Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-08-08

H1511g5%SM toward the south
west. Presently
ns they were crossing a wet bit o
land in hollow, Bill, who led th'
party, looked sharply at the hoofprint
sunk deep in the soil and reined VI
quickly.
'Look at thet shoe mark!" he ex
claimed, pointing downward at the
trail.
'By gunsi it's the Fasteners hos!
shosp' CALCULATED Sam Pike after az
instant's scrutiny of the hoof prints
among which were several larger thar
the rest and showing the clear impres.
of shoe The others were those ot
unshod horses. The party scanned the
marks closely. Then the men looked
ct each other with ugly frowns.
"Well?" said Bill, tentatively, al
last.
No ono answered for a moment
Then Sam remarked: '1t looks bad
for ther fastener, sure! tn haint
any one got boss shoes like them in the
district 'cept him. I'm sorry + tn
feller's put his head in ropes end,
boys. But we'll have ter foller him
up. Who'll go back"
A couple of the party volunteered.
The men separated. The others turned
their horses at right angles to the for
mer line of march and loped on toward
the Fasteners cabin.
The fastener, otherwise Jack
Craig, of which they had been speak
ing, had been in Sage Bar only a short
time. He was tenderfoot, out and
oct. When he came to the Bar he
brought his wife with him. She was q
bright, pretty little woman, but they
hardly knew her in the settlement.
Craig had always been reserved, and
the two had kept by themselves in the
little cabin which stood mile or more
away from town. So Sage Bar had
come to consider the pair "queer
lot, and to designate them IS 9TH
Fastener an his wife," which was in
tended to be anything but conpli-
mentary.
When the trailing party reined up
in front of CraiSs cabin they found
the object of their search sitting on
log before the door, smoking. From
his dress, bespattered with mud, it was
evident that he had just returned from
riding. The party exchanged glances
OF understanding.
Sam Pike came to the point at
once. "Craig," he said, eyer wanted
down ter tn BARI
"What's that?" demanded the
Easterner, angrily.
"Yer wanted down ter th' bari"
Sam repeated. "For hoss stealing!"
he added.
Craig's face vas afame in the instant
He sprang from his seat, throwing
back his hand to his hip. But the
others had him covered, and his hand
dropped loosely by his side again.
'It's lie, lie said, ''and you know
It'll"
Just then woman's figure appeared
in the cabin doorway. 1t WAS Crsigs
wife.
"What's the matter?" she queried
anxiously, seeing her husbands atti-
tude.
Craig spoke up quickly: GO back.
Dolly! They've got up a dirty story
about me and want me to go to the
Bar. But I'll come back all right in
little while"
Sam had great fear of women's
tongues and tears and Immediately
ordered Craig to mount a horse which
another man at word secured from
the stable near by. The woman had
looked on dumbly, seeming hardly to
comprehend what was taking place, but
es she saw her husband walk over
toward the horse, she ran to him and
threw both arms about him, holding
him tight to her. He unclasped her
arms gently after an instant and
mounted the horse and, turning in the
saddle, waved his hand to her. Then
they rode away, and after they had
gone piece Sam looked back and saw
the woman still standing there, her
hands loosely locked before her, watch
ing them with wide open eyes. "She's
worthy. and lashed his horse into q
gallop.
All Sage Bar crowded around the
party when they drew rein in town,
and there were some who would have
strung Craig up upon the spot when
Sam had told his story. Sage Bar was
in that stage of progress where horse
stealing was a capital offense and
short shrift was granted to offenders.
But Sans protest that nothing should
be done until the Hines party returned
was needed, and the prisoner was put
i'll an empty cabin, tied hand and foot,
several of the men agreeing to stand
guard.
The afternoon wuned away and even
Ing came and the Hines party did not
siake its appearance. So Craig was
given something TO eat nnd then wa1
fastened tightly once more, and the
men rolled themselves up in their
blankets In front of the cabin about
IL o'clock, leaving only Jo Stetson on
guard.
Stetson sat himself down on 4 stumd
and lit a pipe, and with his rife
across his knees fell to thinking about
some "navericks'' he'd had branded
that day. Presently he imagined he
heard soft step from the prairie. He
raised his head and listened. just
then the moon showed rim beyond
sailing cloud. and its light fell on n
fgure-a woman's fgure-making its
wsy toward the cabin. Stetson rose to
his feet, letting his rife butt drop on
the ground, and curiousIy surveyed
the woman. who was close to him now.
It waa the fasteners wife.
. 'Is he in there?" she said, her
voice trembling bit.
"Yes," answered Stetson.
''Can see him ?" she asked "Cnly
or o moment" she added.
For n moment she was quiet, looking
longingly toward the cabin and clasp
ing and unclasping her hands softly.
The man hoped she would go. He had