Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-08-23

| then be felt free to buy up the wnole
Fortuna when the crash came and
lay it at her feet. But she must be
free to say yes or no. And she would
say neither. She would only laugh
"Have you told Ramon you would
marry him ?" he asked, with a sudden
curtness. The uncertainty was mad
dening to him.
"Wby do you ask ?" she answered
teasingly.
"Rita," he pleaded, "be serious.
If you do not
She raised her arm with a sudden
imperative gesture and pointed to the
herd.
"Look T. she cried. "They are
stampedingl"
Carruthers looked. The brown sea
had suddenly stirred to life. Undu-
lating, swaying, branching out loose
ly at the edges, it was lurching to-
ward them. There seemed to be
nothing rapid or swift about its COM
ing. Carruthers thought, almost
idly, of how it resembled the swing
of bunch Of race horses rounding
the end of the field, when the move
ment was so concerted, so deliberate,
that it hardly seemed a movement.
The herders were riding here and
there in confusion. They seemed
mere specks of helpless misdirection
in the distance.
Rita's face had lost its color. She
turned her horse about, the rein held
short and tight in her cllnched hand.
1--WE must race before them as they
come" she said. IF the horses keep
their strength they will not trample
us.
But Carruthers had slipped from
the saddle.
ut is sure death to try to ride
with them, he answered. "Dismount
and do as tell you.
The stern masterfulness of his tone
startled her. He had never spoken
like that to her; no one had.
Hold the horses" he ordered.
She obeyed, watching him in breath.
less silence. The brown cloud on the
prairie was becoming more and more
distinct. There was a heavy, low
rumble in the air like far off thunder.
Carruthers drew cigarette case from
his pocket, and after hunting carefully
he produced one match.
"That is the only one | have" he
said. Pray that it doesn't go out. "
He struck it on the box. The
faint fame wavered in the southeast
breeze, caught the end Of the cigarette
and lit it. Before the match went
out Carruthers smelled it and set fire
to the grass. 1t was dry and yellow
from the sun and caught the blaze
with snap. The wind famed it,
and wavering line Of thin smoke
slid like snake along the roots for
several feet. The horses reared and
kicked at the FIRST Whit; and Csrruth-
ers seized the brides from the girl.
Take the cigarette, he said, hand.
ing it to her. Keep it alight and
set fire to the grass as far as you can
reach in a straight line facing the
north. The wind is from the south.
east and will blow the fire toward the
herd. 1t may turn them.
Holding the plunging, trembling
horses he watched her. There was
no fear, no signs OF weakness. She
was alert and sure In her touch as she
knelt here and there in the grass and
fired it. AS the cigarette failed she
tore bunch of grass, tied it with an
other wisp and set 1t blazing like a
torch. In another minute wall Of
smoke and smoldering fame closed
them in from the rushing herd line.
Come back" called Carruthers.
The herd were not quarter Of a mile
from them. He could see the leaders
heads down, and behind them line sf-
ter line of tossing horns.
"Will they reach us2" whispered
Rita as she stood close beside him, her
face lifted to his.
"God knows; l don't" said Car.
ruthers desperately. ut is all We can
do"
Jack, listen to me-" There wac
new light in her dark eyes, a new
softened tone to her voice. Ramon
has done this. The herd has never
stampeded before. He has done it
for revenge upon you and me. Last
night l told him no. | knew about
him and the claim he holds over the
Fortuna and my father, but / would