The Penn's Grove record., 1895-05-31

4M04 shSio "no nOpONJ
MsXgAAE on the place, even
E&Ma Z2I&& oldEelips having
wf&N4zb3Es thought well to
~ Nj give = herseif a
@AS 7A holiday while her
young mistresd
M(oU o. was away.
w So Grace un-
fastened the parcels from the tie
strings of her cowgirl Saddle, tossed
them into the kitchen, and, taking her
pony's bride over her arm, went to
the corral to put him up herself.
Grace had been but one year froA
the conventionalities, refinemens and
restrictions OF an Eastern home, where,
to all appearances, she was . thor.
ough-going society belle She had
come to Randall. n OF the Texaapan.
handle counties, to keep house on the
J-T ranch for her brothers, Jack and
Theodore; and she was o more fear
less rider, a better rustier and o more
complete all-tound ranch woman than
most Texas girls who had been born to
the life; to say nothing OF her lively
Enjoyment OF the whole thing.
! As she strolled down to the CORA
the sun, which was low beSsnd her,
ssnt a shaft OF light against the spent,
painting side OF ON unfamiliar pony
tied SO at it blocked the opening to
the corral; and before she could Jake
another stepa voice from within called
iereely: !.
"Who are you? Stop where yos
are, you cursed butchers! I've got
Twelve shots here for you'll"
Grace's first feminine impulse was =
fee to the house and barricads herself
against q lunatic. But the speech was
that of ono porsued rather than an
sggressor; then there was q bit OF
rising anger OF being ordered out OF
her corral.
"Who's in there?" she called SHARP
iy; 81 want to put my POM. up"
Eat the sound OF the gtrlish voice >
hand with . long, bloody scratch
across the knuokles, Reached : on,
sgainst the strange pony's side ana
pushed him back, n a tall, young
f&low stepped or rather staggered out
before her.
r He was covered with both duss and
nud, and the edge OF q blood.stafned
handkerchief showed beneath his COW.
bsy hat, which he made q faint move
M&nt to raise. But even IN such q
plight and despite the suspicious man
nsf OF his introductions theirs was the
~sii-nish ~ineffaceable 1ndicstiod OF thu
Nsll.bred ma about him. n
20, I'm sorry; did frightef youf
But I'm at the end OF my strtng. I'm
John Farris from over In San Miguel
Connty-cver In New Mexico There's
. crowd OF cowboys from away up to
The Strip after me, for a horse thief.
I'm not the man they want; but thsre'a
no reasoning. with them. They had
me this morning. That's where l got
this." lifting his hand to his bloody
handkerchief on his forehead. "They
VIII hang me a. sure y thsy put
hands on me, II they don't shoot me
as soon Is they get In pistol range.
You've only my word for it, but u
You can, help ine-help me quick
You'll be glad oft"
{/.I know who you are. aid qrncs.
This - TIE - ranch. Tn The sister
OF Jack Pendleton, who was up buy
ing cattle OF you last month. I'm the
only soul on the place TO help you.
/. What shall I do-what canI II Tell
1e quickly"
sit is the TRACKS" said FSrriA =,
see my pony's got o broken shoe and
fhaven't come across grass. Two been
In roads fer ten miles-svsr since !
got cross Deaf Smith, and Eve left
them q clear trail to follow. !. II there
was any one here to ride the pony on
and get rid Of him somehow, and you
would be willing TO hide me, they'd
90 past, eventually" I
CHOW much time havo wsr' aaked
Grace; then, as she looked At him,
oIinging white and faint 70 the corral
gate, 40, come in the house, and lie
Sownl I'll do something"