The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-06-28


The two servants watched him scorn- |
fully as he saddled his gray with In
credible swiftness.
"NIarse Ringwood scared de fight run
down dis way" muttered Sam. HE
des nuttin' but trash. TO- all he so good
lookln'. Cord Almighty, l wish all de
boys wasn't gonel Whar ebberybody,
Lee?"
"Allee samee time off 'cept hunt
hills was the brief return, which
meant that some of the men had an
afternoon and the rest were after some
refractory cattle in the hills.
"Marse Ringwood gone like de deb
BILE after him." growled Sam. And in
deed the gray was flying at terrible
speed.
The far, dim starlight sifted reluc-
family down, and the horses feet
reached the ground more by instinct
than sight. Ringwood bent over his
neck, jockey fashion. For a scant two
miles they kept to a badly marked
road, then before them yawned the
mouth of Sewer canyon, the broken
trail merely gray pencil mark among
Jagged powders and treacherous wave
washed stones, rounded by old world
foods.
A second the gray hesitated, and in
that second Ringwood distinctly heard
ngain Morris voice:
"To ride through that trail at speed
means almost certain DEATH" And he
exulted that the words flowed in his
soul like wine. Then he drove the
rowels In his horses tanks, and the
gray in generous anger plunged down
the canyon way at top speed. every
beat Of his steel shod hoofs striking
fire from the rocks Now they crossed
bed of clay worn slimily smooth by
the soft tapping Of the low stream. and
here a goat might have fallen and TAX
en- no shame to himself. but the gray
had that superb and rare quality which
carries through everything; he believed
In himself. Presently nine-tenths Of
the canyon were behind them, though
the frowning walls yet hung above.
Once a panther Kissed like an infuri-
ated cat in their way. but the Oncom-
Ing might of the two daunted her, and
she fed ANONYMOUSLY to the recesses
of the cliff sides and mouthed resent
fully after them. dragging behind her
tail twice its natural aize.
But now open woods, the canyon was
In the rear, and before Ringwood a
tiny fire, with a crude half tent hug
ging it, and in its shelter four, men.
Thanks to the half mile Of soft earth
between them and the canyon, thanks
to a quarrel already bred among them,
they did not hear Ringwood until he
was bearing down upon them, not fifty
yards away.
Then they acted In unison. Four
rifles were cooked, challenge rang
out:
"Stop Or
It might be a harmless passing stran-
ger, and they did not care for the noise
Of fusillade just now.
The answer came clearly on the
wind Oh you! Throw up your
handsw a command they thought I'M
necessary. as their hands were up and
their rifles in them. They answered
with fourfold volley Of shots. In the
next instant the gray was on them, and
In the chaos that ensued Ringwood wal
only conscious that he got in severa
shots, that the butt of his pistol haC
proved quite useful. that two form.
had chung to his knees and had gone
down, that the badly scattered fire wal
catching the edge Of the tent, and theI
he and the gray went down III theil
turn together, Ringwood oddly thank
full, in spite of the fact that sparks
perhaps from the tent fire. swan be
fore his eyes, that the nearest robbie
made a soft cushion. Then fire ant
sparks went out blackly.
When light came again, the mool
was pouring down her full splendor
Over him bent two anxious faces, Will
his own reeked of the whisky used t
bathe his forehead and temples. 4
Sigh of relief hailed his open eyes.
"Thank Godr' sobbed Stanley. &c
thought he was gone! And after set
!. ling the four of them"
mo, only stunned" returned thei
, patient, rising obstinately to his feet
. but glad to cling to the nearest saddl
, 10 steady himself. the earth whirle'
, round so strangely. 81 am all right
MIR. Morris. Don't trouble yourself an
. further by coddling-the son of a COW
lrd"
Stanley stared. then said nervously:
! "By Jove, he's off his head!' But hi
father answered by taking the tall fig
IRE in his arms.
Lad" he said brokenly. "Tve learr
I I'd my lesson. A man is just himself
litter all-not his father or his CRANE
, father-and Pm hoping my boys ma
be towards some day like you"