Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-05-13
.lorious run with the hounds one love.

~ November morning, and the jack
rabbits led them far out to the north
Of the road among the buttes and
powders that clustered about the
course Of little stream, barely q yard
wide anywhere, that rippled out from
among the foothills only to be lost In
the sands OF the desert to the east. One
vigorous old rabbit close followed by
the hounds, had tackled suddenly and
darted up this narrow valley, and Floy
and Mignon, all excitement, darted aft
er him, while Randy, guiding Brown
Dick behind, watched with fond, proud
eyes his young wife's graceful, fear.
less riding. Far up toward the head
Of the brook poor jack had been tossed
in air by the pointed muzzle Of his
closest pursuer and then pounced
upon by the painting hounds, and Ran
dy found that they were In little am
phithcater among the buttes-found
the little spring in which the streamlet
had Its birth, and there they dismount-
ed and unsaddled and let the horses
roll; and here they took their luncheon,
and had happy, loving hour. all alone
with the horses and hounds In this lit
tie world OF their own; and Floy had
named the spot-a fond, foolish little
caprice, perhaps, and vowed that II
was to be her refuge by-and-by. "This
is where nm coming to build my lone
ly cloister one of these days, when you
grow weary of me. sir" she had laugh
ingly said. And now, as he piled spurs
10 Dicks heaving sides, Randy won
dered, wondered whether II might not
he that she had made that wide dctour
around Jose's purposely to find and re-
visit that romantic little nook and there
pour out her grief to the solitude OF the
silent foothills.
Al five o'clock Brown Dick was black
with sweat and dust and streaked with
foam, but still pressed gamely on, and
Randy, with white, set face, in which
deep lines OF pain and WEAKNESS were
craving, gazed fixedly ahead with burn.
ing, fevercd eyes, conscious that
strength was failing him and praying
for the first sight Of those dun adobe
walls of Jose's sheltering ranch.
Just at seven o'clock of the early win
r'sevening the denizens OF Jose's heard
the thud OF horses hoofs ut the gate
and the hail of feeble voice. Jose's
wife ut that moment was in half-tearful
talk with Mrs. Hayne, who from dawn
till dark had been on watch-hoping
against hope for tidings of Florence,
and who now, wearied with long vigil
and well-nigh worn out with anxiety,
was lying down in search of sleep.
Gould, veteran soldier and surgeon that
he was, could no longer bear the sus.
pense and inaction at the ranch. He
had borrowed one Of Jose's horses, and,
with q half-breed Mexican for guide,
had ridden away at dawn, hoping TO
strike Grafton's trail and follow him
into the mountains, whittier he was
supposed TO have ridden In pursuit OF
the Apaches. Gould was skeptic. He
said he didn't believe n dozen Apaches
were of their reservation. He didn't
believe half n dozen had ventured over
the New Mexican line. and IL any had
he was willing 10 bet n months pay
they were not hostile. This was COM
forting to Mrs. Hnyne, but Jose's people
were not so easily cured Of their con-
viction. BY the time the rumor reached
the ranch. brought in by stampeded
herdsmen, no one Of whom had seen an
Indian, but each OF whom could tell
tremendous tales OF their doings In the
valley, II was declared that ut least so
Of Victories old band were raiding the
Santa Clara and might be expected to
assault Jose's at any moment. The
corral was filed, therefore, with scrag-
gy COW ponies and swarthy men, and
the sight OF an officer, one-armcd, pal
lid, exhausted, reeling earthward from
an equally exhausted steed, was all that
was necessary to complete the panic.
Over half the Mexicans present made q
mad rush for the subterranean refuge
known rs the "dug-out," and but for q
couple OF troopers who had put into
Jose's with famed and useless horses
handy would have gone headlong to the
ground. They caught him just in time,
and bore him inside the ranch, where
the sight of his death-like face drove
Jose almost frantic. But the troopers
knew what to do for their officer and
speedily brought him round, and when
he asked for DIR. Gould they told him OF
his going, and Randy's next demand
was for coffee and fresh horse.
fro be Continued