The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-05-12

that before 1t set again he and Chief
would be safe beyond the Rio Grande.'
Five hours the start and the feetest
horse in southwestern Texas to carry
him had given him an advantage which
even the sheriff of Bandera county
would find it hard to cope with, and
yet -
To use his own expression, Trenbar
had been born under an unlucky star.
He had drifted down to Bandera coun-
ty from point far north year before,
bringing with him all he possessed in
the way of goods and chattels-the
black horse Chief.
Chief soon won for himself reputa-
ton both for beauty and speed and
! Trenbar received many offers to sell
Linn, one and all of which he put aside,
for the horse was dear to him beyond
anything on earth. Many and many
time he had gone hungry that Chief
might be fed, and well-nigh barefoot
that Chief might be shod. Dire in
deed would be the necessity which
would bring about a separation between
them.
For time Trenbar worked with a
fair amount of industry at whatever he
could find to do. He had tried pretty
much everything in the money-making
process, and nothing to success, for the
reason perhaps that his restlessness and
lis remaining long in any one place.
Then he fell into evil ways among the
ranchmen and cowboys. He drank free
~ and when he had money gambled
recklessly, so that he was soon re-
duced to the lowest depths of poverty
and despair.
One night when he had been drinking
more than usual he sold the black horse
to ranchman by the name of Cron-
wright for $500 in gold and shaggy
little broncho with heavy brand on
the left flank and an execrable ten
dency toward bucking. He came to his
senses the next day and marched back
to Cronwright with both pony and
money, demanding his horse in re-
turn. The ranchman laughed in his
face and as Trenbar broke out into
fierce maledictions against the in
Justice of the thing had drawn a re-
volver bidding him sternly to begone;
Trenbar went, but he left Chiefs pur-
chase price behind him. Thea and there
he resolved that come what would he
would have his horse again at any cost.
Cronwright, anticipating his purpose,
threatened him with lynching-the
common fate OF the horse thief.
True to his word, two weeks later
Trenbar entered the corral at dead of
night and took Chief out. The horse
was a willing captive. He knew his
master and loved him as perhaps Tren-
bar had never been loved by anything,
brute or human, since his half-breed
mother died, leaving him still child
to shift for himself. Trenbar remem-
bered his mother but vaguely. Yet as
he lay there beneath the chaparra]
watching, while the cool purple shadows
drifted over the hot earth filing all it's
hollows to trimming over, he wished
that he had been born with more of her
traits and less of those that mad char.
acterized his weak, dissolute father.
It was so still and warm. Lower and
lower sank the sun until only slender
arc showed above the horizon. Pres
emily that, too, disappeared, and it was
dark. The horse was feeding near by,
Trenbar called him still nearer; then
because the quiet was SO soothing and
he so dead tired he rolled over on his
face and went to sleep.
He was awakened by the quick thud
of hoofs and opened his eyes just in
time to see Chief fly past him on the
wings Of the wind At little distance
the horse wheeled ana paused with his
head thrown up, snoHing and palpitat-
ing with excitement.
Trenbar sprang to his feet with his
revolver in his hand. The moon had
risen full and clear, and by it's light
he saw not dozen rods away two men
riding cautiously toward him.
"Halt!" shouted voice. Throw up
your hands, Jim Trenbar. know yer
and we've got the drop on YER
'Gentlemen!" cried Trenbar, 81"
''Throw up your hands, say"
The sheriff dismounted from his
spent pony and came forward. The
moonlight glanced from the polished
barrels of the two revolvers which he
held, one in either hand, leveled at
Trenbar's breast.
Il amt no horse thief" Trenbar said,
earnestly. Before God, amt. That
horse is mine. I never had one cent
for him. Cronwright's got the money
and the broncho that he gave me to
pay for him. I: took them back the
very next day."
''See here, Trenbar," said the sheriff,
grimly, II didn't come here to waste
words. I come here to do business.
My orders are to take you and the
horse, dead or alive. Cronwright's got
witnesses to the hull transaction, and
Cronwright amt man to fool with.
Throw up your hands!"
'Never!" cried Trenbar. His wild,
. black eyes met those of the sheriff I'M
iinchingly. His slight, straight figure
was drawn to its fullest height. But
the sheriff had faced too many desper-
ate men to be afraid Of this one.
"Throw up yer hands, curse YER" he
snarled. 81 don't banker after doing
any shooting, but shall let daylight
into yer in less than two seconds, if
yer don't surrender peaceably."
Trenbar made feint of throwing up
his hands, but the sheriff was too quick
for him. Though both men fired al
most simultaneously, it was the sher-
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