The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-16
Iowsd hv her comma nion.

I lowed by her companion.
 Tom refined in his horse and flung | himself from the saddle.
 Quick" said he to Darling. Up with you" and he helped him into the saddle. Then seizing Sylvia. he lifted her up behind her escort. Ride for the ranch,~ he said, and 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 the ground.
 "I'll not leave Tom," she cried.
 Mir. 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 dangerous one but Tom knew his business. They were in a sort of valley between two
  tom of this valley rama slough" wide boggy strip of land showing oc- casional pools of water. but made up mainly of stiff. wiry mud. several feet leep, interspersed with tussocks of hGnoh grass. They were but twenty paces from this slough, and coming to- ward them on the other side Of It was the vast drove of cattle laundering down the hill with a tread that shook the earth.
 sylvia's ear as he took his stand fac- ing the slough and the approachihs 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, urred on by the weight of the herd. tumhled over them in every direction. Soon the slough was bridged by their sinking bodies and the first animal suc- ceeded 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 lh front of them. Five seconds ntteo the empty cylinder with cartridges, ana
  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.
 Tom continued shooting at intervals 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.
 Sylvia had been very much fright, ened at first, but she was prairie giri after all and was now as cool ana coi- lected as Tom.
 | They started to walk to the ranch. "Sav. Tom" said Sylvia, 'hoW dlo vo,, come to give up your horse to MT. | Darling? If you had Just taken me m hehind you, we could have escaped
 He would have been killed" said Tom. "I thought you loved him ana his death would have broken your
 Love that dude! What can you take me for? You are worth a lhiilioi' of him."
 Sylvia" said Tom, what made yo" jump off the horseP
 "Because," said Sylvia, "I preferred to die with you rather than live with anyone else" 4, 1 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 or it's coating of dust. AL, i MT, Darling did not remain to the wedding at the Martin ranch. He con cluded that he would not ike tne cat tie business.
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