Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-02-05

, ~ 50 Grace un
fastened the parcels from the tie
strings of her cowgirl saddle, tossed
them into the kitchen, and, taking her
pony's bride over her arm, went to
the corral to put him up herself.
Grace had been but one year from
the conventionalities retinements and
restrictions of an Eastern home, where,
to all appearances, she was n thor.
ough-going society belle. She had
come to Randall, one of tine Texas pan
handle counties, to keep house on the
J-I ranch for her brothers, Jack and
Theodore; and she was more fear
less rider, n better rustler and more
complete all.round ranc h woman than
most Texas girls who had been born to
the life; to say nothing of her lively
enjoyment of the whole thing.
AS she strolled down to the corral
the sun, which was low behind her,
sent shaft of light against the spent,
painting side of an unfamiliar pony
tied so that it blocked the opening to
the corral; and before she could take
another stepa voice from within called
hercely:
"Who are you? Stop where you
are, you cursed butchers! I've got
twelve shots here for youl
Grace's first feminine impulse was to
flee to the house and barricade herself
against a lunatic. But the speech was
that of one pdrsued rather than an
aggressor; then there was bit of
rising anger at being ordered out of
her corral.
"Whos in there2" she called sharp
ly; 81 want to put my pony up.
AT the sound of the girlish voice
hand with long, bloody scratch
across the knuckles, reached out
against the strange pony's side and
pushed him back, and tall, young
fellow stepped OF rather staggered out
1 before her.
He was covered with both dust AMI
mud, and the edge of blood-stained
handkerchief showed beneath his COW
boy hat, which h made faint move
ment to raise. But even in such
/ plight, and despite the suspicious man
ner of his Introduction, there was the
well-nigh ineif'aceable indication of the
welI-bred man about him.
so, Pm sorry; did [ frighten you?
But I'm ut the end of my string. I'm
John Farris from over in San Miguel
County-over IN New Mexico There's
crowd of cowboys from away up in
The Strip after me, for horse thief.
I'm not the man they want; but there's
no reasoning with them. They had
me this morning That's where / got
this" lifting his hand to his bloody
handkerchief on his forehead. "Thev
will hang me as sure as they put
hands on me, if they don't shoot me
as soon as they get in pistol range.
You've only my word for it, but, if
you can, help me-help me quick.
You'll be glad of it.
81 know who you are, >" said Grace.
"This is the JT ranch. I'm the sister
OF Jack Pendleton, who was up buy
ing cattle OF you last month, I'm the
only soul on the place to help YOU.
"hat shall | do-wnat can L? Tell
me quickly"
1T Is the tracks" said Furris "I
see my pony's got broken ahoa orl
l haven't come across grass. I've baer
in roads fer ten miles-ever sinco 7
got across Deaf Smith, and I've lest
them n clear trail to follow. If ther,
was any one here to ride the pony or
and get rid of him somehow, and yo,
would be willing to hide me, they,
90 past, eventually.
"How much time have we?" aske,
', Grace; then, rs she looked at him
clin3ing white and faint to the cora
gate, 90, come i'll the house, AMI Ii
down. pll do something"
"No, I'll be all right" answere:
Farris,
"Im not much hurt. They're abou
two hours behind me, | think-I threw
them out that much this morning"
"Two hours" said Grace, lookin,
at the pony; then u thought fiashec
across her.
81 can do beth" said she, ego an
get rid of the in a way to blind thom
and get back in time to hide or dis
guise you some way, safely. and
can talk to them and get them away
Now go and rest" and she jumpe,
upon Rush once more, caught hi
pony's bride, which he tossed up t,
her, and hurried away rs fast as hi
tired little feet could go. "All tn
guns are in the office room," she callet
huck, as Farris's foot was on the door
step. Then dust and distance swal
lowed her mp.
Farris went in to find food. which