The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-08-15


to that particular part of 1t, and was
dressed In the costume in vogue there
namely, a wooden shirt and trousers.
high boots and sombrero. Hearing the
gallop Of horses behind me, ! turned
and saw two men coming. Each man
rode horse and led another.
I thought nothing Of the matter till
they came close behind me, when l
heard a rough voice shout:
HHands up, strangerl"
knew enough Of the praHtices Of
the country to understand that II l
didn't drop my bride rein and shove
both hands up over my head / would
get bullet in me. My revolver was
at my hip. but to draw it would be
sure death. One Of the men rode in
advance Of me and kept me covered,
willie the other ordered me to dis
mount and give up my revolver did
SO, and. taking my horse in tow, be
left me the horse he had been leading
and together they rode on rapidly.
1t was an hour after this that
heard other horses. and several men
came up to me aud surrounded me. One
Of them recognized IN the horse rode
his property. told him the story OF
how / had come into possession Of it,
but he said ! might spare myself such
yarns as that. and was taken back to
the nearest town and thrown into jail,
charged with horse stealing.
The jail consisted of the second story
of small brick house, the windows Of
which had been fitted with bars. /
was put into one Of these rooms. The
upper part Of the door also was barred,
so that the jailer could see prisoner
without opening the door. knew 1t
would only bewhile the man who had
lost his horse could get together an
improvised, court before ! would be
tried and If I couldn't prove wasn't
horse thief I wonld be hanged. Be
ing stranger there, ! didn't see how
could furnish the evidence.
1t was about sunset Of the day
was arrested. while ! was pondering
on the chances Of swinging, that /
looked up and saw young face at the
barred opening in my door. BY the
long hair parted in the middle / knew
the owner of the face to be girl.
She appeared to be about sixteen, but
she was not much over fourteen. She
was looking at me sympathetically. ]
was twenty-one years and at that age
said to have been good looking.
''What " been doln'?" she asked.
"Horse steahngY "A ] didn't think It
worth while to- assert my innocence.
''What'll theyeso with y'T'
'.Hang me-"
A whitish tipge came on her face,
and her eyes grew very big.
sd " want me to let " out?"
"Can you do so without its being
known that it was you who did it,"
Reckon SO. I'm a purity good liar"
How can get away"
"There's horses below. There's no
body about jst now"
"Well, if you can let me out you may
save my life"
She went downstairs, brought up
bunch Of keys and with one Of them
unlocked my door. 1t was then that
got full view Of her. She was tall,
well formed and but for her skirts,
which were so short they looked as If
she had outgrown them, would have
passed for nineteen or twenty She
was rather wild looking thing, not at
all tidy, and her hair was uncomhed.
She ran to small stable in rear Of
the jail and led out horse that stood
saddled and bridled. Taking the reins
in my left hand, put my arm around
her, giving her a kiss full Of fervent
gratitude, then, mounting, dashed
away. The last glance gave her
showed me a red spot ii Zach cheek.
She had doubtless been kissed for the
first time by a full grown man.
/ had been out an hour. and my
horse was getting jaded-he was a
very slow beast--when. hearing a gal
lop behind me, I urged him on, turn
Ing at the same time to learn who
was coming. / saw skirts huttering
in the wind Not being afraid of a
woman, slowed up and the next time
turned saw that my pursuer was the
girl who had let me out Of jail She
was riding astraddle, and her hair was
flying.
well, ," said "what Is it2s
Il jlst thort I'd 90 with ye."
was startled. Many things passed
through my brain. the principal being
that If caught would be surely hang
ed for horse stealing, to say nothing
Of abduction. But ! couldn't be more
than hanged and might as well be
hanged for both as one,
"WeIl. come Oh" said.
We rode till darkness came and, for
the matter of that. till daylight. Then
we were safe.
told the girl, who was niece Of
the jaliers wife and had never been
taught anything. that we must part
for awhile. since intended sending
her to school. She vowed she would
stay with me. But stood firm, prom
ising that If she would remain at
school, two years she might come back
to me.
She consented at last. and during two
years we never once saw each other