St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-01-11

She said she was living on ranch
near here"
The marshal scorned such cred
ulity. "Why, | know every ranch
around for miles and have never
seen that woman. Starr has wife
and I'll bet anything that is she.
But they must be hard pushed to
trade on such dangerous ground"
Lets follow them" suggested
Forrest, as he ran around to get his
horse.
"All right" answered the marshal.
But we must take c1rcultous
route or our bird will escape. That
woman rides like an Indian, l hear.
Will you fellows join us?'' he in
quired Of his companions.
Half of them volunteered, the
others pleaded important engage
ments when they thought of their
families, for they knew only too well
what desperate criminals the STAIRS
were
The marshal warned his friends
that some of the gang were no doubt
| lowering about, waiting for the
| woman to return; so they all start
ed out well-armed with pistols and
rifles.
Mamie was thoroughly enjoying
herself as she cantered on. The
breeze which had sprung up cooler
in the last half hour was very re-
| freshing after the long, warm day.
I She could guide the bay by the
slightest touch as they swung along.
What do yon want for him ~
she asked, thinking what a good
| hunter he would make.
Il couldn't take less than $500.
He is really worth much more"
Mamie gasped III fright at such a
price. She couldn't afford half the
amount just then, because she had
been unusually extravagant lately,
so she gave up all hope Of owning
him, with sigh of despair. Sudden
| ly the little dealer wheeled around
with a subdued Spanish oath, for
she saw that they were being fol-
| lowed.
Would you like to let him QUITO
speed him % she asked, as calmly
az possible under the circumstances.
Yes, that would be delig htlul,"
Mamie answered innocently, and
soon she was going at full gallop,
with the little dealer in the lead,
who sent her horse along in the
most astonishing way. She did not
know her lover and friends were in
hot pursuit. and laughed gleefully
when she saw how swift the horse
was; so she urged him on quite un-
conscious of her danger. The wom-
an made straight for a piece of tim
Der by the river side, but the bay
SHE'D at an alligator which was
basking in the sun on the bank, and
as he SHE'D, Mamie saw the body of
hOrsemen coming after them at full
speed.
Let's pull up; l think see Mr..
Fairfax" she called out breathless-
ly, for she was not as "ft' as she
might have been.
With another Spanish oath the
woman turned and caught her horse
by the bride and galloped away
/ faster than ever, dragging the bay
with her Mamie was so astonished
that she made no resistance, and
side by side the two women galloped
on. Some wild looking men who
had been concealed in the wood
joined them, but no word was pass
ed. A ball whizzed by and the sharp
report OF a rife rose above the thun-
der of the horses boots. Firing
was kept up thick and fast by the
pursued and the pursuers.
The woman kept her horse in the
rear of her companions, pulling Nan
ME with her as a sort of shield to
protect them from the bullets.
Mamie struggled to get away from
! her hold, but soon saw how useless it
was, for the little brown hands were
as strong as a mans, SO she aban-
doned herself to her fate, swaying
! from side to side in the saddle half
dead with fright. She could hear
| her friends gaining on them and tried
| to be brave.
Starr, the leader of the gang and
a half breed Indian, cried out,
| "Hurrah! the marshal's bit the
| dust !" as the smoke of his rife clear
| ed, and she knew that one of her
friends had been killed.
Ping, ping, ping, echoed the led as
| it flew about them. The outlaws
yelled with triumph as one or two
brave fellows dropped.
Mamie did not even scream, but
| few on like one in a dreadful night
mare, led by the cruel little brown
| hand that never relaxed its grip on
the bride.
Then she felt sharp pain in her
| arm. The river, sky and prairie
| heaved like a stormy ocean, and she
| tainted.
Forrest Fairfax had fired the ball
| which struck his sweetheart. He
| had intended it tor one of the out
| laws When he sd w Nellie fall off in
helpless heap his heart misgave
him, and he thought she was dead,