The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-24

Presently there was a movement in the
circle, and Jones, stepping forward, with
a lariat in his hand, threw a moose over
the Mexican's head.
AT this the boy, who had been trembling
in his hiding place, sprang to his feet in
horror, running with all his might. If he
he could signal from the top of the Hill
even yet the prisoner might be rescued.
AS he ran the wind, unnouced, came in
soft puffs behind him, lifting the dust,
which whirled and edded in spiraIs in the
path.
But not even from the hilltop was res
cue in sight. Except a herd of grazing
cattle, no living object moved on the
broad prairie.
Tommy threw himself upon the ground
breathless. He could do no more; he was
only feeble little Christian host" fight
ing single handed against the wicked
world.
AS he lay there, unheeding, the wind
coming in sharp gusts with ever increas-
ing violence. sent the dried weeds in
wild dance through the fog Of whirling
dust. And there was a low, sobbing I'M
dertone of sound which rose by breaths
to continuous wall.
AT last it caught the boys ear, and
springtng to his feet he read in the
northern horizon with its black clouds
and sheets of lightning, the signals of tho
coming storm
The famed flames of the prairie fire
swept forward with frghtful rapidity. 1t
had already passed on the other side of
the settlement, but the Thompson ranch,
lower down, reached the danger line lust
where the banks OF the creek shelved
until the sloping grass plots on either
side almost spanned its bed. For mo-
ment Tommy stood still, realizing that re-
bA, - RaIl
the head OF the ring leader of the lynch
erS.
Then, MASKING his hat fiat upon his
head, he suddenly started in a mad race
down the hill, lighting the blast at every
step.
The thought that it might not yet be
too late to save old Pete had burst upon
MIN, Tor he knew every man within reach
would be needed to fight the flames.
his painting cry of Fire! Fire!' while
still faint in the distance, caught atteil-
ton and recognition from the group in
the wood All turned to listen.
The man holding the Mexican on his
feet and that other one drawing the rope
taut, each let go and the prisoner fell to
the ground.
"Where?" burst forth simultaneously as
the boy still shrieking bounded into their
midst.
- . OlOWlHS 10 Big creek DendI'
Are you lying, boy?" called Thompson.
That's my ranch"
The norther's come" cried Tommy.
thompson lifted his head to listen. In
this dense wood the soughing CT the wind
sounded faint from tn outer world
Look at the tree tops" called one Of
the men,
They tossed like danger signals against
the sky. Thompson was already m the
saddle.
Gentlemen, I'm Off You can finish
ward.
It'll take more men than we can mus
ter to fight the fire. and that dumb hound
over there don't count" added Jones With
a glance at the prisoner.
Meanwhile the other men, not waiting
for even this word of adjournment, had
mounted me I. and dashed away. following
Jones looked at lame Dick, who had
remained seated on a log. & Jtt-it Is. =
You know what's to be done?'' he. said,
with a significant nod toward the Next
can.
Diok grunted an affirmative.
edo you think you can do it?"
TIf l can't do it by mlself, the boy
can. help He looked at Tommy as he
4Maybe I'd better leave this gun with
yosi.H continued Jones, taking his pistol
something on you in case Sthe old chap
turns sour"
AS the sound of galloping horses died
away in the distance Tommy, creeping
close to Dick, asked in suppIicating
tone: You amt goini to hang him, are
you, Dick?" 5a.c -,
The man looked at him a moment with
a half-restrained twinkle of mirth in his
eyes, and then said: ..,es .7,
That's none of your business, kid, If
I want to hang him I'll do il, and IL I
don't, I won't. You just wait and see
what'H come .-..
At this repulse Tommy fell back. The
pistol lying on the grass beside Dick, had
suggested another plan Of rescue. -
The Mexican, with his elbows still tied
behind him, was now in a sitting position,
looking about him. Surely, IL his hands
were free, he and Tommy together night
overpower the unarmed cripple, and the
prisoner be on his way to the frontier
before the lynchers had time to think OF
him again.
When his thoughts had reached this
point the boy felt in his pocket. and find
ing his knife safe, began with an osten-
tatious air of Indifference to saunter from
one end to the other of the clearing, get
ting closer to the prisoner at every turn.
AS he stopped 20 cut the rope binding
Pete's elbows, Dick reached forward for
his pistol, and waving it in the air, shout
ed. with a grin:
mo you don't! You thought I wasn't
looking, but I've been watching you. I'm
the Judge, and the Jury and the jailer,
too, in this case, and I amt a going TO
allow no tampering with the law"
Tommy fell back in confusion, slipping
his knife in his pocket. Before he could
speak he saw Dick throw up both hands
with a cry of Don't shoot" and turning
found the clearing surrounded by armed
men.
The rangers had come. Leaving their
horses on the far side Of the wood they
had crept in through the underbrush to
surprise the lynchers.
But there amt been no lynchers," ex-
planned Dick, hurriedly, in answer to ques-
tons demanded over the barrel of a re-
volver. 'The boys was jest naturally
tired of all this cattle stealing and the
law always saying there wasn't evidence
enough to convict, so they thought they'd
skeer old Pete into telling which one of
his Mexican friends was In the gang. But
they'd got him so bad skeered that the
pore critter amt opened his mouth sence
they took him outer pail. There wasn't
man in the crowd that would hung OLD
Pete, sure enough. They was jest having
a little fun. And finding they couldn
make him talk. they'd concluded to take
him back TO jail when the kid shouted
Fire -. Then as thew had some pressing