The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-09-04
The Black Sheep.
BY Mabelie M. Harvey.

At the age of 2S Tom Morgan had
acquired the unenviable title, "The
Black Sheep" He drank heavily, play
ed poker night after night with reck-
less abandon, bet on horses, ran him
self and his father into debt, and in
Sact INDUCED in all sorts of dissipa-
tien to such an extent that finally he
was ordered to leave the big, palatial
house on Fifth avenue.
The West had always great fascin-
alton for him, and now, after the fin-
al crash, which had been threatening
for the last five years, he boarded the
train for Colorado.
Then Annabe came into his life and
he viewed the world with different
eyes. She was a mountain=bred girl,
eypically western, and gifted with
wonderful beauty and sweetness of
character. And somehow from the very
first he felt that she cared for him, but
he uttered no word of love to her. He
reaiized his unworthiness and in the
presence of her sweet purity he was
ashamed of his past life.
They were sitting together on a big
Boulder one day and the sunlight
streamed down upon them, changing
che loose tendrils of her hair into
strands of gold, which glistened as the
breeze stirred them. To the west
stretched a long, unending vista of
purple hills; at their feet brook with
lights and shadows murmured enchant-
ingly of life and its possibilities.
''Look!' The girl was on her feet,
pale and trembling, her arm stretched
towards the distant horizon. A long,
thin, circuituous line appeared in bold
outline against the hills, and Tom
turned to his companion, with ques-
tioning eyes.
Indians" she said, slowly. They
have been threatening us for the past
year, and now they have taken the war
path They will reach here tomorrow
morning-possibl by IL tonight-and
we are caught like rats in trap"
There are how many men in the set
tlement?" Tom asked, Sharply.
Fifty" She clasped her hands to-
gether, nervously, and paced back and
forth, her eyes ever ON that distant,
threatening line.
Fifty whites against possibly 500
Indians!" Tom muttered. Then his
mouth settled in firm, grim line, and
his eyes shone, with a sudden resolu-
ton. How far away is Colonel
:Enow?'
Annabel turned to him with grave
eyes. Twenty miles-but 1t is useless
to speak of him. No one would at
tempt to reach him; it would be i'm
Dossible Every bush along the road
side might be concealing one of these
sed fiends, and 20 miles here in the
West is the same as 80 miles of your
clean, level Eastern roads"
Fifteen minutes later a solitary rid
er was urging his pony over the dan
gerous, unfamiliar path which led to
the fort. The sun beat down on him
gemorselessly, and, after the first II
miles had been covered, his head achet
cruelty, but ever before him was 6
sweet, laughing face, and his heart con
danger which threatened the one hi
Soved.
He turned his head to the west-theI
<ent over the pony and cried, sharp
": DO you see those indistinct fig
xres over on that hill, Marigold? Rec
evils, little girl, and if they catci
Sght of US, we're lost!"
The horse snorted, as If alread!
Icenting danger, and Tom patted he
neck encouragingly. Steady, girl
well keep out of their sight If posi-
BILE. Let your legs fly over the groun'
SOW and God! Marigold, they see u
they're after us! Now show you
fighting blood, baby; we'll win yeti"
Binding, suffocating clouds of dus
rolled by them and Tom closed hi
stinBing eyes Marigold was reekin
with sweat and snorting wildly. Two
three, five miles were covered, and the
Tom looked behind once more.
They're gaining on us, Marigold,
he whispered, "a little faster, girl, o
they'll overtake us" Three NOR
miles were left behind them and onl
two remained. Without turning hi
head Tom knew his enemies were gain
Ing on him, and now the wind waite
to his ears the unearthly cries of tn
Indians as they relentlessly pursue
him.
His eyes cleaned and he clutched h
revolver still tighter. Death would
preferable any time to falling into ii
bands of those eager brutes. Only OIL