The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-28

| uoNu III biS rochlnB cnuir on the veran
da of long, rambling, two storied houss
which nestled In q garden abloom Will
semitropical plants and trssA down BY u
Rcd river, Texas.
why did they send me such an nm
broken bessti I'm not . circus ridsr: BE-
sides no girl on earth could sit such I
chain lightning performer.
Forrest Fairfax was sitting on the We
randa railing smoking pipe.
1T was the best they had, Nan, 70 thx
livery stable keeper told me"
just at that moment her attention was
drawn TO dark object, which drew nearer
and nearer over the prairie. Tho object
proved to DO two horses A woman rode
one and led the other
The woman halted In front of the house
and in atwinkle jumped of and advanced
to the steps, leading the horses, with q
bright smile on her tanned face
Mamie noticed that she was very young
NOT more than 10 or IL at the most. She
wore brown breeches and boots Her short
cloth skirt was similar to those worn BY
women on the moors In Scotland.
GOOD evening, lady. hoard shis morn
ing down at the ranch that you are look.
ing FOR saddle horse, % I've brought ono
to show you"
Mamie walked out on the grass Co ex.
anime the beautiful animal closely She in
sisted on mounting, and in . moment was
in the saddle.
II shall only be gone for an hour. For.
rest, p" she called back as they broke into
q cantcr.
He was standing In a small group of
mon who had collected on the lawn I'm
front OF the house. One Of them was a
United States deputy marshal from Little
Rock.
Great Caesar, but think I've hit it,,
the marshal muttered as he gazed after
the retreating forms of the two women. I
believe I'm on the trail of the Starr gang"
What, those outlaws from the Indian
Territory"
The same" he answered. Did any Of
you recognize that bay which Misc Ieath.
erbury is riding'"
"No, can't say I did," they replied.
looking puzzled.
We'll, that is one OF the horses which
the Starr gang cut out from the San Diego
herd with lot of others. This one isn't
branded, but l knew him by the white
blaze on his forehead the moment saw
him.
Lets follow them" suggested Forrest
IS he ran around TO get his horse.
All right" answered tho marshal.
y But We must take circuitous route, or
our bird will escape. That woman rides !
Ike an Indian, l hear. viii you fellows /
oin usf' he inquired Of his companions.
Mamie was thoroughly enjoying herself as |
The cantered on. The breeze which had /
sprung up, cooler In the last half hour.
vas very refreshing after the long warm
lay. She could guide the bay by the least
ouch as they swung along.
What do you want for himf" abe asked.
Of what good hunter he would
make
II couldn't take less than $500. He Ia
eally worth much more"
Mamie gasped In fright at such q price.
She couldn't afford half the amount Just
hen because she had been unusually ex-
ravagant lately, 20 she gave up all hope
4 owning him with sigh Of despair.
suddenly the little dealer wheeled around
vith subdued Spanish oath, for she saw
hat they were being followed.
would you like to let him QUITO speed
nm, sne asked as calmly a. possible un-
er the circumstances.
"Yes, that would be delightful. /" Nam
lie answered innocently and soon shs was
DING at full gaiiop, with the fitt,e dealer
the lead, who sent her horse along In
ne most astonishing way. F
The woman made straight for pieoe of
mbcr by the riverside, but tho bay SHE'D
uickly at an alligator which was baking
the sun on the bank, and as he SHE'D
annie saw the body Of horsemen coming
ter them at top speed
Lets pull up. think nee Mr. Fair
Y, she called out breathlessly, for she
as not as "ft" as she might have been.
With Spanish oath, the woman turned
I'D caught her horse by the bride and
alloped away faster than ever, dragging
70 bay with her.
Mamie was so astonishcd that she
ade no resistance, and side by side tho
70 women galloped on.
some wild looking men, who had been
ncealed In the wood, Joined them, but
word was passed. A ball whisasd by,
ID sharp report of rife rose above the ]
under Of the horses hoofs.
The woman kept her horse In the rear
her companions, pulling Mamie with
r, as sort Of shield to protect them
,m the bullets.
Mamie struggled to get away from her n
ia, but soon felt how useless 10 waa, for
little brown hands were as strong as a
ms, 30 she abandoned herself to her
e, swaying from side to side In the sad .
half dead with fright.
Starr, the fesaer Of the gag, who vusx
II breed Indian, cried out, "Hurrsh, the
Arshal's bit the dusti' as the smoke of a.
rifle cleared away, and she knew that y
Q OF her friends had been killed. =
Sann'e did not even scream, but few
like ono In dreadful nightmare. led
tho cruel little brown hand that never z
nred It's grip on the bride M ~
Then she felt sharp pain In her arm.
river, sky and prairie heaycd like a
rmy ocean, and she tainted.
Forrest Fairfax had fred the ball which
ick his sweetheart. He had intended :
or one Of the outlaws s.f7I =
When he saw Mamie fall OF In q heIp-
heap, his heart misgave him, aud ne
ught she was dead, as tho gang Thought
}, for they did not stop second in r
y race for life, and soon disappeared U
: the plains. =,
hey found, as they boro Mamie back
her sisters house, that u was only : -
, wound In her left arm, which soon