The Banner-Democrat., 1901-08-24


and down upon the floor.
%. Ad," said Mabel, pursuing the
spinning runaways," what does it
mean? Where did you get them?"
They're my savings Of the last four
years." replied Addison, proudly.
Each of those bags has twenty-five
500 gold pieces in it."
Two thousand dollars! And you
brought it all the way from the rail-
road station alone on horseback!
exclaimed his sister. aghast. How
very imprudent! Don't you know this
country is full of desperadoes? Why
didn't you deposit 1t in a savings
bank?"
Because want to invest 1t right
away, and didn't want to be bothered
putting 1t in and then drawing itright
out again." returned Addison. with
self-satisfied air, walking up and down
the room with his hands In his pock-
cts. "I'm going to leave 1t In your
hands, sis, for safe keeping. Mean
while I'll look around, and when
strike nice little location In a mining
camp for a general merchandise store,
I'll use the money In buying stock"
Being thus left in possession OF the
treasure, Mabel cast about for suit
able hiding place; but the secluded
little hooks, the corner cupboards, the
mysterious oak closets and big, RAM
bling garrets peculiar to old-fashioned
eastern houses were totally lacking In
this small, bare walled, three roomed
| log cabin.
First Mabel loosened board in the
floor and put the four buckskin bags
underneath 1t seemed to her excited
imagination that any one might no
tice that that particular board had
been pried up and nailed down again;
and besides, the FIST thing robber
| in search of concealed wealth would
do would be to look under the floor.
So, after few days, she removed the
four bags and put them with affected
carelessness in the dark recesses of a
little cupboard where she kept her bot
ties and frying pans.
| But this was worse still. Her eyes
seemed fixed In telltale gaze on the
place where the treasure lay concealed.
So one day after dark she pried up
one Of the fat stones which formed
part of walk leading to the spring
house, dug out some of the soil under
meath to make room, placed the four
little bags therein, and then carefully
replaced the stone.
] 1t was not surprising that Mrs. Will
liams was a little apprehensive, for
she was usually quite alone during the
daytime. Her brother had gone on his
"TRIP to look up mining camp, and her
husband was busy branding calves and
colts at a roundup seven miles away.
| Nevertheless, Mabel was by no means
a timid woman. She broke all her
| husbands colts, and was never so
happy as when conquering a mettle-
| some bronco. She was now subduing
a particularly fine thoroughbred colt
named Taurus, which was kept in the
stable instead Of being allowed to fol-
low the herd. much to his anger and
disgust.
One morning, while she was en-
gagged with household duties in the
cabin, a loud, ringing blow sounded
upon the door. Upon opening it, she
was confronted by two rough looking
men, one of whom covered her with a
revolver.
1--WE know you have $4,000 In gold
In this house." he said. Get 1t at
| once"
| Il give you my word of honor" said
Mabel, speaking calmly, that the only
money in the house Is about $50 that
have on hand for household ex-
penses. It is in the next room"
60 get it. then. and be lively" said
the man with the revolver. "As for
the $4,000, know it's here. Well see
about that afterward."
Mabel went into the adjoining room,
seized her husbands rife that stood
in corner. slammed the door shut
and shot thick wooden bolt into
its hasp.
81 am armed" she called, "and will
shoot the man that breaks down the
door!"s
She then made a pretense of piling
up furniture before the door to barri
cade it. and undkr cover of the noise
opened the rear window and sprant
out. As soon as Ihe gained the GROUND
she fairly flew to- the stable, where sh,
unIoosed the half broken colt, Taurus
Not daring to take time to saddle O
bride him. she led him to the bars
| and grasping the single rope attache,
| 70 his halter. sprang upon his back.
II By this time TIE robbers had broker
down the locke 1 door and discovers
her escape. They returned hastily 3
-he front OF the cabin, where thei
horses were tethered mounted them
and started in pursuit Of their victim.
II The odds seemed greatly against th
brave little woman. Taurus under
stood at once that without bridles q
bit he was practically master of th
situation. and began kicking, rearin
and plunging. But on hearing pul
suing hoof beats he started, sniffe
: the air, and then, detecting the ol
familiar trail down the creek, whic
he had followed so many times
company with the herd. he gallop<
rapidly in that direction. This ",
what Mrs. Williams bad counted upc
and trusted to. As shot after sh,
rhistled round her IRON her purses