The Winslow mail., 1898-12-10

y
lie had Grifted down TO Dandera coun-
ty from point far north 4 year before,
bringing with him all lie possessed in
the way of goods and chatte.s-ihe
black horse Chief.
Chief soon won for himself a reputa-
tioa both for beauty and speed and
Trenbar received many offers to sell
lin, one and all of which he put aside.
for the horse was dear TO him beyond
anything on earth. Many and many d
time he had gone. hungry that Chief
might be fed, and wel;-nigh barefoot
that Chief might be shod. Dire in
deed would be the necessity which
would bring about a separation between
them.
For a time Trenbar worked with a
fair amount of industry at whatever he
could find 10 do. He had tried pretty
much everything in the nloney-making
process, and nothing to success, for the
reason perhaps that his restlessness and
natural idleaess would not allow of
lis remaining long in any ore place.
Then he fell into evil ways among the
ranchmen and cowboys. He drank free
ly and when he had money gambled
recl1lessly, 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 a ranchman by the namc of Cron-
wright for 500 in gold and a shaggy
little broncho with a heavy brand on
the left flank and an eXecrable ten
dency toward bucking. lie came to his
senses the next day and marched back
to Cronwright with both pony and
money, demanding his horse in re-
turn. The ranchE2a 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. Then and there
he resolved that come what would he
would have his horse again at ony cost.
Cronwright, anticipating his purpose.
threatened him with, lynch;ng-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 wiling captive. lie knew Eis
master end loved him as perhaps Trc-.
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
ne lay there beneath the chaparra
watching, while the cool purpleshadows
drifted over the hot earth filing all its
hollows to brimming over, he wished
that he had been born with more Of he1
traits and less Of those that uad char,
acterized his weak, dissolute father.
1t was so still and warm. Lower and
lower sank the sun until only a slender
arc showed above the horizon. Pres
entity 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 ana went to sleep.
lie 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 and paused with his
head thrown up, snorting and palpitat-
ing with excitement.
Trenbar sprang to his feet with his
revolver in his hand. The moon had
risen fun and clear, and by its light
he saw not dozen rods away two nen
riding cautiously toward him.
'Ealt!" shouted voice. Throw up
your hands, jim Trenbar. l know yer
and we've got the drop On yer"
"Gertlemen!" cried Trenbar, &"
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 III either hand, leveled at
Trcnbar's breast.
81 amt no horse thief" Trenbar said
earnestly. before God, I amt. That
horse is mine. / never had one cent
for him. Cronwright's got the money
and the broncho that he gave ne to
pay for him. l took them back the
very next day"
'See here, Trenbar," said the sheriff,
grimly, 81 didn't come here to waste
words. 1 come here to 90 business.
My orders are to take you and the
Witnesses the hull ct5crl, and
CT7oI1VHrigiat ain't u man to focl with.