Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-08
SFON~~~~@~
|, A Ride for Life and Death.
BY NINA DISH lnouau.



This happened 20 years and more
$50 when the Barker gang of bush
aangers was still the terror of New
South Wales.
AT Glila-Gulla station, on Muriwera
Bay, lived John Keightly and his
wife, both young lately married, and
having but one child, Il boy of six
months, named Lionel. They were
ardently in love with each other and
thought their son the finest creature
ever seen. The station was a large
one, but it lay remote; the nearest
homestead was over ten miles dis
tant. The keightly's bungalow was
n pretty place, with wide ycranda
nll round it,
Nclghtly was Il magnificent fellow,
SIN feet three in height, broad Shout
dereu and active. His wife WAS also
tall, and beautiful woman. But at
the time | write of she was slender.
weighing not over 1870 pounds OF
course sic was a capital rider. She
was dark. with great brown eyes and
delicate features. The baby was II
lovely little chap, With light curling
hair
One day, in the height of the shear
ing season, kcishtly was sitting in
laie dining room. and spread out on
Tie table before him, i'll heaps of gold
ana silver, were the salaries of his
men; ana n bag of money stood beside
ann on the floor. He was busy count
'ng. when shadow fell across the
taDie, and looking up. lie saw two
masked men, with rcvolvers, pointed
Mt him. They spoke tcrscly and to the
point, Your money or your life."
hcishtly knew that they meant
what they said. He put down his
pen, ana put up his hands. A CONVEX
sation ensued. The bushlangers were
affable. but they Informed Keightly
that they must have not only the
money then before them. but also all
That lie had on deposit at the bank.
lO0 miles away. To this Keghtly OBJ
jected. tho lie was looking down the
: barrels of those revolvers all the
while; Il stormy discussion followed.
which was interrupted by the en-
trance of Mes keigltly. She had the
baby Lionel in her arms.
She kept her head, and questioned
The two men quietly. The proposition
i which they made could hardly be sur
passed for cool audacity. She must
y ride to the bank, draw out the money,
and return, within twenty-four hours.
Ihey meanwhile would remain in the
bungalow and take care of keightly.
Two others of the gang (who were on
guard outside) would act as her escort
on the Journey. If she were back
within the stipulated time. all would
be well; if not, so much the worse for
her husband!
In short. ii was submit or die. What
did She care for money in comparison
With her husband and child? On the
other hand, had, she the stamina and
the courage to attempt that terrible
ride under the circumstances? She
must take Lionel with her. for she had
no one to look after him at the bunga-
low. She thought it overland CON
scented.
She had Il horse OF her own, Spank
en-" n huge bay animal capable of
making the tremendous journey if
anything i'll the shape of horsetlesll
could. He was brought out and sad.
died; bundle containing provisions
for her and the baby was fastened
to the pommel; she wrapped Lionel in
gray blanket and slung him across
her breast, said n final God bless
YOU to the man she loved more than
all the world, and rode off, her two
escorts beside her They rode in 81
lence. and during that whole journey
out. of a hundred miles, not n word
was exchanged between the three. In
less than twelve hours they were at
tllAir destination