The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-08

tanned her assumed stupor as long as
she could
Then she yawned. gradually resumed
her normal appearance, and sat up
Good Lord. girl exclaimed Deckton
You did give us n fright We found
you unconscious in the barn. and the
horses gone. What happened TO you2
Did they knock you down.,
Il don't think So answered Nellie.
passing her hand over her forehead. Il
fell; was so excited II must have
been that.
But you saw thenryou saw-the
fhieves.''
.YesI saw-sorne one taking the
horses.
did you know them?.'
Il tainted. l did not have much time
to lock,
How many were there
iOh. / couldn't tell
More thai one?"
.oh, yes, / saw two. at least
What did I tell your asked Welmer-
Wed made a fine job OF tackling such
a gang on foot There were probably
halt a Cozen more. I'm well enough
satisfied. Let the horses CO.
Where the devil is the MANI" asked
Deckton. HAS anyone seen him
Il haven't answered Kate.
He must have heard Us speak of
horse thieves and got out without being
noticed said Nellie HE would follow,
even il he was killed. He is no coward
Welmer WINGED There was an implied
sneer in her words
1T isn't a matter OF cowardice. he
said. I'VE knew we could no, catch
mounted men,
Nellie knew Of one she hoped was
mounted by that time. and out OF reacn-
The dawn was breaking. and with II
came Charlie Ok
Nellie turned slightly paler rs ne en-
tered, fearing that by a single careless
word he would give the cue to the
others
But Chaotic saw the situation. though
his face vas dull as ever.
Wen, cid you see anyone2" asked
Deckton.
Vas" said Charlie sto1idIy. Il tank
7 see men on da horses running I tank
all da horses gone
"You are a wise thinker commented
Welmer
pas all right said Charlie, with a
calm look straight into NeIIIe's eyes
She understood. It was all right. She
breathed more freely as she thought of
Cayright galicping safely up the Big
Elk tran.
The subject of horse thieves occupied
them for an hour or two. and then
Kate, with Neliie's aid. got breakfast
While this was In process Of prepara-
| ton. Deckton wandered outside
Hello" he roared in through q win
dow at Welmer, who was watching Mel
lie The horses are in the orchard,''
Welmer gave a leap through the win
dow and joined his comrades.
The two astonished men saw their
four horses quietly grazing and wan
dering at will.
Nellie or the man must have fright
ened them OF" said welmer. There
s. was another horse, though"
Deckton turned and looked at Weimer
contemplatively
-tweimer.' he asked. did you ever
know Of a horse thief aandoning his
| booty when he once got started VITA It
I mean abandoning It at the sight Of
woman or a fool of herder?''
MOO" said Welmer 1T is queer"
Now, look here. Welmer You and
I have had a hand in more than one
risky piece of business. Suppose you and
l had come here after those horses We
| get them loose We mount We see
girl who faints- Are we going to get
off the horses and run away on foot,
leaving the horses for pursuers?''
Welnler shook his head.
There's something queer in all this
7 don't understand it. I'm going TO pin
| that girl down to a-hullo. Here
comes Gavin Things happen queerly
out this way Horse thief and sheriff in
one BREATH
4 Gavin 1ieafi nv nd
Grimes. came riding up 20 the door.
! ..Mornin'. Deckton.' said the sheriff.
"Anytbin' new2"
Father" replied Deckton Horse
| thieves
Eth. Horse thieves. Amt been
horse thief around here in year
Well there were some here last night
| or at east early this morning.. See
those horses out yonder?''
Yes
Those horses were tied in stan last
! night M wife heard some one in the
barn, and called rs. Welmer and 1
dressed. but Nellie was there first
and
Hey. what's that. What Nellie?"
/ asked Gavin. sliding to the ground and
/ standing before Deckton-
NV sister
| w hat lie Is THIS! Nellie Is at Oor-
don's''
she is. is she2 Well. take a peep
| in the Kitchen
! Gavin peered in and saw Nellie calm
| ly arranging the table
by the Lord he gasped. sitting
down and hopping his brow This
beats me l swear she slept at Cor
don's-"
She slept here, She ran away from
Gordon's and came here on foot
Did. Ell? And the horse thieves came
right after?
Yes"
How many horses did they take?''
| "OnIy one We had four, and the
herder they can Charlie Ok had one.
That's the only one not accounted for
We see our four from here"
.-Hef!''
1t came like breath of disappoint-
rnent and evaporation from the sheriff
In a flash he saw the truth.
| Gentlemen" he said-he tapped his
revolver-.-we've come little late.
We've got the reputation of bein' pretty
J