Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-08-06

r.
1 would join him and silently accom-
pany him on his search for the cattle
that had strayed beyond the range.
Nat-u-ritch's life with her father,
!. Tabywana, was passed in days of IN.
eventful placidnes. Since the death
of Cash Hawkins the Chief had given
Ter no cause for anxiety. Concerning
the murder, neither she nor her
father spoke. Tabywana admired
Jim Carston; he seemed to realize in.
Estinctiyely. what Jim had saved him
from that day at the saloon, and his
funspoken devotion, sincere and stead.
fast often caused him to serve. jim
without any ones knowledge.
i Sometimes when Nat-u-ritch return.
ed from a long days ride her father
would scrutinize her. and as he read
In her the call of her nature for the
Englishman, curious smile would
light up his face in sympathy with
Eher. He saw the unmoved impassiye.
ness that she showed to all the young
bucks that sought her, and without
protest let her go her way. and her
/ trail always led towards Carston's
ranch
!. Winter came with It's treacherous
winds. and Carston's ranch was moro
desolate. OF Nat,u-ritch's unspoken
| devotion to him there was no doubt
I'm Jfm's mind. and the temptation to
take her preferred companionship In,
Ito his lonely life rose strong within
him.
After Cash Hawkins death, Jim had
he cared for the life, might have been
a leader in the Long Horn saloon but
a bar-room hero was not the role that
he wished to play His own men
Grouchy, Andy, and Shortly-openly
expressed their disappointment to Big
Bill at the bosss Indifference to the
position he might exert as a power
In Maverick and even Big Bill only
vaguely understood Jim's unapprecia.
tive attitude. He often watched un
smoking his pipe and peering into the
heart Of the embers that glowed on
the hearth. and as he saw the care.
worn face Bills great heart ached
with sympathy for him. But Jim. Us
he realized the difficulties Of the fight
In which he was involved, only clinch.
led his fists the tighter and accomplish.
ed the work of three men in his DAYS
4 toil.
AT these times the physical drain
on him was so great that there was
no opportunity left in which to realize
the biting ache of his loneliness. So
one bleak day succeeded another. with
the slim. mute figure Of the Indian
girl crossing his path.
! The early spring brought with 1t a
sudden melting Of the snow-capped
hills and the Recovered pools. The
cattle grew more troublesome. They
seemed harder to control. or else the
boys were more Indifferent to their
disappearance Big Bill mas gone
"----o-, - 1oal for now cattle. so Tim
energies were redoubled.
i. Z. LAY as he rode across the
plains searching for a lost herd that
had wandered towards Jackson's Hole
the longing that the awakening sprinn
had brought with it grew more insis
tent. Life surely held for him posi-
bllities greater than t''is. he told him
self. He resolved on Pills return /,
arrange with him to sell the place
He could not. conquer the craving fol
the old haunts Of civilization that tooh
possession of him. He closed his ey Is
to shut out the endless stretch Of
prairie. Lost in his dream to escape
from his lonely life and to take part
again in the affairs of men of his own
4 class, he failed to notice the small
pony that followed him carrying Nat-u
ritch.
4 On he went, SO absorbed in his
thoughts that he did not notice how
close he was to Jackson's Hold. Bis
Bill long ago had warned him of the
treacherous ridge that lay near the
gully. but Jim had forgotten Bills
words. Unconscious Of the danger
ahead. he galloped towards the edge
lof the broken precipice. In the dis
lance he espied the marks of herd
Of cattle that had passed around tc
the other side of the ridge. Jim urged
his horse forward and started TO jump
the small. deceptive span that covered
I the hole. A sharp cry came from
Nat-u-ritch who had quickly gained
ground on him as she saw his inteh
ton. But Jim, unheeding, gave a
sharp command to his horse and urg
ed him over. There was sudden
breaking of ground; then whirling
4 dazed moment through which flashed
an eternity of thought and Nat-u-ritc<
stood alone, clinging to her pony as
she peered over into the dark pool III
A broken ice around which stretched
chasms of impenetrab1e blackness.
i Two weeks later Jim opened his
eyes to consciousness in Nat-n-ritch's
wickyup. No man of those summon
led by Nat-uritch to help had dared
venture into the dreaded abyss. &c
| Jim had been abandoned as dead
But the depth Of her love gave thu.
Indian girl the strength to accomplish
his rescue. Jealous Of her treasure
ishe dragged the unconscious body tr
her own village, which was neare!
4 than Jim's ranch.
4 Then followed an illness from t.--
long exposure in the gulley Big Bill
! returned. only to find the ranch with
out its master. while Jim lay in the
4 squaw'sq wickyup. with the Indian cir
lighting to save his life. her love am
loyalty making her his abject slave.
Weeks followed, and one day Big
Bill and the boys brought the boss
home. Then came relapse. and again
Nat,u-ritch's devotion and courage
i gave him hack his life. This time
/. Bill watched a double fight the figh,