Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-08-23
CHAPTER TI-(Con.inued,

pees whose hives they have chosen for
uleir emblem. In the fields and In the
s'reets rose the same hum of
human industry. Down the dusty high.
roads dcfiled long streams of heavily
laden mules. all heading to the West
Tor the gold fever had broken ont in
California, and the overland route Law
ulrouSh the City of the Elect. There.
100 were groves OF sheep and bullocks
coming III from the outlying pasture
iahdS, n rains of tired immigrants,
men and horses equally weary of their
interlllIable journey. Through all this
motley assemblage, threading her way
with the skill Of an accomplished rider
lhere galloped Lucy Ferrier, her
race flushed with the exercise end
her long chestnut hair floating out
pehind her. She had a commission from
her father in the city, and was dashing
In as she had done many n time before
with all the fearlessness of youth
thinking only of her task and how
IL was to be performed. The travel
stained adventures gazed after her in
establishment, and even the International
Indians, j%ourneying in with their nell
try, relaxed their accustomed stoicism
as they maryelled at the beauty of tho
pale-faced maiden.
She had reached the outskirts of The
city when she found the roli blocked
py a great drove OF cattle. driven by
a half dozen Withholding herdsmen
from the plains. In her impotence she
endeavored to pass this obstacle by
pushing her horse into what appeared
IN no a pln Snarnn1p had Oh. 49,.
fairly into it, however, before the
beasts closed in behind her, and she
found herself completely imbadded 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 add
vantage Of every opportunity to urge
her horse on in the hope OF pushing
her way through the cavalcade. Tn
fortunately the horns of one of the
creatures, either by accident or design.
came in violent contact with the flank
OF the mustang and excited ii to mad
ness. In an instant it reared up upon
Its hind legs, with a snort Of rage,
and pranCCd and tossed in a way that
would have unSeated any but a most
skilful rider. Every plunge Of the eX-
cited horse brought it against the
horns again and goaded it 10 fresh
madness. 1t was all the girl could do
TO keep herself in the saddle, yet Il slip
would mean a terrible death under the
hoofs Of the unwieldy and terrified ami
mails. UnaccustOmed to sudden emer-
gencieS, her head began to swim. and
her grip upon the bride to relax.
ChOked by the rising cloud of dust and
by the steam from the struggling crea-
lures, she might have abandoned her
efforts in despair, but for a kindly voice
at her elbow which assured her OF as
%siStance. At the same moment a sin
envy brown hand caught the frightened
horse by the curb, and forcing a way
conditions in Hong Kong, according TO
the outskirts.
You're not hurt, | hope, miss" said
her preserver, respectfully.
She looked up at his dark. fierce 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.
sayage-looking young fellow. mounted
on a powerful roam horse, and clad IN
the rough dress Of a hunter, with a long
rifle slung over his shoulders. Il guess
you are the daughter Of joan Terrier,
he remarked. Il saw you ride down
from his house. When you see him, ask
him if he remembers the Jefferson
Homes of St. Louis. If he's the same
Ferrier, my father and he were 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. I'll do So he SAID;
"we've been in the mountains FOR TWO
months. and are not over and III
visiting condition. He must take us
as he finds US"
"He has n good deal to thank you Tor
and SO have l." she answered: hes
awful fond If me. If those cows had
iumped ON me he'd never got oyer
st." d.
"Naither would l." said her COM
panion. {, would
You! Well. / don't see that 1t Would
make much matter to you, anSho"'
You amt even a uleuu VI ou'
The Young hunters face grew SO
gloomy over this remark that Lucy
Ferrier laughed aloud.
ssThere. / didn't mean that she salu
"of course. you are a friend now lou
must come and see US. Now l must
nusb along, or father won't trust me
With his business any more. Good-py.
"Good-by." he answered, raising MS
broad sombrero and bending over the
TttIe hand. She wheeled her mustang
rornd, gave It a cut with her rldius
whjn. and darted away Gown .ne
road road in a rolling cloud OF dust
Youpg Jefferson Hope rode on WIN
his ~companions, gloomy and taciturh'
He and they had beer among tne Nc
voda Mountains prospecting Tor siiver,
ond were returning 10 Salt Lake oli
In the hope Of raising capitai ehouE,
- work some Iodes which they hau
discovered. He had been as Keen
anv ~ them upon the business uh,i
this sudden incident had drawn MS
tbouehts into another channel lne
sipht of the fair young girl' al ram
md wbolesome as the Sierra Dreehes,
IA stirred his volcanic, untameu
haart 70 its very depths. when sne
had vanished from his sight. ne reai
i1cd that a crisis had come In MS ne
md that neither silver specuiaaoh o
nor ony other questions couiu ever pu
ns,nb inheritance to him as TINS new