Gilpin observer., 1901-06-06


saddle. Then seizing Sylvia, he lifted
her up behind her escort. Ride for
the ranch" he said, land don't spare
the horse. You'll be all right"
But you, Tom?" screamed Sylvia.
Never mind me-" was the reply, and
giving the horse a cut with his whip
he started the animal with his double
burden bounding across the prairie.
Only for a short distance, however, for
Sylvia, reaching around her compan-
ion, seized the reins and bringing the
horse almost to a standstill, slipped to
the ground.
"I'll not leave Tom" she cried.
Mr.. Darling hesitated for an instant,
then loosening the reins, the horse
tore across the prairie like mad.
Tom drew his revolver and took aim
at his rival but he did not fire. After
an instant's hesitation he returned his
weapon to his belt and said to Sylvia,
who had run up to him.
Keep cool and We'll come clear"
Their position was a dangerous one
but Tom knew his business. They
were in a sort of valley between two
tom of this valley ran a slough"
wide boggy strip of land showing oc-
casional pools of water, but made up
mainly of stiff, wiry mud, several feet
deep, interspersed with tussocks of
bunch grass. They were but twenty
PAGES from this slough. and coming
toward them on the other side of it
was the vast drove of cattle thunder
ing down the hill with a tread that
shook the earth.
stand behind me-" yelled Tom in
Sylvia's ear as he took his stand fac
ing the slough and the approaching
herd. She obeyed him.
The first line of animals rushed into
the slough. OF these but few succeed
ed in crossing. They sunk to their
bodies in the mud. Those behind,
urged on by the weight of the herd.
tumbled over them in every direction.
Soon the slough was bridged by their
sinking bodies and the first animal
succeeded in getting across almost op-
posite Tom and Sylvia. Toms pistol
cracked and the animal rolled over,
dead. Another and another till the
six barrels of his revolver had piled up
a barricade of six struggling steers in
front of them. Five seconds fitted the
empty cylinder with cartridges. and
getting closer to the barricade. Tom
continued his deadly work.
A dozen dead or dying steers were
now piled up in front of them. and
the herd, dividing at this point. passed
by on either side.
1ha at t,,tA ,t.,
and the gap in which they stood grew
wider and wider Finally the last
steer passed by and disappeared over
the swell and Tom turned to look at
Sylvia.
I'VE are safe now" he said simply.
Sylvia had been very much fright
ened at first. but she was prairie girl
after all and was now as cool and col
lected as Tom.
They started to walk to the ranch.
Say, Tom" said Sylvia, how did
you come to give up your horse to Mr..
Darling? II you had Just taken me
on behind you. we could have escaped
easily"
He would have been killed" said
Tom. 81 thought you loved him and
his death would have broken your
heart"
Love that dude. What can you
take me for? You are worth million
of him"
Sylvia" said Tom. "what made you
Jump off the horse?"
Because" said Sylvia. Il preferred
to die with you rather than live with
anyone else"
Then the cowboys coming from the
ranch to look for their dead bodies saw
Tom take Sylvia in his arms and cover
her face with kisses, in spite of IT'S
coating OF dust.
MIR. Darling did not remain to the
wedding at the Martin ranch. He con-
cluded that he would not like the cat
lie business.