The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-03-13

dreds Of times. Some horses would have
been wiser, but the animal he rode had
been bred in tho valley.
The approach to the bar was hard for
a few rods as he ealloped on. Suddenly,
in one heartbreaking, breathless de-
scent, noiseless, but unutterabiy dread
full, Tom Warren's horse went down.
down, and the soft, shiny sand came up
TO his name He shrieked ont that
ghastly cry of appeal and agony that a
desperate, dying horse VIII sometimes
utter.
Tom knew the peril. He had thrown
his feet from tho stirrups and drawn
them up at the first downward throb,
but the sand began to grasp him also.
Ho threw himself fiat on his breast and
tore himself loose from the poor animal.
over whose back tho mingled sand and
water were running. as it rolled from
side 20 side in ineifectual struggles to
escape.
Tom spread himself out over rs much
surface as possible, but slowly, resist
lessly, the mighty force drew him down.
ward. The hard beach was only ten feet
distant, but practically the chasm was
impossible lie felt the horse sim, ont
of sight The sand gripped his own knees
and arms, his thighs and shoulders.
Two inches more, and the end by sUffo-
cation was inevitable Up to this time
he had not shouted. Only his horses
wild death scream had told Of the trag-
edy. What was the use? Who would be
passing along that lonely road? Then ne
thought of Tessa and of life. He raised
mis- voice in a clear, strong shout for
help again and again repeated.
Far Off along the deep ravina came a
cry in response and q korso's hurrying
feet, and hope awoke in his heart. The
margin of life was five minutes now
not longer. Faster, faster, OH, fearless
riderl
''Tom, where are you:"
Here, Tessa Don't come too near"
But the mountain girl knew the dam
ger Creeping down stairs for drink Of
water, she'had heard her father words
to Warren, had thrown a shawl about
her shoulders and run to the pasture.
Then she caught her pet horse, spraug
upon his unsaddled back, seized a RATA
as she passed the stable and galloped
at the utmost speed down the ravine,
hoping against hope, for many minutes
had necessarily elapsed since Warren
started.
She sprang to the ground and tossed |
the rawhide rope 10 the one arm he held |
above the sand. She folded her shawl |
and put it over her horse S shoulders and |
tied the riata around like collar. Then |
she led him slowly away from the quick !
sands, and Warren thought his arm |
would break, but slowly. reluctantly, |
painfully, the sand gave up its prey.
Your father told me to take this |
road, Tossa," said the young sheriff.
''Yes, | know that, and l heard one
of the men tell him today that the bar
was swept out. "
There was long silence between /
them.
''Tessa, go with me to San Luis"
said Warren, land let Us be married. -
And Tessa went
Old StOncr heard the news q few days
later. Within an hour he had retired .
from business. " The camp was broken
up, the hunters disappeared, mysterious
lights flashed at intervals all night from {
the points Of the cliff. and the next day
old Steiner himself disappeared, 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. Bat
Tessa lives in her san Luis Obispo cot
tage, with orange trees over it, and La
Marque roses on the porch, and she
thinks herself the happiest woman in
California. a.-Belford's Magazine.