Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-08-03
SHE. SAVED
HIM
BY BENJAMIN l. TUCKER
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

was riding one day on road in
what was then territory of 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. u 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.
l thought nothing of the matter till
they came close behind me, when I
heard rough voice shout:
"Hands up. stranger!'
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 l 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,
while the other ordered me to dis
mount and give up my revolver. did
50. and. taking my horse in tow, he
left me the horse he had been leading
and together they rode on rapidly.
1t was an hour after this that I
heard other horses, and several men
came up to me and surrounded me. One
of them recognized in the horse l rode
his property. told him the story of
how I 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. 1
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 it
would only be while the man who had
lost his horse could get together an
improvised court before would be
tried and if couldn't prove l wasn't
horse thief would be hanged. Be-
ing a stranger there. didn't see how
could furnish the evidence.
1t was. about sunset Of the day I
was arrested. while l was bordering
on tie 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 l 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. I
was tWenty-One years and at that age
said to have been good looking.
what y been doin'?' she asked.
'Horse stealing" didn't think 1t
worth while to assert my innocence.
"What'n they do with y'T'
'Hang me-"
A whitish tinge came on her face,
and her eyes grew very big.
ID y want me to let y out?'
"Can you do so without it's being
known that it was you who did it?''
Reckon so. I'm purity good liar"
How can i get away?" - :: -. =:
'There's horses below. There's no.
DOQy ABOUT JlSC now.
well. if you can let me out you may
save my life"
She went downstairs. brought up q
bunch of keys and with one of them
unlocked my door. 1t was then that l
got full view of her. She was tall,
we'll 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 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 kiss full of fervent
gratitude. then. mounting, dashed
away. The last glance gave her
showed me 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, I urged him on, turn
ing at the same time to learn who
was coming. l saw skirts auttering
in the wind. Not being afraid Of a
woman, l 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 it,"
II jist thort I'd go with ye.''
l 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" l said.
We rode till darkness came and, for
the matter Of that. till daylight. Then
we were safe.
l told the girl. who was a niece Of
the jailer's wife and had never been
taught anything. that we must part
for awhile. since l intended sending
her to school. She vowed she would
stay with me. But stood firm. prom
Using 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.
though we corresponded. Through her
letters | was able to note the improve
ment going on in her At first thew