The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-01-20
x y a x X X X X X x 4 x X x \
; \ A RACE FOR LIFE =

By RUTH RANSOM.

The road wound through a dense
labyrinth of chaparral, or mezquite, as
1t is called in native parlance, thickly
interspersed with the thorny pinned cac
tus and fan leafed palmetto.
They had but just crossed the mar
row way, where two faint bride paths
diverged on either hand, leading into
what seemed an impenetrabe thicket
Of mezquite, when Selim showed I'M
, mistakable signs of disliking to go on.
Bertha, too, noticed that old Hector
pricked up his ears, and seemed shy
of advancing. She was about to re-
mark as much, when, with a furious
snort, Selim bounded to one side, and
there, in the middle of the path, direct
ly before them, stood swarthy Next
can, armed to the teeth, and as cruel
and crafty looking as any Indian.
They were nearly three miles from
| town, on a lonely little travelled road,
where all sorts of crimes had been com
mitted, where brave men had died by
the aSsassin's hand and thieves
| prowled at pleasure, unrestrained by
either law or conscience, but they wise
| ly gave no evidence of alarm, and
boldly confronted the bowling intruder.
Good morning, sonora he said,
with his snaky eyes downcast, III as
sumed humility, lifting as he spoke,
! his dilapidated sombrero.
Miss Maynard acknowledged his sal
utation by slight nod, and slowly
rode on, as outwardly calm and I'M
concerned as if the Unlocking Next
! can were no more to be feared than
the most harmless hare that ever found
shelter in the tangled mezquite.
Bertha glanced anXiously at the
dark foliage within which he had dis
appealed, and said, in a low tone:
Lets go back, Annette. Did you
notice the peculiar expression of his
little beady, black eyes? He intends
us no good, 1 feel sure of it, and GER
tainly he envies you the possession of
Selim."
Perhaps we had better return, al
though l hate to show the white feath-
err within three miles of my brothers
regiment" reluctantly assented the
majors sister, bringing her horse to
standstill.
Hector turned willingly about, but
Selim was nervous, and did not obey
so readily. While his young rider was
coaxing him into submission she was
startled by quick, alarmed Cry from
Bertha:
Good heavens, Annette. we are sur
roundedw
1t was true. A dozen MeXicans stood
between Annette and Bertha, complete
ly cutting off Annette's retreat to
Brownsville.
Annette instantly comprehended TIE
peril of her position, and the motive
which induced the low browed rascals
to make her their victim instead of
Bertha.
Ride back to town.! she cried. ride
back as fast as ever you can! It's Selim
they want. I'll make run for the
open prairie; it is my only chance for
life"
In a second the gray was dashing
for Brownsville, followed by a jeering
laugh from the Mexicans, who did not
attempt to stay its progress.
Annette Inook the rein, and, with
a free head, Selim flew down the mar
row road.
The Mexicans, as she we'll knew, had
their tough little ponies concealed near
by, and were soon in hot pursuit of
the flying girl.
Her heart grew faint within her
when she saw the deadly lariat coiled,
ready for instant use, at each saddle
bow, knowing, as she did, the dexteri-
ty Of the murderous hands that used it
with such fatal effect.
"The wretches mean to steal you,
Selim," she whispered, as if the ami
NAL could understand her words; "but
they shall not, for you shall die I'M
der my weight before I'll see you be-
come a prisoner to such cruel cap
torsr'
Just as she ceased speaking, Selim
gave a tremendous bound to one side.
At the same moment a sharp, whzzing
sound was heard close to her ear, and
something that felt like the lash of a
whip grazed her cheek.
A Spanish curse Immediately there
after, mingled with the Gathering of
hoof beats, telling the dauntless girl
that through the timely shying of her
horse the lasso had missed its mark
The noble creature recovered its feet |
in an instant, and came to the road as
straight as an arrow, and at a speed |
that sent the chaparral whirling by, |
a mass of indistiguishable foliage.