Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-04-30

"Injuns-half mile back--comin
 rapid" he. shouted. The girl, of good
 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. her
 arms akimbo, stared at him doubtfully
 as he filled with quick slaps the empty chambers of revolver.
 l "Git along, stranger" she called, in singsong tones. Reckon you're l afeard"
 The mustangs ears at that instant
 stood straight once more and quivering.
 Mead turned upon the girl, and covered her with the revolver
 Git yer horse an yer family goin', quick" he ordered, deliberately. For
 a second the girl did not move, but
 smiled deflantly at him; then she stood
 bolt upright, tense, listening. She
 heard now the confused rumble of many
 horses, far away, at which the tired mus
 tang was already dancing impatiently.
 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- | nying came from somewhere at the rear of the main cabin; door slammed and single. squatty, dirty-yeliow mustang sprang into sight around the corner Of the structure, the girl straddling it's bare back. At that moment a shrieking. echoing yell arose behind them They
 had been seen. Then the race began 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 a narrow l creek.
 "Ain't seen an Injun sence we've ben thar" she gasped between breaths, as if in explanation. Dad, he's went to Santa Fe.'
 "Throo tn 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 bloodshot. At last he stumbled and fell on one knee, the leg snapped, and he lay quivering 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.
 'T'll hold 'em back while ye git start" he said. laconically, drawing his pistols. He turned to face the. trail. "Good-by," he called over his shoulder.
 Stranger" the girl said, quietly. He whirled and faced small pistol she had drawn from her belt "Git up behind, quick. I ain't a-goin' to budge foot eff ye don't, she added as he hesitated.
 Mead laughed aloud as he thought how quickly she had turned his own game upon him. Then she laughed also as he turned and mercifully shot the black mustang, before learing up behind her.
 The yellow mustang struggled for ward bravely under the double burden, but the contest was unequal. The hoof- beats behind them grew louder and at last they could hear the noise of gut tural voices from behind the turns in the winding trail. A few moments later an arrow struck fire in the roadway be- side them: Then, as Mead reached down for a revolver, the girl uttered a low cry. There was the fort, less than a mile away, its bare walls looming gray in the distance.
 Together they spurred the straining beast beneath them down the long in- cline, while arrows and an occasional bullet whirred and sang about them. They could hear now the quick breath of the tired horses behind them, the tri- umphant shouts, the beat of stinging thongs upon a dozen launches. Now came the short uphill stretch to the fort, a little more than a quarter of a mile away, but the exhausted mustang shivered with each bound up the ascent, his reach growing shorter, his pace slow CT. Two arrows struck him almost at the same instant. and he fell heavily. But Mead had jumped clear, carrying the girl with him. They were on their feet quickly.
 "Run!" he called. His first shot rang out, and an Indian trailed from the sad- de. Others went down before his steady aim as he ran backward up the in- cline. His left arm fell limp and the pistol dropped to the ground. Some one picked 1t up. Some one was firing calm ly beside him. The horses were almos, on them and the sneering, gloating, painted faces, when he heard vaguely a rumbling. many-voiced cheer behind him, then the foremost Indians looked beyond him and wheeled suddenly and | dashed down the hill in scattering con- fusion.
 A few days later man, his arm stiil | In a sling. rode down the hill from Fort Union. A girl rode beside him. The | man looked at her furtively now and I then and his rugged face showed en- 
 Say" he said at last. Tive got a red colored temper. I'm mean. I am"
 Huh" she answered. staring at the trail. The man hesitated for moment.
 I've got s14.17 exact" he remarked.
 The girl did not change her position.
 The man was silent for a moment or two.