Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-12-13

pushing her horse into what appeared
10 be a gap. Scarcely had she 60,
fairly into it, however. before the
beasts closed in behind her. and she
found herself completely ;mhadded in
the moving stream of fierce-eyed. long
horned bullocks. Accustomed as she
was to deal with cattle. she was not
alarmed at her situation. but took adj
vantage of every opportunity To urge
her horse on in the hope of pushing
her way through the cayalcade. Tn
fortunately the horns OF one of the
crea lures. either by accident OF design
came in violent contact with the 1ank
of the mustang and excited it TO mad
ness. In an instant it reared up upon
its hind legs, with snort Of rage.
and pranccd and tossed in way that
would have unseased any but most
skilful rider. Every plunge Of the e1-
cited horse brought il against the
horns again and goaded ii to fresh
madness. 1t was all the Girl could do
TO keep herself in til, saddle. yet a slip
would mean q terrible death under the
hoofs Of the unwicldy and terrified ami
mails. Unaccustone,i 10 sudden emer-
gencies. her head began TO swim. and
her grip upon the bride to relax.
ChOlled by the rising cloud OF dust and
by the steam from the struggling cred
lures. she might have abandoned her
efforts in despair. hut for !, kindly voice
al her elbow which, assured her of as
sistance. AT the same moment Il sin
envy brown hand caueiii the frightened
horse by the curb and forcing Il way
conditions in Hong Kong. according to
the outskirts.
You're not huri. l hope. miss" said
her preServer. respectfully.
She looked up a his dark. fierc.- face.
and laughted saucily. I'm awful fright
ened." she said. naively: whoever
would have thought that Poncho would
have been SO scared by a lot of cows
Thank God you kept your seat the
other said. earnestly. He was a tall.
strengthening young fellow. mounted
on a powerful roam horse. and clad in
the rough dress of a hunter. with long
rife slung over his shoulders. Il guess
you are the daughter of JOIN Ferrier."
he remarked. Il saw you ride down
from his house. When you see him. ask
him if he remembers the Jefferson
Hopes of st. Louis. If he's the same
Ferrier, my father and he We're pretty
thick
Hadn't you better come and ask
yOurSelf? she asked. demurely.
The young fellow seemed pleased at
the suggestion, and his dark eyes spark
led with pleasure. Ill do So he said;
we've been in the mountains for two
months. and are not over and above in
visiting condition. He must take us
as he finds us.
He has good deal to thank you for.
and so have t. she answered: hes
awful fond Of me- If those cows had
jumped on me he'd never got over
it,
Neither would t. said her COM
panion.
You! Well, don't see that it would
make much matter to you. anyhow.
You amt even a friend of OURS
The young hunters face grew so
gloomy over this remark that Lucy
Ferrier laughed aloud.
There, didn't mean that" she said:
"of course, you are friend now. You
must come and see us. Now l must
push along. or father won't trust me
with his business any more. Good-by-
"Good-by," he answered, raising his
broad sombrero and bending over the
little hand. She wheeled her mustang
round, gave it cut with her riding
whip, and darted away down the
broad road in rolling cloud Of dust
Young Jefferson Hope rode on with
MS companions. gloomy and tacitl1rn
He and they had been among the Ne
vada Mountains prospecting for silver.
and were returning to Salt Lake City
IN the hope Of raising capital enough
to work some lcdes which they had
discovered. He had been as keen as
any OF them upon the business until
this sudden incident had drawn his
thoughts into another channel. The
sight of the fair young girl. as frank
and wholesome as the Sierra breezes
mad stirred his volcanic. untamed
heart to its very depths. When she
had vanished from his sight. he real
lied that crisis had come in his life.
and that neither silver speculations
nor any other questions could ever be
OF such Importance to him as this new
and au-absorbing one. The love which
mad sprung up in his heart was not the
sudden, changeable fancy of boy.
out rather the wild. fierce passion Of a
man of strong will and imperious tenn
per. He had been accustomed to sue
coed in all that he undertook. He
swore in his heart that he would not
fail in this If human effort and human
perseverance could render his suit
successful.
He called on John Terrier that night
and many times again until his face
was familiar one at the farmhouse
John. cooped up in the valley and abb
sOrbed in his work. had little chance
OF learning the news of the outside
world during the last twelve wears.
All this Jefferson Hope was able to
tell him, and in style which interest
ed Lucy as well us her father. He
had been pioneer in California, and
could narrate many strange tale of
fortunes made and fortunes lost in
those wild, halcyon days. He had been
scout, too, and u trapper. silver ex-
plorer, and a ranchman. Wherever
stirring adventures were to be had.
Jefferson Hope had been there in
search of them. He soon became
1avorite with the old farmer, who
spoke eloquently Of his virtues. On
such occasions Lucy was silent. but
her blushing cheek and her bright.
happy eyes showed only too clearly
that her young heart was no longer