The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-20
ROMANCE OF sHALE MOUNTAINS.

was spent among the mountains in fol
lowing one occupation or another Will,
| as yet he far from showed his age-beins
tall, handsome when in parlor tog) ane
| strong Of wind and muscle-yet IL ha,
| begun to be a saying among the COW
punchers that the surrounding mount
, aims were little hills when Bill came I.
these parts.
The game season was about to open
| when one day Bill received a letter post
| marked Chicago, which read as fol
lows:
Dear BILL am going to be with yo,
| again this year for months hunt thi.
| time with my wife. I will be in Meekel
| on the 18th. and hope you can meet n,
| there at that time.
! JOEL CARLTON"
! We'll, if I don't get locoed some wa,
every year." commented Bill. as he lait
the letter down. If l could only star
| the season with someone else besides thai
| drunken galoot / believe my luck would
come back And this is my thirteenth
year at guiding, too. Well, I'm a gomez
! this season, sure. for il his gun doesn',
| blow my head off accidentally while he:
drunk, his wifell shoot herself. or one
| of us, or a doe for a buck-or something
| The Harp stage arrived in Meeker at
o'clock on the afternoon of August 18th
| and as the passengers rolled out in front
/ d
a light suit, accompanied by a darkroom
plexioned. medium-sized lady in brown
! stepped forth, being received with the
usual ceremony by Bill. The night was
passed in Meeker, and next morning the
party boarded Bills light spring wagon
for the ride to his ranch, thirty miles UP
the White.
1t was quite a relief to Bill next morn
ing while the horses were being saddled
for he n ay-'S hrsny 10 Myc cr1r ION
come forth in a sensibly-vut divided skirt
and Furthermore to note that she carried
her rifle scabbord to her horse and prop
erly hung and adjusted it for use.
The woman's got some sense, after
ALL inwardly commented Bill.
Have drink before we start?' said
Carlton, as he passed flask toward
Bill.
NO, thank you. I'll show you more
bucks with horns if l do without it," re-
piled the latter.
Il do wish. Mr.. Jones, you would in
duce my husband to stop his liquor
habit" whispered Mrs. Carlton, as she
rode up to Bill.
Bits heart melted when his vision be-
held those Understanding orbs, and he
formed mental resolution to invent
some remedy that would assist in bringing
about the desired end.
Mr. Jones, do you really think you can
get me standing shot on this trip ven
tured Mrs Carlton, as they were return
ing to camp while her husband. in the
rear. emptied the flask.
SeWhy, OF course / can," replied Bill
But you'll likely need more'n one stand
ing shot, if you've never killed deer
before
Next morning they had been hunting
for about an hour, when Carlton re-
marked that he believed he'd picket his
horse and rest awhile under spruce tree:
No objection being offered he proceeded
to dismount, while the others continued
through the forest Presently they jump
ed buck and Bill suggested that now
would be a good time for his charge to
do some still hunting. She therefore dis
mounted and walked cautiously ahead,
while Bill followed. leading the horses
IN a short time a report rang out. follow
ed by triumphant shout from the young
huntswoman, and in moment she was
running down the trail toward Bill, hat
less, breathless and without gun, her
happy. laughing face and extended hands
telling plainly of her victory.
Il owe ii to you, Bill; owe it to you
oh, he is such big one, too-a monster
as big as a steer-oh! I'm so happy. L
didn't go up to him at ALL but saw him
fall. and 1 dropped my gun and ran to
tell you Of the good luck. i want to tell
Joel-oh! 1 must tell him quick. Won't
he be proud of mel
These words were uttered in one long
sentence. with not enough interruption
between for Bill to say a word. He
couldn't refuse her outstretched hands.
though and reciprocated the grasp in
his clumsy way. AS they stood in this
position-Bill holding the foremost horses
rein over his arm and shaking his COM
lot. fh.ar
appeared a horseman on the bluff above,
a quarter of mile away. He was on
bed of shale rock which seemed to be
sliding him down toward a precipice not
over fifty feet below him.
Why it's Carlton,' yelled Bill. IF /
don't get to him in time he's a goner,
for that precipice has a big drop:
Bill went up over the first approach to
the shaIe rock as if travelling on level
ground, and when he started over the
dangerous point, Cartons horse was
within twenty-five feet of the precipice.
Bill called. It didn't look as if he could
reach him in time. and even then they
both might go over. The rattle Of the
sliding rocks drowned his voice. The
lasso was the only hope With one end
tightly hitched to the horn of his haddle.
he prepared to use ii within a seconds
notice. all the time calling to Carlton. and
urging his horse forward. "Ah, at last
he sees the precipice.'' said Bill. as he
limp movement in the man TO
dismount. He got clear of his horse. but
alighted in the midst of a sliding mass
of rock that was slowly, surely carrying
him down.
When within fifty feet of the sliding
rock with its human burden Bill threw the
lasso. which caught his aim perfectly,
coiling around Cartons waist. But the
sudden jerk pulled Bits horse of his
feet and on top Of his rider. while Carl
ton disappeared over the edge of the prec-
ipice. the rope releasing as he fell, show
ing that he must have slipped through
the coil in his cum bersome drop.
It was dark that night on Shale mount
ain when Bill awakened from a spell Of
Inconsistencies lasting several hours Ii
was not so dark. however. but that he
could detect a pair Of tear-dimmed eyes
down into his with a mingled
feeling OF grief and pity.
Why, Where's Carlton? Let me UP.
he said. as he noticed there was a hand
placed on his right arm 20 intercept his
rising movement
Don't get up yet for awhile" she said
You must rest a little longer
Where's Cartoon" he once more asked
'*Oh. BiIlt' she sobbed. hes dead"
and the Erlti-SiTtChrfs NoIlsaA OA4trN HSi
face in her hands.
Bits silence was his only answer.
is my leg tied TO anything he asked.
after awhile. 1T feels Ike there was
something heavy on it.
Your leg is badly hurt. I'm afraid.
she said trying 20 overcome her sorroT-
Although very weak and suffering from !
( severe pain IN the forehead as q result I
y his fall from the horse. he managed 70 !
sit ED when he saw by the shape IN which /
his right foot was lying that the leg was /
broken. He had sur1nised as much. judy /
ng by the pain and peculiar feeling in the /
limb.
Sunlnoning up the Iron nerve for which /