The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-01-20
THE DESPERATE
By Cy Warman.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

THE slanting shafts of the setting
sun glanced along the level pools,
and gilded the ripples and shimmering
shoals of the quiet river-the Green
river-that lay along the edge of the
Adobe desert, like band of braid at
the bottom of woman's skirt A mo-
ment later the red sun dropped behind
the Wahsatch mountains and the day
was snuffed out like candle.
Suddenly. now, a great black cloUl
showed its shoulders up over the hills
behind which the sun sank. With ma
jestic swiftness it lifted its head, spread
out its dark wings. Swallowed the waste.
and filed the wild canyons with aw-
full gloom. Far out toward the foothills
the unshod feet of mountain cayuse
were beating the hard face of the des-
ert, urged on by the cruel spurs of his
pitiless master. For more than six
hours the horse and rider had been sim
mering in the summer sun. and now
they welcomed the shadows. ducked
their heads, and dived in under the
cloud; the horse eager for the cool,
and the rider for the cover of night.
Across the desert another rider is
urging his steed of steel. his pilot point
ing into the storm-swept night. In a
darkened day-coach, behind the little
locomotive. United States marshal
and his deputies sit staring at the storm
into which the daring driver is about
to plunge. Now the rain begins to bea:
upon the windows. A moment later it
is falling furiously, roaring upon the
roof of the cab and blurring the head
light. The iron horse and the cayuse
are running neck and neck now Both
riders know that they are nearing the
river, and so slacken their speed. As
the cayuse comes to the waters edge
he braces his feet and stops short. The
riders first impulse is to dismount
abandon his horse. and find the railroad |
bridge. which he knows must be near
at hand, but glancing back he sees the |
light of the locomotive and changes |
his mind.
Just over the river stands Green River |
station, with its water-tank. where the
iron horse will stop TO drink. If the |
lone rider can reach the station before
the train leaves he can leave the coun-
try which he does not like. As the loco
motive comes nosing cautiously up to
the bridge the horseman drives his
spurs into the cayuse. and the foaming
animal plunges into the roaring river
The swift current carries him down
stream. and the engineers headlight
shines full upon him as he is swept un-
der the bridge.
Beyond the river the engine is stopped
and the occupants of the dark car come
out to look for the man and horse.
Long before they reach the river bank
below the bridge, however. the little
rayuse has touched land. leaped upon
the level bank and galloped up to the
station.
While the men were still searching for
him along the river. the weary traveller
learned from the agent that the regu-
ar train had passed. that the train
IT the bridge was a special. that it
would not be likely to stop at the tank.
ind If it did it would not take passen-
gers.
And so. being weary and not wishing
% be seen, the traveller tethered his
fred horse at the rear of the hotel. (
Iecured room and retired.
Presently the key began calling the I
gent at Green River. and when hef =
learkened it told him of tragedy that q
lad occurred at Coyote on the morn t
ng of that day. A lone desperate had I
AIKEN the town, robbed the station. 5
illed the operator (who was the agent n
iso). stolen a horse. and escaped. A $
pecial with a United States marshal v
ad gone down the road to look for :
be murderer. The description that a
be new operator had gotten from the D
ightened people led the agent at e
reen River to believe that the des- Al
erado had been there but moment Al