Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1906-06-01
THE PONY
EXPRESS RIDER
"a Tale Of the Old Wssll
BY ARTHUR GOODRICH


Suddenly there came clatter OF hoots,
unsteady with WEAKNESS. scattering
the stiffness with sharp echoes. A
man. coming out at the moment from
one OF the low adobe buildings. waved
his hand and the rider drew up short
and stopped.
The two men as they faced each other
were In striking contrast. One stood
with his feet well apart. sinews pulled
tight like wire.rope over his slight
frame. The other, broad shoulders bent
with fatigue. begrimed with dirt. but
black eyes flashing with the unsubdued
fire OF youth, swung himself from the
sweating, painting beast. They were
both pony express riders.
The dlsmounted riders knees gave I'M
der him and he leaned against his horse
for support
Tired" asked the older man with
a malevolent grin.
The young fellow stared at him
vaguely for moment. Then thought
seemed to strike him. for he leaned for
ward eagerly.
."Look.a-here, Harry! I'm petered,
you're fresh You 20 TO Fort Union an
back for me fer a ten .spot?"
I'm 60" said the other, and they
walked slowly to the corral Half an
hour later odd Harry" Simmons rode
down the plaza Meanwhile Ralph Mead
was lying sprawled on narrow bunk
in the corral, sleeping the sleep Of sheer
exhaustion
Ralph Mead had been left fatherless,
motherless and penniless when he was
u years old. His nearest relatives had
bound him out to a hard-headed Con-
necticut farmer who believed in cor
poral punishment for persons smaller
than himself Three months later the
boy slipped out OF the house Of his slay-
cry and started west in pursuit Of eX-
element and happiness. He was now
is years old, with the muscle and judc-
ment and experience OF a frontiersman
Of 30.
The sun was Glarlng sullenly through
the doorway when he awoke suddenly
Here you, Mead! Git up an out O.
this"
"Wb,,.s mot,ero. bo oslod mbo,,.
asleep.
You've got TO go TO Fort Union"
Mead smiled renroochruIIv and lying
back once moro curled mn ON the hpnI;
and closed his ewes
Harry Slmmons-rone- Fort Union 8"
he said sleep,Iy
simmons s. 5e,d Killed qri sc,Ir,d
NJ pecos Churcb"-bc boarl the yoice
saw Thcn he nwnel IN his foot and
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