Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-03-21


boy Get him IL 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. aud he's the best
man / know for anything like this.
Then l 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. Hell
be glad 20 go. He's the pluckiest little
fighter In the world,-not a cowardly
hair in his head"
So IL 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
were 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 ana 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 a 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 a raging torrent II was
swollen until IL was half again its
ordinary width. The usually placid
waters were rushing and twisting into
whirlpool-like rapids
What now" asked Baker, the dep
uty-sherin
I'm thinkin' this here little pleas
ure partyU have 20 be postponed"
vouchsafed one OF the volunteers. nod
ding his head wisely.
Wen 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
70 the very edge OF the swirling water.
Hold on a 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. a laugh in
his blue eyes. ARE you afraid? What's
come over your --
"Nothin'. / amt no coward neither.
and ef you wasn't the Boss I'd show
you. I was just a thinkin' o'-some-
body who'd care-thats all"
Just for a moment a far-away look
came into the young ranchmans 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"
Il never for one minute calculated
on doing a thing else" replied the dep
uty-marshal. who had been standing
somewhat apart awaiting the end OF
the controversy. with a good-humored
smile in his twinkling blue eyes. d.
Paul urged Sade into the water He
was followed unhesitatingly by Nun
son. Johnson. and Baker. The others
held back. and finally. after n short
consultation, wheeled and retraced
their steps.
Il amt no coward. neither" NUT
tered one. as he rode away. but I
plumb don't see no sense In bein'
drowned. I'd ruther be killed a round
in up Jesse
} The horses which had made the
Initial plunge were already in water
up 70 their breasts. The current had
an ominous rush TO Il.
Il don't care. didn't mean to hold
over and let our quarry get wind OF
this AFFAIR cried Langford over his
shoulder. Keep your rifles dry, boys!"
Suddenly. without warning. SADIE
| stepped into e hole and lost her bal
ance for a moment She struggled gal
lantly and recovered herself. yet II
weakened her. IL was not long before
all the horses were compelled TO swim,
and the force OF the current immedi-
| ately began driving them down
| stream. She was a plucky little COW
pony and loved her master. but It was
about all she could do 10 keep from
going under. let alone making much
Roadway against the tremendous pres
sure of the current Langfords dan
ger was grave.
Steady, my girl" he encouraged.
He flung his feet free OF the stirrups
so that. If she went under, he would
be ready TO try II alone. Poor Sadei He
should hate TO lose her. If he released
her now and struck of by himself, she
might make it. He had never known
White river TO run so sullenly and
strongly; II would be almost impos-
sible for a man 20 breast It And there
was Mary-he could never go back to
her and claim her for his own until he
could bring Black back. too. to suffer
for her fathers wrongs.
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