Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-06-24
PLUCKY MARE SAVED HIM.
kNEe.peeP IN BLUEGRASS.
We'll Dressed Young Man Relates
Why He Was SO Anxious 10 Buy a
Buckskin Horse. Despite Lame Be.
hind-Dolly Proved True in a Pinch

Oh breath Whcn he arrived at the |
chute. where a load Of Horses shipped |
from New Mexico was about to be |
unloaded.
When the young man reached the |
place two or three animals mad al |
ready passed down the chute and
were stretching their legs in the cor.
raj. The young man examined the
animals sharply and then stepped UP
to the agent of the consignee.
Gould buy one of those horses"
Certainly. young man, that's what
We get EN- for, replied the agent.
(which one do you WANT"
There was an expression of perpleX
lily on the face of the customer 81
would bet my head heard her whin
ny ne muttered.
They areif't very pretty lot ven.
tured the agent. but they're all right
BY George. there's one more in the
car" he exclaimed. as he raised the
bars he had dropped and allowed
buskskin mare. desperately lame be.
hind, to come out.
The face Of the young man lighted
up and he sprang at the fence and
valuted 1t before the agent could pre-.
vent him.
Dolly! It's you. Dolly" he sobbed,
as he threw his arms about the little
mares neck. She rubbed her nose
on his coat and pricked her ears for.
ward and backward WITH pleasure at
the meeting.
The agent allowed the horse and
man to say "howdy' to each other and
then inquired:
We'll. young fellow, how much will
you give for herr"
How much do you want?" replied
the man.
"Sixty.five dollars said the agent
and the young man started to count
out the bills.
The mare stood quietly by until
the trade had been made and then
followed her new owner to the corral.
Il don't need any halter" said the
young man. II guess We know one
another well enough to get to the
barn without being roped.'
The mare followed like a dog ond
together they entered one of the big
stables.
give her all she wants and fix her
ap as we'll as you can he remarked
10 the barn men. and after looking
sver his purchase for several minutes.
se went into the office.
Seems to know you, sir said one
u the hostlers.
z it, toll, inl . a..
Voung man. she knows me and
certainly know her. She isn't pretty,
cut wouldn't trade her for English
Lad. or Hamburg Belle. or any OF
hose flyers, and I guess Dan Patch
would be overlooked II Mr.. Savage
should. offer to swap with me for
Dolly"
"why?"
well, I'll tell you. A year ago
last summer I was in the California
mountains. was broke as the old
man and myself had temporary dis
agreement. was working with a
railroad as timekeeper. had to ride
twelve miles a day through the rough
est country In California and the lit
tie mare useu 10 carry me.
Il would not be here II II had moi
been for her nerve when mine failed
One day We were going along a twist
Ing trail thar WIS being changed into
Q railroad grade. The men had clear
ed the chaparral from both sides, and
the gummy, res!nous stun lay stewing
In the sun. The grade lay along the
side OF canyon and In some places
tho mountain was so steep that {
man could toss stone half mile.
The grade had been carried into
the gulches on either side OF a jut
ting spur and then out again on tn,
face OF the spur and around to III,
opposite gulch. The front OF the spu
was straight up 500 feet, and where
the grade passed around It shelvet
Off at an angle OF about thirty de
grees TO a river $500 feet below
1T was bad sort OF place 70
a tenderfoot, but Dolly and myseI
had negotiated II many times and
had confidence In her judgment.
Dolly kept pricklng her ears back
ward and casting sidelong glances a
me. and / did all | could to sooth
her. Finally there came a pun 0
wind that carried some of the brand
clear out on the mountain side an
In a few more seconds, by leanin
over the edge Of the grade, | coul
see the blue smoke and yellow flame
as they ate their way into the heap
of brush. The smell OF the rosin /
the chaparral struck me as being 10
close for comfort, and | told the III
tie mare 10 move along.
When a gust OF white fame sweI
UP out OF the furnace and touche
my left side, felt my senses rec
and expected the next moment TO
my last. There was a lull in the a
tack of the fire just at this junctur
and the old mare turned her hea
around and looked me square!y in n
eye.
We'll, young fellow she said, 'yo
have managed to get us in nice fl
haven't you, now? But I'll try TO q
us out. Can you hang on when | 9
through? Get ready for I'm going
try it,
II just had time TO murmur Int
THU hands command my shirt