The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-01-22
Il understand that fully"


rising and laying his hand on Lang
ford's big shoulder, do you really
want to undertake this9"
II certainly do"
Then | will give you the warrant,
gladly. You are the one man in the
state to do it-unless l except the gal
liant little deputy marshal. You know
the danger. admire your grit, my
boy. Get him if you can; but take care
of yourself. Your life is worth so
much more than his. Who will you
take with your
"Munson, of course He will go in
spite of the devil, and he's the best
man know for anything like this.
Then ! thought of taking the deputy
sheriff. He's been true blue all along,
and has done the very best possible
under the conditions
Very good. Take Johnson, too. He'll
be glad to CO. He's the Quickest little
fighter in the world,-not a cowardly
hair in his head"
So it was agreed, and the next
morning. bright and early, the little
posse, reinforced by others who had
earnestly solicited the privilege of go
ing along. started out on its journey.
The rains were over. but the roads
were heavy. In many places, they
We're forced to walk their mounts. No
one but the initiated know what gum
DO mud means. Until they took to the
hills, the horses could scarcely lift
their feet, so great would be the
weight of the sticky black earth which
chung in immense chunks to their
hoofs. When they struck the hills, it
was better and they pressed forward
rapidly. Once only the sheriff had as
serted that he had run across the
famous outlaw. Black had resisted saw
agely and had escaped, sending back
the bold taunt that he would never be
taken alive. Such a message might
mean death to some of the plucky pos
Sc now making for the old-time haunts
of the desperate.
The sun struggled from behind rain
exhausted clouds, and rollicking
wind blew up. The clouds skurried
away toward the horizon.
At White river ford the men looked
at each other in mute inquiry The
stream was raging torrent. 1t was
swollen until it was half again it's
ordinary width. The usually placid
waters We're rushing and twisting into
whirlpool-like rapids.
What now?" asked Baker. the dep
uty-sheriff.
I'm thinkin' this here little pleas
ure party'll have to be postponed
vouchsafed one of the volunteers, nod
ding his head wisely.
We'll sure have to wait for the,
cloud-burst to run out" agreed an
other.
Why, we can swim that all right"
put in Langford, rallying from his mo-
mentary setback and riding his mount
Hold on minute there, Boss
cried Jim. Don't be rash now What's
the census of 'pinion O this here COM
pany? Shall we resk the ford or shall
we not?"
Why, Jim" said Paul. laugh in
his blue eyes, are you afraid? What's
come over you?
"Nothin l amt no coward neither,
and eff you wasn't the Boss Id show
you was just a thinkin' o'-some-
body who'd care-that's all"
Just for moment far-away look
came into the young ranchman's eyes.
Then he Strengthened himself in his
saddle
Il. for one. am going to see this
thing through he said, tersely.
What do you say, Johnson?"
II never for one minute calculated
on doing thing else" replied the dep
uty-marshal who had been standing
somewhat apart awaiting the end of
the controversy. with good-humored
smile in his twinkling blue eyes.
Paul urged SADIE into the water He
was followed unhesitaIingly by Mum
son, Johnson, and Baker. The others
held back, and finally, after a short
consultation, wheeled and retraced
their steps
Il amt no coward neither NUT
tered one. as he rode away. but
I
drowned. I'd ruther be killed a round
in up Jesse
The horses which had made the
initial plunge We're already in water
up to their breasts. The current had
an ominons rush to ii.
u don't care. | didn't mean 10 hold
over and let our quarry get wind of
this affair, cried Langford over his
shoulder. Keep yoiir rifles dry, boys"
Suddenly, without warning. SADIE
stepped into hole and lost her bal
ance for a moment. She struggled gal
lantly and recovered herself, yet it
weakened her. 1t was not long before
all the horses We're compelled to swim,
and the force of the current immedi-
ately began driving them down
stream. She was plucky little cow
pony and loved ner master, but it was
about all she could do to keep from
going under. let alone making much
Roadway against the tremendous pres
sure of the current. Langfords dam