Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-11-03
CHAPTER Ii.


Once within the friendly shadows Of
the long belt Of pines, Mrs. Baker kept
them until she had left the limited set
Element of Laurel Run far To the right,
and came upon an open slope OF Burnt
Ridge. where she knew 10 Simmons
mustang, Bluc Lightning, would he
quietly feeding She had often ridden
him before. and when she had detached
the iiity-foot RATA from his hcadstail.
Inc permitted her the further recognized
familiarity Of twining her fingers in his
BLUSH manc and climbing on his back.
The tool shed of Burnt Ridge tunnel,
where JOS saddle and bride always
hung. was but Il cantcr further on. She
reached il unpcrccivcd. and--another
trick Of the old days quickly extern
Mexican tree. with its high cautlc and
horn bur and the aid of blanket.
Then lcaping to her seat she rapidly
threw of her mantle, tied IL by its
sleeves around her waist. tucked il under
one knee and let il fall over her horses
tanks By this time liluc Lightning
was also struck with lash of equine
recollection. and prickcd up his ears.
Mrs Baker uttered u little chirping cry
which he remembered. and the next
moment they were both careering over
the ridge.
The trail that she had taken, though
prccipitatc. difficult and dangerous in
places. was clear gain Of two miles on
the stage road There was less chance
~ her being followed or meeting any
one The greater canyons were already
in shadow: the pines on the further
ridge were separating their masses, and
showing individual silhoucttcs against
the sky. but the air was still warm. and
the cool breath OF night. us she well
;;ncw IL. had not yet begun to tlow
down the mountain The lower range
OF Burnt Ridge was still uncclipsed by
the creeping shadow Of the mountain
ahead Of her Without watch. but
with this familiar and slowly changing
dial spread out before her, she knew
the time 70 n minute Heavy Tree hill,
lesser bright in the distance, was al
ready wiped out by that shadowy index
dngcr--half past seven! The stage
would be ut Hickory Hill Just before
halfpast eight; she ought To anticipate
IT, II possible--i Il would stay ten minutes
To change horses-she must arrive be-
fore II left!
There was good two.mile level be-
fore the rise OF the next range. Now,
IIluc Lightning All you know! And
that was much-for' the little chip hat
and lluttering ribbons well bent down
over the BLUSH name, aud the stream
ing gauze Of her mantle. almost level
with the horses back. swept down
across the long table-land like skim
ming bluejay. A few more bird-lilSe
dips up and down the undulations and
then came the long. cruel ascent Of the
Divide.
Acrid with perspiration, caking with
dust, slithering in the slippery impal-
pable powder OF the road. groggily stag
gering In q red. dusty dream. coughing,
snorting. head tossing. becoming sud-
| OtOly utlccbcu. WIN NNuuChiAB hNdhSh
and limp legs on easy slopes. or wildly
spasmodic and agile on sharp accliv-
tiles. and Blue Lightning began TO have
ideas and recollections' All! she was q
devil for n lark-this lightly-clinging,
;aressing. blarneying cooling creature
up thcrel He remembered her now.
Tia. very well. then Hoop lai And.
suddenly lcaping out like n rabbit
bucking. trotting hard. ambling lightly.
walking on three legs and recreating
himself --as only Californian mustang
could the invincible Blue Lightning
at last stood triumphantly upon the
summit The evening star had Just
pricked itself through the golden mist
81 the horizon line--eighi o'clock She
could do Il nowl But here. suddenly. her
arxs hesitation seized her She knew
her horse. she knew the trail. she knew
| tfrsslf but did she know the man
20 whom she was riding7 A cold chill
crspf over her. and then she shlvered In
] sudden blast; Il wns night 81 last.