Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-10-13

was big tree, almost brushing the
| window. | kicked out the window sash
and simply jumped into the tree. 1t
was the only thing to be done Luckily
got my arm over limb, which sagged
with us and dropped us to the ground.
/ scrambled to my feet and ran, with
| the girl still hanging absolutely limp
and helpless over my shoulder | went
| straight for tho river with the intention
of jumping in. The heat was something
deadly 1t had driven away the men
who had been filing their buckets at
| the river.
"Just as l staggered down the river
bank saw skiff. Some one had prob
ably rowed across the river to the fire,
for the boat was not fastened drop
ped, with the girl, into the boat and
gave it u strong push out into the cur
rent, and in few seconds we We're
floating down stream and We're safe. "
"She had the canary, Isuppose?" said
the lightning dentist
ooh, yes. She was in dead faint,
but she hadn't let 60 of the cage. AS
soon as l recovered my breath and wet
my clothes in two or three places where
they were ON fire I splashed water in
the girls face and she recovered con-
seriousness, but she was SO fustered and
excited that she didn't know where she
was Or remember what had happened.
eve could look up the river and see
the burning house. 1t made a huge
blaze and threw bright glare across
the river. / remember the peculiar
| effect Of this glare on the windows Of
| the houses across the river. 1t caused
them to glow as if the houses were filled
with live flames. The girl was so fright
ened that she thought all the houses
| were afire.
"When I got ready to row back, I
discovered that hadn any oars The
current was swift, and we were drift
ing rapidly, so pulled out a seat board
and used it as rudder and in few
minutes made a landing near a house
occupied by a Mr.. Wesley. Miss Jaynes
was still SO weak and nervous that she
could hardly walk, but assisted her to
this house and aroused the inmates.
They would hardly believe my story at
first, but they could see the burning
house up the river, and they recognized
Miss Jaynes as soon as the lights were
brought.
"The woman of the house was very
kind. She cared for the young lady
tenderly for about two hours and had
one of the boys drive us back to Crosby
vile. Now, in the general excitement
we had forgotten that the people in Cros-
byville had no reason to believe that
we had escaped from the burning house
| Miss Jaynes said several times, / sup
pose father is wondering where l am,
| but she had no idea that he and all the
| others were convinced that we had per-
| ished in the flames. However, you
couldn't blame them for thinking So
| The window from which I had leapeG
| was well hidden by trees, and there was
no one at the river bank when we leaped
| into the boat We learned afterward
that the men had pulled down the burn
ing veranda and had planted ladder at
! the front window where we had been
seen, but the blaze was SO fierce that
| they had been driven back.
every one supposed, Of course, that
we We're lost, SO you can imagine what
happened when we drove up in front of
| the ruins about o'clock in the morn
ing. They were already searching for
our bodies. Yes, sir, they thought we
We're ghosts. AS soon as explained to
them how we got away you never heard
such cheering in your life. They lifted
Miss Jaynes out Of the wagon and took
her over to neighboring house to
which the captain had been taken. He
had been almost wild with grief. Those
who went over to the house say it was
one of the most affecting meetings that
could be imagined. First he wept like
a baby, and then he jumped up and
laughed like boy and said he didn t
care for the loss of his buildings SO long
as his daughter was safe. suppose his
daughter must have given him very
favorable account of my efforts in her
behalf, for presently he came out of the
house and walked up to where I was
standings and said: Mr. Horne, you
have done me the greatest service that
one man can do another. All that I
have is at your command now and for
ever. once did you an injustice. You
have repaid me. Will you take the hand
of man who honestly admits himself
beaten and humiliated?' I said to him:
Captain, you are brave and gallant
man, but you were mistaken for once.
Let us say no more about the misunder-
standing of the past We shook hands,
and from then forward we were friends.
He was man Of passions and preju-
dices, but if he came to know you and
like you he was the truest friend man
ever had.
"There's only one thing needed to
make that good story" suggested the
dentist. "You ought to say that you
married the captains daughter. "
II am not going to sacrifice truth in
order to make fancy romance. re-
piled "Doc. Chicago Record