The Cairo bulletin., 1906-05-21

inJuhs-half mile back--comln
rapid" he shouted. The girl. of GOO
height for woman, broad hipped. full
| breasted, a healthy red showing through
the tan Of her cheeks, her smooth brown
hair braided carelessly to her waist hel
arms akimbo, stared at him doubtfully
as he filled with quick slaps the empty
chambers of a revolver
Git along, stranger" she called, in
singaons tones. Reckon you re
arcard"
Inc mustangs ears az that instant
stood straight once more ana quiyering.
Mead turned upon the girl, and covered
; her with the revolver.
GIT yer horse an yer family goIn,
quick, he ordered, deliberately Tor
a second the girl did not move, but
smiled deliantiy at him. then she stood
bolt upright tense, listening She
heard now the confused rumble ofmany
horses faraway at which the tired mus
tang was already dancing impatientlE
she disappeared within the building
while he sat in the narrow trail, the
noise Of the pursuit growing rapidly
louder in his ears A frightened whin-
nylng came from somewhere at The rear
OF the main cabin; door slammed and
a single, squhtty, dirty-yeilow mustang
sprang into sight around the corner oe
the structure, the girlstraddlng its bare
back. - that moment a shriekine. 1
echoing yell arose behind them. They /
had been seens Then the race began 7
once more, the black mustang pounding (
doggedly behind the wicked pace OF the
yellow beast
Two miles farther on he came up with
the girl as they were fording narrow
creek.
Amt seen an Injun sence we've ben
thar" she gaspea between breaths, as
il in explanation Dad, he's weat to
Santa Re
"Throo III canyon?"
She nodded her head as they reached
the farther bank and she took the lead
again. But the black mustang was
Weakening his gait wavered, his eyes
were blcodshot. At last be stumbled
and fen on one knee the leg snapped
ana he lay quiyering across the trail.
The girl turned abruptly and came back
Mead took the mail bags from the mus
tang's back and threw them to her
'l'll hold EN- back while We git
start he said, laconically, drawing his
pistols. he turned to face the trait
'Good-by,' he called over his shoulder
Stranger. the girl said. quietly. He
yhirled and faced a small pistol she had
lrawn from her belt Cit up behind. I
quick. amt a-goin to bulge a foot af
'e don't" she added as he hesitated.
Mead laughed aloud as he thought how
quickly she had turned his own game
lpon him. Then she laughed also as he
urned and mercifuIly shot the black /
mustang, before leaping up behind her
The yellow mustang struggled for
yard braYely under the double burden
'ut the contest was unequal. The hoof- :.
eats behind them grew louder and nj Y,
asst they could hear the noise of gut. y
nral voices from behind the turns in =
he winding trail. A few moments later Y
n arrow struck fire in the roadway be Z
de them. Then, as Mead reached down VI
II revolver, the girl uttered a low y
'y There was the fort, less than -
Tile away, its bare walls looming gray 20
/ the distance.
Together they spurred the strainina
'dst beneath them down the long in
inc, While arrows and an occasional 70
lllet whirred and sang about them
hey could hear now he quick breathof
&c tired horses behind them. the trl- y :"
nphant shouts. the heat Of stingina
ongs upon q dozen launches. Now
me the short MP hin stretch TO the
TT, little more than quarter of A 81
lie away. but the exhausted mustang
yered with each bound up the ascent. n
5 reach growing shorter his pace slow M
Two arrows struck him almost at "a
2 same instant, and ln fell heavily. g&
It Mead had jumped clear, carrying the VI
Il with him. They were on their feet ,
ickly.
Rum he called. His first shot rana
/, and an indian trailel from the sad.
;. Others went down before his steady .a'~
D as he ran backward up the in.
ne. HIS left arm fell limp and the
tol dropped TO the ground Some one !
ked il up. Some one was firing calm |
beside him. The horses were alnlos, /
them and the sheering. gloaiinq. ]
nted faces, when he heard vaguely ~ "a
milling, many-voiced cheer behind
n, then the foremost Indians looked
ond him and Wheeled suddenly and
he'd duuD The bill in scattering con q
ion.
. few days later man. his arm stiv
a sling. rod down the hin from For,
ion a sirl rode beside him. The An
n looked a Der furtyely now ana
II and his rugged face ahowed I'm
rassmeLt III
Say" he said at last. 1--WE got red
bred temper I'm mean. I am" -
Huh, she answered. staring at the
o. The man hesi,atcd for moment 80
I've got Sl4l7 exact" DC remarked J
he girl did not change her position.
he man was silent for a moment or :
Vhere're We hcadin' fer2" he ske5