Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-10-03
that to her: no one had.

that to her: no one had.
Hold the horses" be ordered. She
obeyed. watching him In breathless ST.
lence. The brown cloud on the prairie
was becoming more and more dis
tinct There was 4 heavy. low rumble
in the air like far Oh thunder. Car
ruthers drew Q cigarette case from his
pocket and after hunting carefully he
produced one match.
That h the only one l have" he
aah. pray that 1t doesn't 60 out"
He struck 1t on the box. The faint
fame wavered in the southeasterly
breeze. caught the end Of the cigarette
and lit It. Before the match went out
Carruthers smeiled It and set fire to
the grass. It was dry and yellow from
the sun and caught the blaze with
snap. The wind famed It. and wav-
sr1hg line Of thin smoke slid like a
snake along the roots for several feet.
The horses reared and kicked at the
0rst Whit. and Carruthers seized the
brides from the girl.
flake the cigarette" he said. hand
ing It to her. keep It alight and set
IRE to the grass a. far a. you can
reach In q straight line facing the
north. The wind Is from the southeast
and Will blow the nre toward the herd.
It may turn them"
Holding the plunging. trembling
horses. he watched her. There was no
fear. no sign Of weakness. She was
alert and sure In her touch as she
knelt here and there in the grass and
fred 1t. As the cigarette failed she
tore . bunch Of grass, tied 1t with an
other wisp and sst II blazing like a
torch. In another minute a wall Of
smoke and smoidering flame closed
them In from the rushing herd line.
"C0me back" called Carruthers. The
herd were not quarter Of mile from
them. He could see the leaders. heads
down. and behind them line after line
Of tossing horns.
"Wil they reach usr' whispered Rita
a. she stood close beside him. her face
lifted to his.
God knows; I don't" said Carruth-
ers desperately. ut is all we can do"
"Jack. listen to me-" There was
new light in her dark eyes, a new soft
ened tone to her voice. Ramon has
done this. The herd has never STAN.
peded before. He has done It for re-
venge upon you and me. Last night
told him no. know about him and
the claim he holds over the Fortuna
and my father. but would rather lose
Il all than
THAN whatr' Carruthers let the
brides trail on the ground and held
her close in bis arms. The tremble Of
hundreds Of hoofs shook the ground.
the thunder grew louder. now and then
there came Z low. threatening below
from some steer gored by its fellows in
the 0nrush.
THAN lose you," Rita whispered as
she closed her eyes to meet what might
come.
The herd was on them, but as the
leaders caught the FIRST sickening Whit
Of smoke they hesitated and wavered.
Low leaping tongues Of fame flashed
up before them and rolls Of smoke
curled upward.
The leaders swerved westward. After
them plunged the frightened herd. mad
dened and scared at the smell Of the
3re. The two horses. loosened, Joined
them In the frantic gallop. and in less
than three minutes the danger had
passed, and ON the blackened bit Of
land stood Carruthers and Rita alone.
The river with stop Them" said Rita.
''Ramon-I know he has done this to
harm you. You must leave the ranch.
No one can say what he may do next"
CarrutheFs bent to pick up something
from the ground. It was the stub Of
q cigarette. He placed It tenderly and
carefully I'M bis case before he spoke.
IT know what Ramon will do next,
sweetheart. He will cross the border
into his own land tonight or else land
in the hands Of the sheriff. mean to
stay in Texas. and there Is not room
for both Of u.s."
ION the Fortunar'
''On our RANCH" he said. II bought
the Fortuna yesterday to make sure
Of Ramon and Of my senorIta."