Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-09-28
CHAPTER II.
FORD AND QUICKSAND.

Arizony presently returned with a
brisk little broncho, upon the back Of
which she placed one of those old army
denominations known as ~ "McClellan
tree" Then she shortened one stirrup
and flung the other across the saddle.
Il must feed my chicks, poor things"
said she, suiting her actions to the words
and with sigh. The snakes and pos
sums will finish 'em up before l ever get
back, know
After that she fastened the door of her
dugout, laid pair of saddle bags upon
Browscr's back, and mounting a tree
trunk leaped to her seat before Stirling
could offer assistance. While hemount-
ed she rode to the edge of the timber and
looked back regrctfully upon the scene
she was leaving.
IF YOU weren't looking, Id cry-that's
what ] would" said she as he rode up.
at amt much of home, yet it's the
only one I've ever had that seemed like
mine"
Something like tears moistened and
softened the glitter of her dark eyes, yet
she dashed her hand impatiently across
her face. But before Philip could sym
pathize she piled some small spur so
effectually that Browser, switching his
tail, dashed madly away, nor paused for
half mile. Stirling followed more
leisurely, while the yellow cur trotted
sullenly in the rear.
BY the time Arizony drew up at the
summit of Il brown swell of the prairie
the moisture had vanished from her now
dancing eyes. In her face was deli
oious combination of color and sauci-
ness as she greeted him in bantering
tone.
"Well-if you amt slow one! Come,
yonder is Tenderfoot ford. My old saddle
agin yours that Browser gets there first"
Her temperament was very chame-
leonlike, lie thought. Ten minutes ago
almost sobbing over her blighted pros
pects-now blithe and eager for mad
cap horse race. Even the admiral 5
daughter, whose likeness at that moment
Stirling wore in locket at his watch
chain, might take a lesson from her in
color and vivacity. And yot-there was
no denying that Arizony was coarse.
In another moment the two were
careering wildly over scdge and buffalo
grass, regardless of the gopher holes and
marlnot burrows. The air sung briskly
in their ears, the sun bathed prairie
shone like dust besprinkled field of old
gold, and behind yonder timber fringe
lay Tenderfoot ford. The little spur
continued to tickle Browser into such
an abnormal state of activity that his
! L. 20, i oil ln ~
Uncle Sam Philip did ms utmost and
was gaining fast, but the distance was
too short. Arizony, waving her hand
disappeared among the trees and under
growth by the river, with Stirling still d
round space to the rear.
Seeing his chance gone he pulled III
and rode ieisurely, laughing to himself
the while, until shrill scream woke the
echoes amid the trees and startled lii
very soul Squirting forward, he dashe,
through the timber to the river bank
and his heart grew cold rs he saw Ari
zony's hat come floating by, but appar
emily no other sign visible either of tn,
girl OF her pony
Then. like a flash, he thought of th'
Quicksands above the ford. None bu
those who have witnessed their treach
erous power can fully realize the insidi
Gus tenacity Of these sands of death.
Guilelessly smooth and yellow-likc {
friendly hand lying open beneath tn
shallow waters-imperceptibly yet in
exorably they suck down their victim
whose struggles only assist the process
of entombment. The grip never relaxes
nor does the tawny horror ever give NJ
its dead.
Stirling dashed into the stream All,
looked around. \ dizziness made hin
reel for an instant at the bare idea o
that laughing, madc'p vision OF fyin.
skirts and curlsnom lying contorted an,
dumb beneath thB.fiyer's bed, lnIpossi
BILE. Too brief attihe had passed for 81