The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-01-26

RulsG you some way, bhlely. ana j
can talk to them and get them away.
Now go and rest" and she jumped
upon Rush once more, caught his
pony's bride, which ne tossed mp to
her, and hurried away rs fast rs his
tired little feet could go. "All the
guns are in the Office ROOM" she called
back, as Farris's foot was on the door
step. Then dust and distance swal-
lowed her up.
Farris went in to find food, which
he ate like furnished man; then the
guns, which he inspected, loaded and
laid handy, from time to time ques-
tiOning, with haggard eye, the trail
up which he had come
1t was cruel, hard task Grace In d
set herself. She argued with her pitt
full heart all the way; and averted her
eyes from the tired pony she was
leading, lest the sight of it should
blunt her purpose,
She rode, with all speed possible, to
the Punta dc Aqua, four miles south
east OF the ranch, and now running
bank full and furious, OF a red rise.
Once there she tried to force Farris 6
pony into the creek, and when he re-
fused to take water alone, she guessed
desperately at her chances, took her
life in her hands, and drove her own
frightened and reluctant horse in,
with spur and quirt dragging the other
after her.
When she had gotten them both in.
to the stream edge she held Rush back,
and sent the other ahead with a sharp
lash of her quirt When she was well
into the current she drew her small
revolver from her saddle pocket, aimed
carefully at his head, and, setting hen
teeth in n sort of agony over the
cruelty Of the deed, shot him.
The swift, red, muttering waters
caught MIN, whirled him round and
hurried him away, down stream.
Grace fought her way out and it was
all she could do. She rode home
across pastures at hard pace, Will
the courage and tirelessness Of n man.
but with her heart aching and hel
eyes half blinded with wonanly tear.
over the fate of the poor, tired little
pony.
No reasoning nor phiiosophizinl
Nvailed 80 soothc her shocked anC
smarting scnsibilities. 1t was the &C
itself that hurt her 50, the act, tina
seemed like a treacherous murder o
the willing creature that had helpec
you through thus for.
But she had short time to dwell Of
, the matter OF grieve herself over II
| As she came laundering down towar,
the ranch house, at 4 full run, an,
/ bending low in the saddle, she saw
t above slight rise that hid from he
trail up which Farris had come, an
, hid her flying figure from anyon
t travelling it, line of dust that ind
5 Gated several riders, approaching at
4 moderate pace.
f They were about mile distan
{ from the house, on the west, she tn
same distance AWAY on the southeast
q Gould she make it il time? Sh
would--she must!
D Good help me-" she gasped; "Go
. defend the right Come, Rush" an
t bonding yet closer over him, bracin
I herself firmly in the saddle, she du
z the spur deep into Rush's side, at tn
{ same time bringing down the quirt
again and again, with the whol
/ strength of her arm.
/ The horse. which was good on,
70 and whose ability to make q splcndi
b dash had given him his name, at sue
a savage and unnccustomed punishmer
l. sprOng forward i'll pain and frigh
Q and ran the mile that separated thel
c from the man whose life hung upo
their help in long, convulsive leaps
? like wounded deer.
n She dropped the rein on his rec
j aud threw herself off him as he stoppe
3 at the door and he wheeled and ra
II to the corral, every limb shaking.
/. "They're coming" she gasped,
S she staggered in to Farris, crampe,
d trembling and dizzy from her terrib
It ride.
Y Il know il, he said, quietly. &C
y into the further room I'll fight it on
1t this is cruelty hard on you"
10 The food and rest had steadied hin
3. his face was washed, his wound hour
if up decently; and us he glanced ov
(. his arsenal, rose mp to the height
his six feet, and turned very viii
2. but manly and determined face iowa
" her; he was decidedly afgurc toplea
Y woman's eye and touch woman
lie sympathies.
l.. 80, horrible!" she cried. ''No, n,
il you wouldn't have any chance at all
you'd be shot down like-oh
4 Come, she drew him with her
ID the kitchen, and dragged out from
N little room beyond some womel
| clothing. she hurried calico DIRE
n onto him. bOund n red Mexican han