The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-08-11

trail, Or they could imagine a crippled
horse, whose rider, to put it out of its
misery, had had to shoot it. And then
a picture of the rider, attempting tC
make camp across .he sun-parched
desert on foot, would pass before their
mental vision. And SO the long night
hours wore away, with nothing more
alarming than these reverics to dis
turb them.
1t was not until an hour after sun.
rise that anything was seen of either
Jack or the Indians, and then both
came together.
Far away 70 the north a mere black
speck appeared moving over and
around, and in and out among the
hills of sand, gradually growing
larger and larger. Close behind this
object vas a cloud of dust out of which
came a band of horsemen.
"Apaches."
The exclamation explained it. Ger
tainly trained eyes could never mis-
take them even at that great distance.
Clearly the first object was not a
horseman, it was too near the ground
for that; neither could it be Il man
afoot for the progress was much more
rapid than could be made by 4 man
running. The distance between the
two objects did not materially lessen.
The latter were undoubtedly Indians,
but whether the former was Jack or
not, they could not make out. If it
was, he was most certainly riding a
strange mount instead of his BesS, the
swiftest and pluckiest little horse in
the carroll.
There WAS evidently trouble ahead for
them all. The men at the camp were
prepared To sell their lives dearly if
escape was impossible.
But aid was nearer than they
thought. In the ~ravine, Il half mile to
the west. a troop of ~bluc-coated cavalry
was forming.
Forward guide enter march"
The captains voice ran- out as clear
is if ordering his men To Il dress
parade instead of an encounter with
the terrors of the southwestern plains.
"Gallop-March. Charge"
The line Of hardy troopers with
raised sabers anne down at right an
giles upon the path of the Indians and
their intended victim.
The red devils saw the trap they
had fallen into and. with half Il dozen
parting shots, they wheeled their po-
MES and started for the north again.
But it was too late for the trooper
We're onto them. and the few who es-
capped in safety to the reservation had
learned l. lesson they did not soon for
get.
As Cor Jack-for it was Jack.
mourteu on Il pncumatic-tired safety
as soon as he saw that help had ar
rived; that his long race was over. and
that he had won. rolled over, entirely
exhausted, onto the ground.
We will take Jacks story OF his trip.
as related to the boys. after he had re-
vived that morning. as an explanation
of his strange experience.
Il suppose you're looking at that
affair | rOde in on, and wondering
what sort of Il thing it is, where |
gathered it in, and whether it would
be an good as Il COW pony or not"
said Iac!,. By way of Introduction to
his story.
We'll. boys, it's quite an experience.
and. Atkins. ii you will kindly favor
me with Il bracer from that flask of
yours to wash dOwn a bit Of this ARR
iona sand, which that deviiish thing
has Lodged in my throat. will relate
it. by the way, you might dish up Il
goodly supply of the most wholesome
food You have, as have been living
principally on hope for the past few
hours.
Now I'm ready. Are YOU? If so.
here goes. As a beginner. | will COM
mence back Il few years. In this end
ii the world | am known as Jack An
drews, a poor devil of Il 10Y puncher,
with about money enough each month
to carry me through one night at po-
ker, if | don't play too much loser
from the start, and to buy an occa-
sional drink for myself and friends.
BY the way, Atkins. another drink
that flask of yours wouldn't be
bad. Thanks.
But, boys, like yourselves, wasn't
always a COW puncher. Once upon a
time | wore dude clothes in New York
and, while | didn't ride a thing
just like that. | rode something SINH
lar, and which answered the same pur-
pose. None of you have been away
from a civilized community so long
but that you can remember one of
those things they called n bicycle.
although they were not very numer-
Gus in our days. Well, hat thing
there. according to my way of think
ing, must be a new-fangled bicycle.
As | was saying, l rode Il bicycle
over New iork city streets in the
days when l was younger thar | am
now. Mine was what they called q
tifty-eight-inch wheel; that is, Il big
wheel tifty-eight inches high. with
the pedals fastened to it. and 4 small
one that travelled along behind. In
those days the governor was a broker
Wall street. with money enough
to buy half of this blasted territory.
Coin was rolling into his Office vaults
hand-over-tist, and | rolled it ont
again at about the same pace. until
along in 1877, when it became SO
that the governor had to shut