Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-07-11

tWlTllnS HiusIdcHe, anu towing DlQe
eyes denoted spirit which, while jo-
vial, could be reused quickly into i'm
petuous anger. His long, well -shaped
legs hung lankily along the sides of his
grimy broneho and Kept time TO the
slow monotone of his conversation,
which indicated the habitually exclusive
life of the Western herder, Mrs. Man
chester was so faYorably impressed
with his appearance that she employed
him forthwith and ordered him to the
cowpunchers' camp among the foot
hills.
A night or two following had been set
apart as a holiday to mark the arrival
Of Margie's Goth birthday. Late in the
afternoon the herders. or cowboys, as
they are commonly called, gathered on
the wide stretch of prairie before the
ranch house and began the frolicking in
which cowboys love to indulge. Mar
gle and her mother sat on the wide.
rude porch, to watch the caperings and
laughed and applauded heartily at the
rought sports, wrestling, boxing. lariat-
throwing and riding 'bucking" bron-
chos, mixed with rifle and revolver prac-
tice and the fire of rugged jokes, which
was kept running.
As the frolics were about to be clos
ed the stranger who had led the others
in all featS of strength and agility,
walked carelessly up to the porch, lead
ing a handsome stallion, which had
been tethered at one side awaiting to
carry his master to the camp. AS he
was passing Mrs. Manchester stopped
him to compliment him upon his clev-
erness, and as she did so, Margie arose
suddenly and stammered something I'M
intelligable to her mother. Intinctively
she advanced to the step, when the
stranger. with lishtning-like quickness,
sprang into the saddle, reached over,
and, with sweep of his powerful arm,
lifted Margie to the saddle horn.
His horse, maddened by the sharp
| prodding of the spurs. sprang into the
midst of the herd of bronchos which
had been used during the sports, and
they were sent securing in all direc-
lions by the shout of Margie's captor
and the wild waving of his arm.
The herders, stupefied by the sud
denness of the occurrence, were incpa-
bic of motion for a moment and when
they did recover from their surprise
Margies form was between them and
her captor, and her body would have
been the mark for the bullets of the re-
volvers which were drawn from their
belt
l.. was several moments before other
horses could be obtained from the cor
ra at the rear of the house. and then
Margie and her kidnaper were lost to
sight among the foothills and the black
ness of the night.
Pursuit until morning was Useless.
In the numberless canons winding in
and out among the foothills fugitive
would have Thousand chances of
doubling his pursuers. Sadly the men
returned to their camp, while Mrs.
Manchester was carried into the house
almost FRUSTRATED with grief.
Hardy had the last herder disap-
reared in the direction Of the camp
when Mrs. Manchester was aroused by
the clatter Of horses hoofs rapidly
approaching the house. Wild with
anxiety, she sprang toward the door
just as the sound of two persons spring
ing to the porch was heard The door
new open and second later Margie was
clasped in her mothers arms. tears of
happiness being brushed aside by the
same hand which caressingly patted her
mothers face.
''Oh NAV. it's limits jim. Don't
you know him ?''
And then Jim's CHEEKY voice rang
out: Yes, mother, it's jim. I've come
to claim my bride I'm Western man
now, don't you think -
And Margie whispered in her moth
er's ear: Yes. NAV; Jim is West
ern man now. isn't he %
Mrs. Manchester's sine qua non was
met, and she could no longer resist
Jim's joyous impetuosity and Margies
shy, pleading manner.