Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-29


the cock. The old servant told Jim
pretty exactly the spot where the ambush
would be laid, and Jim and Tom had ar
ranged so as to be on hand when wanted.
Still things might go wrong, and II so
stood to get a couple of leaden pellets
through my head instead of leading little
Nelly Warden 10 the altar. For Juap Sofa
had a way of shooting on sight when he
got mad. and then his vicinity became
distinctly unhealthy.
Harkl What was that? A scurry in
the underbrush, rush of men and horses,
and a cloak had been thrown over my
head and / was dragged backward off
my horse TO the ground. Some very UNI
ladylike EXPLANATIONS which let drop as
struggled to escape were fortunately
lost in the confusion
Then came the thud of hoofs, and I
heard Jim's voice demanding what was
amiss. For answer came an oath in Sola's
voice and a rough command to stand out
,of the way.
"What's that behind you?" cried Jim.
''Great heaven, you villain, is that my
sister?" -fs
Apparently lie made one step toward the
Mexican, who threwsout his arm and fired
at him, and with a groan poor Jim
dropped. Quick as lightning Tom Warden
fired on Sofa, but missed, and l began to
think 1t was time assisted in the fight
ing. was lying on bifS SIoulu SAildhSASO
IN the horse cloak, and as struggled to
rise Sofa suddenly seized me by the arm
with the intention of pulling me to my
feet In the darkness he had not yet dis
covered the deception.
threw off his grasp and sprang to my
feet, drawing my revolver as did so.
strange figure 1 must have looked stand
ing there in my blue shirt. My big flop
hat" hung round my neck by its ribbon,
and my wig had fallen off.
One searching glance the Mexican threw
at me, then he realized the truth.
Fooled he shricked, and let drive a
bullet at me. 1 had ducked at the flash,
but a hot, tearing pain IN my left arm told
me that his aim was good fired at him,
but missed him badly, and in a second he
had mounted and turned to flee, his two
servants riding beside him.
Mount and after them roared Tom,
who was fat and heavy. II must look af-
ter my brother"
needed no further incentive. .leaped
on to my horse-Nelly's horse-and in
moment / was after them. My mare was
fresher than theirs and I gained rapidly
on them. Suddenly, in obedience to an or
der from Sola, one of the servants turned
back and rode at me, but bullet from
my Colt took him in the shoulder, and he
rode off bowling in direction at right
angles to that in which we were gallop-
ing.
The second servant was apparently in
terrible panic, and at last he swerved off
and left his master alone. Sofa, seeing
this, turned I'm his saddle and fired after
him, making the silent woods ring with
oaths. And all the time 1 was gaining on
him. 1 knew that II he once got behind
rock there he could pick me off at his
leisure, and so 1 strove my hardest to
come up with him, paying no heed to my
burning wound. Just as he turned to the
corner, and stood outlined for a second
against the blue night sky, he turned and
fired on me. and our bullets crossed. He
took me Just above the knee, but mine hit
him somewhere under the breastbone. and
he pitched out of his saddle heavily. l
rode cautiously up, but when / saw his
face I knew that the danger was past.
Juan Sola was dead!
Quite how I got back to the town do
not know I must have tainted from pain
and loss of blood many times, but the
good old horse pulled me through and
carried me safely to the Warden ranch,
where Tom, carrying his badly wounded
brother, had arrived long before By the
time / arrived the whole story of the
frustrated elopement was public property
and great was the rejoicing when l turn
ed up alive, though damaged, the general
consensus of opinion having been that
when / set out to pursue the Mexican
and his two servants 1 had gone on my
last ride.
So poor little Nelly had her hands full,
with two great invalids to look after. Jim
got better sooner than 1 did, having only
a bullet track across his ribs, but that was
to my advantage, seeing that when he got
better she was free to devote more time
to me. She made me tell her all about
my chase and how I felt in her gown and
hat 1 told her a lot more, too, a good
deal that wouldn't interest you, perhaps
INF xuba1 xva In of
conversation, of course, the silly idiot
must slap me on the back, and roar out:
II told you So Dick! / told you you
stood to get something good out of the
businessr'
AS I often tell little Nelly did.