The Newtown bee., 1900-01-26

talk or question, she was too eagerly in- tent on her purpose snd knew how pre- cious was every moment. For another quarter of mile they picked tbeir way slowly through the young growth, then they came out into the old trail, which, though grown over with grass and small ciumps of bushes, was plainly defined and comparatively easy going. They could ride abreast, and the horses seem. ing to realiza that they were at lsst on safe ground, set eff at a brisk canter. They speedily left the intervening miles behind, and neared the only spot where Dolly anticipated trouble. Here she drew rain and explained the situation to + him.. "
 'sThe new trail makes loop above Hackett's, beyond where the ol' trail joines it, count of the ford. But know wher' we can ford lower down, now the river's low, and save of mile CT more | of the loop. Elf any one's watchin', it'll | be nigh where the OF trail comes in. Jist | look out and ride close"
 She turned her horse out on the right | and he followed; they could still go at 6 | pretty good pace. They were nearing the new trsn and were beginning to think they were to get of without distur- bance, when the sound of gslloping hoots startled them. Some one was try ing so head them of by crossing the
 point between the trails, bu, Dolly urg- ing the horses. dashed on across the now
 almost open country, instead of follow ing the new trail. as the pursuer had | evidentl Y expected.
 There were shouts and shots, so near
 that bullet whizzsd by, another and
 another, and for second Dolly reeled
 aud hesitated, then she sped on down the
 slope with Mig, laundering beside her,
 and they quickly left the sounds of pur-
 suit behind. Along the level, sandy bot tom the horses 6sw at & mad gsllop.
 through the broad stream, now shtl ow
 at this spot, up the gently rising hill,
 and they were fai,ly out on the plain. A
 few miles farther on they struck the
 broad trail just as dawn was beginning
 to faintly light the east here Dolly stop ped.
 "Ye kin get on all right" she said.
 sThe trail is level as floor fur miles.
 Jist foller it. The SC ldgers at the sta
 tion'n protect ye. Ye'd better ride hard,
 them fellers back yon may be follerin' ye. But there's nothin' roun' yer kin
 tech Mig ef ye push i'm. Turn him loose
 whenst ye sight the station; elae they
 might 'spect ye stole 'im. He'll fiu' is way home."
 She spoke in curious tense tonee, as if under congtrsint, and was turning her
 horse when he came close, holding out his hand.
 "I don't know how to thank you.
 seem not to have had time to say any
 thing. I.don't know why you have dons it, but you've saved my life. My mother , will know what to say for us both. Tot , will hear from me soon. Goodbye" I For moment two haggard faceslook.
 ed at each other in the dim morning twi.
 light, as they clasped hands. Tben h' galloped away, and Dolly turned mert , slowly back over the way they had come When she again reached the stream shl |, turned Jim into the deeper water, till sh, , could reach 1t with her hands. Sh,
 drank greedily. and taking fl her bon net wet her head and bsthed her face an. . neck, not seeming to notice that her fee and skirts were soaking.
 NI wuz 8 gittin' sick" she muttered !, itMebbe now kin stan' it till git home /, I kin feel it bleeds; eff I could git at it r T might stop it.''
 She reached, vainly, under her shoul n der; by no effort could she touch tn ' wound, for poor Dolly had been hit b. i, lone of the bullets.
 The sun was getting high, and tskinl ' the new trail, she urged Jim to as gres |, pace as she could bear. Mile sfte ,. mile she passed over the lonely road ' meeting no one. She grew sick and faint weakened by the loss of blood, and 8 a last, in hslf-dszsd condition, clung t q the saddle instinctively, the reins lyinl :. on the horses neck. It was just Rool . when Jim stopped near the cabin door [, and Dolly slid, an unconscious heap, t ! the ground.
 An hour later, her father cominl |. leisurely up the slope, stopped short 8 ! the sight, then sprsrg from his hors i. and gathered her up.
 ! 1e"why, Dolli"- he exclaimed. "why : tlittle gal, what is it?"
 h The instant he saw her face he knew ! it was death.
 : He carried her to the spring and dash : ed water on her head and face. He ral 2 in, and bringing the brandy bottle, fore ! led few drops between her blue lips ] Soon che revived little, and after fev ] moments recognized him and knew ths !, he was working franticslly, tesripg oi | the blood-stiftened clothing to find tn :, wound:
 | stIt's no use, pap," she said faintly. ! He knew it was tsno use" but he work ed till he had 1t bsndaged and the fiov of blood stopped. Then he raised be ! Ihead gently, and bent his white face t,
 hers, and aaked, "who did it my littl, ' Igal?'
 t With painful gasps and pauses Dolly | answered, "Pap-I-got-'im-oft. l. ] ltuk-'im-down-th'-ol'-tra'l. Sum ] un-fired- -us-sn'-I-wuz-hit |, couldn't let lem hang i'm" ! 8"Ye mean the man we wuz arter ?' h ! said. Dolly nodded. He broke into ve 2 hement curses at the turn fate had serv ! ed him. @ , She raised feeble hand to stop him |. "I-knewed-pap." she whispered. l.