Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-10-14
ment resembled Alderson's, rejecting

to carry such an unusually heaVy din
at such an extraordinary
pace. And to think that his faithful
service should be so far forgotten that
he should be rudely stimulated with a
Yet he was merely being
urged into a simple trot, and no oO-
server would have accused his charm
ing rider of cruelty to her beast
She glanced back once or twice. The
sun was disappearing rapidly from
view behind the treacherous path Of
the q. s. snow slide, and the canyon
was narrowing perceptibly in the
gloom. This she knew was due entire
ly to her Imagination, and tried to
maintain her courage by glancinS
ahead toward Mt. Abram, the last
peak to release the lingering rays Of
the sun in the evening. She blessed
II for its kindly brilliancy as it stood,
q guardian sentinel over the mining
camp Of Ouray, and was glad 1t
seemed so deceptively close.
Two Of the most dangerous places
on the trail, the hanging rock and the
switchback, were passed safely and
without interruption. There was only
one more place to be particularly
dreaded, the watering trough, now
half q mile ahead. She tried to forget
the frightful disasters that had occur
red at this spot, which had proved the
setting for several tragedies every
year. She endeavored to shut from her
mind the thought that the canyon
was deeper there than anywhere else
along the road, and that the rocks
jutted out as though attempting 10
push travellers over the edge. Yet try
as she would, in that brief half-mile
every incident she had heard about the
place came back to her with startling
| clearness.
The day had almost faded as Prince
skunk into the narrow passageway
leading around the watering trough.
They passed safely along for con-
sderable distance and her heart gave
q bound of joy as the trough came
into view. Surely the worst was past
and her fears were groundless.
As they reached the trough, how.
ever. her worst fears were confirmed
An arm shot out to the bride rein
and three figures sprang from the
shadows. Prince snOrted wildly, and
4: was brute strength that kept hin
from plunging frantically over tht
edge.
Two Of the fellows, all Of WHOM,
were masked, stood at the horses
head. The third advanced slowly to
ward her, and she felt the cold barre
of a revolver touch her cheek. III
laid one hand upon the horn Of he
saddle and leered up at her; the whit
mask gave his face an unearthly as
pect.
why, this amt our man." h
erowled, sullenly after brief inspec
ton. "It amt man at all; it's
woman"
by CAD, it's the schoolma' am" sal,
second voice. She's purity, ain
she, boys?"
The first speaker interposed. "Le
her 90, boys; it's dangerous to tai
here. She can't get to town in tim
to interfere with pur game"
The second man reached out hant
"I'm powerful hungry, miss, and tina
dinner-basket looks good to me-" Bot
men released the bride rein as h
spoke.
Nellie McSwain felt her heart thro
wildly, and then 1t almost seemed t
fail her. For a moment it seemed sh
would faint.
"I'll give you a sandwich; it's all
have left in the basket" Her voic
was a mere whisper. She reached !
under the napkin and her hand cam
out holding something bright and shiI
ing.
This sandwich Is buttered wit
powder and leadw she shrieked, ian
I'll give you all bite Of it If yo
don't look out!'
| udo Dun
the cruel blow he received from IL
schoolma'am's riding whip at that M
ment, though she has tried to explai
it to him time and again. He respon'
( ed nobly, however, and then began
, wild fight over the winding tral
: during which the schoolma'am wa
l conscious of nothing save the reve
berations in her mind Of the discordal
, laugh that followed from the ruffiaI
!, behind.
1t was a wild figure that rode Il
to the little station, where the trail
men were giving the air brakes on N
final test before its departur
e She gasped out her story to the ope
= mouthed station agent, and almo
dropped the heavy basket on his TO
: in her anxiety to perform her sci
appointed duty to the end. 81