The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-28
The Baby . B0Onncr. .
BY HERBERT D. WARD.
Copyright lsq6 by Bachelor, johnson and Bachelor

to gain on Caddy. For fully elSnt
miles they had run nip and tuck. The
desperado could not overtake the lead,
ing girl. In his anger the blood surged
into his eyes and blinded him. Caddy
was not ten rods ahead of him in di-
rect line He raised his Winchester
took rapid aim and blazed away. AT
which of the two had he fired? Alas.
which had he hit? Caddy's right arm
fell helpless. Jerry gave desperate
plunge in fright. The woman swayed-
faiptness seized her. and she fell
where she lay. Jerry. conscious of a
lighter weight, raced onward with the
renewed speed.
Now, the bold rider of the yellow hair
heard the shot She looked around and
took in the whole scene with her quick
eyes. With difficulty she reined her
wild horse and tried to intercept the
baby's perilous ride She set her teeth.
The wildness of her nature wrestled
with the womanly. This was her hour
of glory-that she, girl. should beat
thousands of men in the struggle for
land. What would she not do to stake
the first section on the northern banks
of the CimarrOn river? She could see
the sardonic and cruel smile of Grizzly
Jim as he gained upon her in mighty
bounds. But behind lay one of her own
sex, helpless perhaps dying.
Il guess I'll have to give it up"
The girl turned once more to the south
ward towards the promised land. and
then the adventures in her yielded
to the woman. She rode braVely back
to where the heap of mortality lay
close beside "A scraggly tuft of sage
bushes.
80, you ruftian!" She shook her fist
in the astonshed Jims face as she
l,i GnG Gh nj N-n1lnU-
The land shark turned and saw her
tenderly lift the fallen woman's head
upon her lap and kiss the tremulous
lips.
We'll. I'll be stewed, l didn't think
she had it in her: she's no slouch. you
bet" with that semi-colon of admira-
tion he spurred his hard-breathing
pony for the home stretch.
OF all the fertile spots in the CiTar-
ron valley. this was the greenest. So
at least a jaded horse thought as he
cropped the tender grass and paved
joyfully in the dark loan. He was
saddled: from a distance Il spade could
be easily distinguished secured length
ways along his side. A queer bundle
seemed to dance in the saddle, and one
might almost swear that tiny hands
Clutched the name from time to time.
appeared head. 1t had on it a broad
brimmed, mOuse-colored sombrero.
embroidered about the edge, with silk
cords dangling from the sides.
fierce, Scowling face peered down into
that quiet valley. The eyes scanned
it and then rested on the peaceful horse.
one hand nervously twirled a coarse,
black mustache. while the other played
with the trigger of a gun. Wonder was
.,x, ii in talt n from,
arch above the eyebrows to the mouth
which puckered itself in "a silent
whistle. The mouth did not look
cruel now. 1t Is strange how the lines
of tenderness and cruelty cross each
other. and how in some faces there is
implacable feud between the two.
lymph! If any SoJer or gown ment
cuss heZ got ahead q me. I'll have the
drop on him ez sure as he's a born
critter." Presently the look of wonder
increased to a curious astonishment:
IF it hain't the bebby! No use for
this he tapped a modern repeating
rifle ito git the land. you bet
GriZZly jim stood face to face with
Wee, the baby boomer. The child's
big violet eyes looked contidinSly upon
that reprobate.
"Di' me dink -watah." The tiny
face puckered as If 1t We're going to
cry. then controlled itself bravery.
where's mummer?'
For the firt time the thought of that
daStardly shot crossed Grizzly J1mS
mind He was SO used to deeds or
violence that they did not easily prick
his leather conscience What could he
do before a baby? Bravado was use
less. He looked into the trusting face
of the three -year-old girl. Then he did
the only thing he could. He took from
his holster tin canteen, went to the
brook and returned.
Tank co." cOOed the baby. Then
after IL short pause. during which
hundred expressions indicating indie
cision passed and repassed the mans
dark face, the child went on:
Take me down. Use tired
The strong arms tenderly unstrap-
ped the baby girl and he took her in