The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-09-29

Gertrude Castle, VenturesOme
Texas girl, will hereafter have story
to tell that will not fail to arouse
breathless interest. That she sur
wives to tell it excites the wonder of
those who witnessed her peril. The
young woman lives with her parents
on ranch near the new line of rail-
road that has just been constructed
between Brentwood and Brady.
few days ago young man, who
was working for Mr. Castle, was
thrown from a wild mustang and so
badly hurt that it was deemed neces-
sary to summon a physician as hur-
riedly as possible. Mr.. Castle was
confined to his bed with fever, and
there was no one about the premises
to attend to the urgent matter but his
daughter. When Miss Gertrude came
to look around for a horse she was
chagrined to discover that the animals
were all loose in pasture long dis
lance from the house.
In this emergency her eyes hap
pened to fall upon a pet steer that
was standing in one of the corrals.
This peculiar animal is as gentle as a
lamb and usually as easily managed
under the saddle as a trained mus
tang He was raised a pet and, being
finely formed, pretty and remarkably
docile, he is great favorite with
everybody on the ranch. Children play
with him as they would with harm
less, friendly dog, and boys and girls
have ridden him without fear since
he was a yearling. Milk white, swift,
and of proud bearing, he makes his
part of an interesting picture as he
gallops along the road with a pretty
girl on his back.
The fearless Texas girl did not
glance a second time at Comanche.
Calling the pet steer she ran to the
barn to procure a halter and saddle.
A few moments afterwards she was
galloping along the road towards
Brentwood.
People will laugh at me-" she whis-
pered to herself, but Comanche can
travel like a racehorse and he is as
pretty as a picture"
For the first four miles nothing oc-
Cured to mar the pleasure of the ride,
for the healthy girl enjoyed the ex-
citement and the puzzled look on the
faces of the people she met and
passed. Then she heard a rumbling
noise behind her, and upon turning
her head she saw a locomotive and a
train OF cars coming towards her at
a high rate of speed. The wagon road
that Comanche was following ran par
allel with the railroad track and close
to It, The girl cast her eyes towards
Brentwood and it looked as If the
two roads ran side by side, clear into
the town. To all appearances it was
level plain and perfectly straight
tracks
Now for racel" she exclaimed,
IS she gave the steer a smart cut with
her riding whip. The shrek of the
locomotive sounded like challenge.
and with blood warmed to exhilaration
by the exciting situation she turned
ler head and beckoned to the engi-
leer to come on.
The locomotive was soon by her
5ide and the passengers were cheer
ng with wild enthusiasm. "They
want me to beatl" she exclaimed.
and they will have my name in the
,apers."
A sharp whistle from the locomotive
attracted her attention, and when she
ooked she noticed that she was forg-
ng ahead, actually beating an ex-
'ress. Comanche is really racer
vas the thought uppermost in hear
mind, suddenly replaced by chill of
lorror.
In front of her and not many steps
way she saw something that nearly
ongealed her blood. The road made
sudden turn directly across the rail-
DAD track. A glance convinced her
hat 1t was too late to check the speed
4 the steer, and she knew that It
Tould be impossible to turn him or
orce him to leave the road and 60