The evening times., 1897-01-18

sharp blow with the quirt, she again flew
after them, and this time landed them in
the corral.
About a year a go the young W oman had
a narrow escape from freezing to death
on the open prairie. It came about in this
way: Hearing that one OF her fathers
horses that had been missing for some
time had been seen on the Cheyenne River,
she Sadded the best horse in the corral
and set out upon an eighty mile ride after
the stray broncho. Sheleft the home ranch
early in the morning, and rode gayly away
over hills and draws that were COW
cred with withered but nutritious alkili
grass, past punches of horses and cattle
that looked up in surprise at the un-
usual sight OF human being, and along
trails made by Indians long before the
most adventurous rancbman had dared 10
meade the territory. Ever !thing passed
off pleasantly until nearly sundown, when
suddenly the heavens became overcast with
ominOus gray clouds. A few large and
feathery flakes OF snow began to fall.
Then the flakes became smaller and fell
thicker and faster. Darkness quickly set
in. The trail became covered with snow
and indistinguishable in the darkness. The
perplexed girl swerved her horse first one
way and then another, and at last stopped
short. She was lost, alone on the prairie,
miles and miles from any human habita-
ton, and Dakota blizzard sw eeping down
from the Northwest.
As Miss Bessie sat there she recalled how
a few years before Sidney Barnes was
found only half mile from the ranch with
hp - ~ Sfff lpsa
in his frozen hand. She thought, too, OF
many other tales Of death and suffering
in storms in this same region, and with a
shudder She clinched her teeth and urged
her horse forward into the snow and dark
ness. How long she wandered about in the
cold and storm she never knew, but ut last
her horse pricked up its ears, snuffed the
air, and, taking the bit between its teeth,
ran along a road that was utterly in
visible to its rider. When it stopped the
dim outlines of a log ranch house, with
its corrals and sheds, Ioomed up before
her She shouted at the top of her voice,
but received no reply. She discounted,
tossed the reinS over a fenCepoSt and tried
the door. 1t was not locked, and swung
open at her touch. Again the girl called
loudly, but no response came from the
darkness within. After listening a moment
she entered and began feeling about for
matches. She fumbled around in the dark
ness for some time without success, but
at last lucky move sent box tumbIinE
off a shelf and scattered its contents over
the floor.
An instant more she had struck light
and was staring about her. Her rapid ex-
animation convinced her that the place was
an ordinary bachelor camp and its propTie-
tor had been gone only a shorttine butwho
or where he was she had not TIE remotest
idea. However, it was not time TO stand
on ceremony, so She lighted a lamp, kindled
fire in the stove and then led her horse
to the shed near the h house- After supply
Ing him with an ample amount Of hay she
returned to the house. The fire was bum
ing brightly. The girl cooked some pro-
visions found in the cupboard and ate
supper and then sat down by the fire to
dry her clothing and wait for daylight.
The hours slowly rolled by until about
3 O'Clock in the morning, when suddenly a
heavy step sounded outside the door. Miss
Bessie started and trenbled in spite of
herself. She had never Known what fear
was in the handling of vicious horses. but
this was something different, and coming,
as it did, as climax to her adventures
and trials of the night, it appalled, her.
The door swung open, and she gave an ex-
eiamation OF delight as She recognized the
familiar features Of Mike Feeny, the son
of one OF her fathers nearest neighbors.
Miss Bessie found that her horse had
carried her to Jackson & Hayes ranch on
Deep Creek, and when daylight appeared,
the storm having abated, Feeny escorted
her to her destination on the Cheyenne
river, where she secured the missing horse
She returned to Leon without further mis-
hap New York Sun