The Lamar register., 1903-12-23
aMeuvXear
Conquest%
BY
CHARLES MOREAU RARGR
A Story of the Great SouthWest

the ranches looking after sleek and
well-bred herds.
The cattle kings daughter. whose
prospective wealth entitled her to the
rank of princess, sat under the striped
awning on the rear platform of the
train, gazing wearily at the monot-
orous landscape.
"How long are we to stay here?"
she demanded of the porter who was
industriously trying to keep the leath-
er-covered chairs clean. He did not
answer-he did not know. She went
back to the parlor of the other private
car and accosted the quiet woman who
sat by the window sewing. "Auntie,
how long is this to last?"
Until your father gets back or
there are orders"
I'm tired of tim going out of
doors"
She seized jacket and cap, slipped
down the side steps and disappeared
behind the squalid depot. A dilapi-
dated livery stable stood in the sun
shine. Il want riding horse-quick!"
The man fairly trembled in his anx-
iety to serve the city girl, and in a
moment she was cantering over the
sand and sage brush. headed straight
for the green hills in the distance.
Away and away she sped, delighting
in the free rush of the wind, the swish
of her pony's hoofs through the grass
and the exhilaration of the open lands.
At last she turned the horses head
where was the station? Nothing but
rolling plain, not shining with sun
light, but dampened by shadow. With
little cry of terror she sent her
mount racing ahead and strained her
eyes for the engine smoke on the
horizon.
"Ah, there it is-but so far awny!"
She surmised what had happened
her father had reached station far
ther down the line and wired for the
train to join him. and they had not
discovered her absence before starting.
AS she looked she saw of to the left
another rider-a wide-hatted ranch
man-toward him she rode. AS she
drew nearer her cheeks grew red and
her eyes frightened. Once she stopped
and turned as if to leave him. Then
he came close to her.
"Oh. Mr.. Mason, what shall l do?"
Frank Mason, the handsome ranch
superintendent, scarcely recognized
her. bowling so slightly that it seemed
to be merely the motion of his horse.
what is the matter. madam
Don't be mean''-the girls eyes
were beseeching.
But you told me never to speak to
you again-only this morning."
Yes, know. but you see how it is
the train has gone-it is almost
evening and here | am"
1T does look serious. doesn't it?
Where do they think you are?"
They don't think. Aunty's prob
ably gone to sleep and won't wake up
until midnisht-the others think I'm
in my room, in papa's car"
1T is serious-and nobodys at the
ranch to take care of you. | suppose
they will come back tomorrow any
how
"To-morrow!" The girl fairly
screeched the word. We must get
them now-to-night. don't you under
stand--now!"
But it is 80 miles to the next tele-
graph station-how can the engineer
get orders?"
He looked toward the train, which
was disappearing in cut between
some creek bluffs a mile or two below
the station.
You see. it's New Years day and
everybody but the stable boys and sta
ton agent has gone to the county seat
to a celebration. There's a dance to-
night, so they won't be home-yes, It is
serious"
Their horses were moving slowly
toward the station. yet long distance
away. They We're talking earnestly
and did not notice the curious move
ments of a herd of cattle that had
strayed from the grasslands toward
the station and now, hundreds and
hundreds of them. were pushing close
to the two figures. The girls bright
jacket and the flashing red of the cap
that topped her brown curls may have
caused their exceeding interest. When
huge fellow trotted in front of her
weary horse. the girl stared about her
in alarm.
''Oh, Franl;-Mr. Maso1-look,"
The young ranchman seemed much
excited. Hurry" he exclaimed. and
urged his horse into run. She can
tered by his side, alarmed by the
strange apparition of the herd, which
it seemed had risen out of the sod.
The ranchman saw something else
that the girl did not-a cluster of
earth mounds thrown up in the level
of the plain, the work of prairie dogs