,
Dolly! They've got up u dirty story
about mo and want me to go to tho 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
apother man at a word secured from the
stable near by The woman had looked
on duInbly, seeming hardly to compre-
hend what was taking place, but as sho
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 gono a 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 strdng Craig
up upon the spot when Sam had told the
story. Sage Bar was in that stage of
progress where horse stealing was a
capital offense aud short shift was
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 not
make its appearance. So Craig was
given something to eat and then was
fastened tightly once more, and the mon
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 a stump
and Lit pipe, and with his rifle across
his knees fell to thinking about somo
mavericks he'd had branded that day.
Presently he imagined he heard a soft
step from the prairie. He raised his
head and listened. Just then the moon
showed rim beyond a sailing cloud.
and its light fell on a fgure-a wo1nan's
figure-making its way toward The cabin.
Stetson rose to his feet, letting his rife
butt drop on the ground, and curiously
surveyed tne N.u-4--,4-, ',.lU Was close 30
him now. II was the easterners s wife.
els he in there:" she said, her voice
trembling bit
"Yes," answered Stetson.
'tCan / see him?" she asked. "Only
for moment, she added.
"Can't do it, marin, " said Stetson.
For moment she was quiet, looking
longingly toward the cabin and claspinG