The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-28

found one day hanging high up in the
forks of an elm, his head wedged be-
tween two limbs, and 1t was rumored
that the young negro giant had cap
tured the man, and, in a playful spirit,
climbed the tree and executed him
single handed 1t was a fearsome tale,
and men whispered it to one another
guardedly.
Out of some horse stealing expedition
Nellie Gray" had obtained a fine white
horse. Strong and swift, fine imbed,
and pure bred, the horse won the old
negress' fancy. She had never loved a
human creature cruel owner had
beaten hatred into her as child slave
but on the horse she lavished a world
of care and petting. Astride its back,
man fashion, she was wont to scour the
big timber at night, charging along
lonely paths and wailing a song which
was said to have been inspired by the
evil one In that day of superstition.
among a superstitious people. Nelly
Gray" welded a terrible power.
only the great british son dared to
oppose her-only he saw through her
theatrical pOsings and knew that in her
heart there was constant fear. the fear
( of treachery He laughed at her when
she saddled the gray and started away
into the dark woods wailing her Devils
song.
On a certain summer night, when the
son had reached the age of twenty, a.
4 dance was held at a negro shanty ten
miles down the river. The news of the
affair came to the mans ears late in the
! afternoon. The horse that he had been
used to riding was loose somewhere in
the woods, and only the gray was in the
log stable Perhaps the boy was not
diplomatic, perhaps he overestimated
his power; when he demanded the horse
to ride the old woman turned upon nina
IN fury and babe him be gone from her
sight If he touched hair or hide of the
gray that night, he should answer for
IT. The row was fierce one, and the
/ boy went away, apparently beaten.
AS the night closed down upon them,
1.-THE old negress strobe out to saddle
/ her horse for her accustomed ride.
Down the river road she went. crying
out that inevitable song above the noise
OF the water Back she came four
hours later, the gray dripping with
sweat. Where the road turned the cor
ner of the fence, near the cabin, skirt
ing close to the steep river bank,
black figure SpTang suddenly into the
read ahead. There came the deep quick
report of big shotgun, a hendish
laugh of triumph. and the gray, wheel
ing suddenly, slipped over the river
bank. Horse and women were swept
down by the strong current-and, after
ALL Jess Gray did not reach the dance
that night.
The cowboy rehearsed this tale a
dozen times in the five minutes before
he came to the ford. Imagination
would not be quieted-the awful, SIMS
ter shape of that old negress was as
WILDLY before him as the unquiet ears
Of his Prophet pony. The cabin was
but grotesque blot over there, the
fence had rOtted to an indistinct blur.
As the puncher urged his pony into
the water he glanced down towards
that old river road. Was it his fancy
that heard the swift steady pounding
of hoofs2 He stopped his horse to lis
ten Nearer and nearer the hoofbeats
I came and as he half crouched in ex-
pectation of the gunshot a wailing cry
came from the woods A shotgun
roared, and fifty feet below him some
fheavy body splashed into the river.
Terrified now beyond self-control,
Sandy spurred his Prophet pony into
the water. Over that 200 yards of
boulder stream river bed the sturdy
little beast fioundered under whip and
spur. the rider half-sobbing as he urged
/ him on. Beyond the river, in the open
I prairie his nerve returned to him; ne
dismounted to examine his horses
bruised legs and splintered hoofs.
Sanity 4and a terrible regret for his
MANNED pony came to him. 1t was not
/ Of ghosts he thought as he led the
/ crippled pony the ten miles to Gray
sons, arriving in the early dawn
Watching his beloved Prophet pony
hobbling about the horse pasture, after
! he had come to be called among the
COWBOYS "I.imping Prophet" the
puncher wondered and wondered, with
shudders that would not be suppressed
But six months later he heard of the
panther that Luke Sixkiller had chased
up Grand River and shot near Carey
Ford on the night he went from old
Tookh Steh's to GraysOn S.-NeW York
Post