The Washington times., 1904-01-03

As I afterward learned, It was on this
return to the ranch that Teddy put his
fate to the touch.
1t promised to be his last opportunity
for while. While In town he had oeen
notified to hold himself i'm readiness To
take out the westbound fast mail AT
midnight
Now, be the speaker fluent or tongue
tied. such things as Teddy had to say
do not utter themselves spontaneously.
So it came to pass that fifteen Of the
thirty miles had been galloped over be
fore. He said haltingly. 4 guess you
know why ] was so struck on seeing you
home tonight?"
How should l know?-except that L
know you are always headstrong.
Am I? It's part Of a runners nerve,
] guess. Man has to have nerve II he's
going to pound iron on the right-o' way.
Just the same, ! haven't the nerve 10
say what I've been aching to say to you
for month back. Miss Mary
She gathered her bride reins and her
gaze went afar over the dun hills yell
lowing under the Western sun.
I am glad you haven't" she rejoined.
slowly. not looking at him.
Harrison held his ground stolidly,
chewing at his moustache.
You mustn't come to the ranch any
more" says she.
You could have knocked me out with
a bunch o waste" said Teddy. when he
was telling me of it afterward Not
come to see you any more? says l. No,
says she
It's against the law to hang man
without telling him what for says l.
1t was just about then that we both
saw a slOuching chap riding by on top
o. the rise. He was heading for the
| anch. with the throttle wide open.
" If ] should tell you what for. says
She with 4 sort Of slow fire in her eyes.
! you'd never want 70 see me again, Mr..
harrison. And with that she hit the
horse a lick and was gone"
That night II was the private opinion
of the roundhouse force. more or less
publicly expressed, that Larrison's lay
4 OFF had ruined his temper beyond repair.
/ And. when the big eight-wheeler had
| been backed to her stand at the station
| Teddy perched himself like sulky boy
on his box seat and let the fireman "oil
/ around"
/ 1t was while he was sitting thus in
sullen majesty that the incoming mail
{ brakes and drumming wheels. Larrl-
sons ears caught another sound-the
quick thudding of unshod hoofs on the
! dry hard soil OF the mesa.
! II was a moonless night, and the
! sheen Of the electric headlight made
everything Egyptian dark behind it,
None the less, harrison saw a horse
picking his way across the tracks in
/ the yard toward the cab or the 6l9
When the horse came under the cab
! window he saw that it was ridden by
| a woman. His sullenness vanished like
| the mists Of the morning when a voice
we'll known and well loved came up Il
| him out OF the darkness, rs that you
Mr.. Larrison?''
You bet it's me; it's always me when
/ you're the one that's askin'" he re.
/ joined promptly. What's happened2"
THE worst that could happen" SIN,
quavered. "A man has come-fron
Tennessee-with "a warrant. He is
taking father TO the train at Black
| Canyon, 10 carry him East by Maverick
and the short line. He was afraid the
boys might find out and overtake hin
II he came this way.
Taking Bart Howison-when n,
didn't want TO go?" said Teddy, in
yes. All Ling, the cook. told me
Father was alone in the ranchhOuse
/ and the man slipped up behind him
/ There was a Tight.
harrison was coolly disregarding the
conductors signal TO go What hav,
| they got against your father"
"A charge OF murder. But he is limo.
! cent and-oh, Mr.. harrison, you must
help me, He will never tell. and ht
will be lynched II they get him bach
| to Bledso county"
I'm yours 10 command. same a