Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-06-06

lifeI now ing OUT. Here was the lon.
sand bar, ten feet wide, and stretch
!. ing across hardly an inch higher thar
| the watery surface
Warren was beginning to have som.
suspicious of Stoner, but not such a:
to lead him to doubt the simple iii
rections he had received The sane
bar looked safe, but within a few
| days the sea, as Stoner knew. hat
| swept it nightly, torn out the long
| compacted bar, and placed instead {
| quivering mass of quicksand. So
| treacherouS that not even a light foot
| ed rabbit could cross without beins
swallowed up and dragged bodily
| down Warren rode swiftly forward
He had crossed sand bars hundreds OF
times. Some horses would have beer
wiser, but the animal he rode had beer
bred in the valley. y
The approach to the bar was hard
for few yards as he galloped on
Suddenly, in one heart breaking
breathless descent, noiseless. but I'M
utterably dreadful Tow Warren's
horse went down, down, and the soft
Shiny sand came up to his name. He
shrieked out that CHASTITY cry of ap.
peal and agony that a desperate. dy-
ing horse will sometimes utter.
Tom knew the peril. He had thrown
his feet from the stirrups and drawn
them up at the first downward throb
but the sand began to grasp him, also.
He threw himself fat on his bre. st
and tore himself loose from the Door
animal, over whose back the mingled
sand and water was running, as it
rolled from side to side in ineffet tual
struggles to escape.
Tom spread himself out over as
much surface as possible, but slowly,
resistlessly, the mighty force drew him
downward. The hard beach was only
ten feet distant, but, practically, the
chaSm was impossible. He felt the
horse sink out of sight. The sand
gripped his own knees and arms, his
thighs and shoulders. Two inches
more and the end by suffocation was
inevitable. Up to this time the had
not shouted. Only his horses wild
death scream had told of the tragedy.
What was the use? Who would be
passing along that lonely road? Then
he thought of Tessa and Of life He
raised his voice in a clear, strong
shout for help, again and again re-
peated.
Far off, along the deep ravine, came
cry in response, and horses hurry
ing feet, and hope awoke in his heart
The margin of life was five minutes
now-not longer Faster, faster, oh
fearless rider!
''TOm, where are yOu?"
Here, Tessa. Don't come too near"
But the mountain girl knew the
danger Creeping down stairs for a
drink of water she had heard her
fathers words to Warren, had thrown
shawl about her shoulders and run
to the pasture. Then she caught her
pet horse, sprang upon his unsaddled
back, seized RATA as she passed the
stable, and galloped at the utmost
speed down the ravine, hoping against
hope, for many minutes had necessar-
lily elapsed since Warren started.
She Sprang to the ground and tossed
the raWhide rope to the one arm he
had above the sand. She folded her
sha wi and put it over her horses
shoulders, and tied the RATA around
like a collar. Then she led him slowly
a way from the quicksands, and War
rem thought his arm would break, but
slowly, reluctantly, painfully, the sand
gave up it's prey.
Your father told me to take this
road, Tessa," said the young sheriff.
Yes, l know that, and l heard one
of the men tell him today that the
bar was swept out"
There was a long silence between
them.
''Tessa, go with me to San Louis"
said Warren, ''and let US be married"
And Tessa went.
Old Stoner heard of the news few
days later. Within an hour LIE had
retired from business" The c.lmp was
broken up, the hunters disappeared,
lights flashed at intervals
all night from the points of the cliffs,
and the next day Stoner himself dis
leaving his family, the ranch
and the live stock.
1t was said that he made the best of
his way to Mexico and finally to South
America. The world is large as yet,
and men who have money can ramble
over a good deal of it without finding
a past they wish to escape from. But
Tessa lives in her San Louis Obispo
cottage, with orange trees over it and
La Marque roses on tho porch, and
thinks herself the happiest woman in
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Magazine.