Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-10-05


women on the moors in Scotland.
Good evening" lady. heard this morn
ing down at the ranch that you are look
ing for a saddle horse, so I've brought one
to show you"
Mamie walked out on the grass to ex-
anime the beautiful animal closely She in
sisted on mounting, and in a moment was
in the saddle.
II shall only be gone for an hour, For
rest" she called back as they broke into
q canter.
He was standing in small group of
men who had collected on the lawn in
front of the house. One of them was a
United States deputy marshal from Little
Rock
''Great Caesar, but think I've hit It'll"
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"
1.-THE same, he answered. Did any Of
you recognize that bay which Miss Leath-
erbury is riding'"
mo, can't say I did," they replied,
looking puzzled.
"Well, that is one of the horses which
the Starr gang cut out from the San Diego
herd with a lot of others. This one isn't
branded, but knew him by the white
blaze on his forehead the moment saw
him."
"Let's follow them," suggested Forrest
as he ran around to get his horse.
"All right" answered the marshal.
"But we must take circuitous route, or
our bird will escape. That woman rides
like an Indian, hear. Will you follows
join usP" he inquired Of his companions.
Mamie was thoroughly enjoying herself as
she cantered on. The breeze which had
sprung up, cooler in the last half hour,
was very refreshing after the long warm
day. She could guide the bay by the least
touch as they swung along.
"What do you want for himf she asked,
thinking Of what good hunter he would
make.
II couldn't take less than $500. He Is
really worth much more"
Mamie gasped in fright at such price.
She couldn't afford half the amount just
then because she had been unusually ex-
travagant lately, so she gave up all hope
of owning him with sigh of despair.
Suddenly the little dealer wheeled around
NlOh q ouDuuOu CpoIAAolA OhOAii AO4 phO Dc"
that they were being followed
"Would you like to let him QUITO speed
himr she asked as calmly as possible I'M
der the circumstances.
"Yes, that would be delightful" Nan
ME 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.
The woman made straight for piece of
timber by the riverside, but the bay SHE'D
quickly 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 top speed.
Lets pull up. think I see Mr.. Fair
fax" she called out breathlessly, for she
was not as "1lt" as she might have been.
With 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 passed. A ball whizzed by,
and sharp report of rifle rose above the
thunder of the horses hoofs
The woman kept her horse in the rear
Of her companions, pulling Mamie with
her, as a sort of shield to protect them
from the bullets.
Mamie struggled to get away from her
hold, but soon felt how useless 1t was for
her little brown hands were as strong as q
mans, SO she abandoned herself to her
fate, swaying from side to side in the sad
die half dead with fright.
Starr, the leader of the gang, who was a
half breed Indian, cried out, "Hurrah, the
marshal's bit the dustl' as the smoke OF
his rifle cleared away, and she knew that
one of her friends had been killed.
| Mamie did not even scream, but flew
on like one in dreadful nightmare, 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 ]
stormy ocean, and she tainted.
Forrest Fairfax had fired the ball which
struck his sweetheart. He had intended
1t for one Of the outlaws.
When he saw Mamie fall off In help
less heap, his heart misgave him, and he
thought she was dead, as the gang thought
also, for they did not stop a second in
their race for life, and soon disappeared
over the plains.
They found, as they bore Mamie back
to her sisters house, that 1t was only q
flesh wound in her left arm, which soon
healed, and she was as well and strong as
ever in few days, but very much shaken,
Of course, by her bandit adventure.
Two or three weeks ago, when Mamie
and Forrest were on their wedding tour In
Colorado, they were not at all surprised to
read in the Denver papers that the notori.
GUS Starr gang had been captured in Colo
RADIO Springs, and with them the little
horse dealer, who turned out, as the un.
fortunate marshal had supposed, to be the
wife of the chief-Exchange.