Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-07-20
SHE | T: SAVED } ! I !. !: ] J
HIM i
B, BENJAMIN [. TUCKER
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association :, ~

was riding one day on a road in
what was then q territory ct the Unit:
ed States in an unfrequented region
l belonged to the country. though not
to that particular part OF 1t. and was
dressed in the costume in vogue there
namely. h wooden shirt and trousers,
high boots and sombrero. Hearing the
gallop Of horses behind me. turned
and saw two men coming Each man
rode a horse and led another. "
thought nothing Of the matter till
they came close behind me. when
heard rough voice shout:
GLANDS up. stranger!"
Il knew enough of the practices of
the country to understand that If l
didn't drop my bride rein and shove
both hands up over my head would
| get a bullet in me. My revolver was
at my hip. but to draw 1t would be
sure death. One of the men rode in
advance Of me and kept me covered.
while the other ordered me to dis
mount and give up my revolver. did
50, and. taking my horse In tow, be
| left me the horse he had been leading
and together they rode on rapidly.
It was an hour after this that l
| heard other horses. and several men
came up to me and 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 l 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 a 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. l knew it
would only he while the man who had
lost his horse could get together an
fmprovised court before would be
tried and if l couldn't prove wasn't
horse thief l would be hanged. Be-
ing a stranger there. | didn't see how
I could furnish the evidence.
1t was about sunset Of the day I
was arrested. while | was bordering
on the chances Of swinging. that l
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 a 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.
8: what y been doin'?" she asked.
"Horse stealing" l didn't think it
worth while to assert my innocence.
''What'll they do with y'?'
Hang me-
A whitish tinge came on her face,
and her eyes grew very big.
3D. y want me to let v 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 jist now"
well. if you can let me out you may
save my life"
She went downstairs. brought up a
bunch Of keys and with one of them
unlocked my door. 1t was then that
got a full view Of her. She was tall
we'll formed and but for her skirts
which were so short they looked as ii
she had outgrown them. would have
passed for nineteen or twenty. She
i was rather wild looking thing. not at
all tidy. and her hair was uncombed
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 l gave her
showed me a red spot in each cheek
She had doubtless been kissed for the
first time by 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, l urged him on. turn
ing at the same time to learn who
was coming saw skirts 1uttering
in the wind. Not being afraid of d
woman, slowed up and the next time
l 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 it?''
Il jist thort I'd 60 with ye."
i / 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 l couldn't be more
: than hanged and might as we'll be
hanged for both as one
, "Well. come on" said.
We rode till darkness came and, fol-
the matter of that, till daylight. Their
we were safe.
told the girl. who was a niece OF
the .jailer's wife and had never beer
r 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
Using that If she would remain a
school two years she might come back
: to me.
She consented at last. and during twt
years we never once saw each other
> though we correspondent Through he
: letters was able to note the improve
monf going IN in hor A. Arsf tho,