The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1914-01-22

the queen" she was saying, and end
ed the pretentious declaration in a
scream of mortal terror.
Vera sprang to her feet. She grab
bed her little companions, one with
each hand.
"Oh, hurry! hurry!" she cried. TITS
the mad COW loose!"/
In flash Rolfe Durward took in
the scene, turned suddenly from trav-
esty to tragedy. With lowered head,
bristling nIien and a below of wild
range, the enormous animal was max
ing for the flying children. Tripping
on their long fnery, the little ones
tumbled one over the other. Durward
leaped the fence.
There was no question of the peril
of the children; he saw that at a
glance He reached their side and
tore the red cape from the shoulders
of the terrorized Vera.
"Run-quick! Fast!" he ordered
"get past the fence"
Then he turned, waving the red tok-
en- of defiance to the advancing ami
NAL. AS he had hoped and expected,
it diverted it's course and came lung
ing towards him.
Twice in his toreador-like move
ments the great horns of the animal
nearly impaled him. He kept up the
Haunting defiance, however, at the
risk of life and limb until he saw Vera
and her sisters creep safely beyond
the fence At the same time two men,
one armed with pitchfork, the 9TH
er with rope, came running from the
paddock whence the animal had es-
capped
Just leaping the fence, Rolfe was
grazed by the bulky head of the infu-
rated animal. One sharp horn tore
ridge clear up one forearm and he
landed with a wrench on the ground
beyond the fence.
Rolfe saw some neighbors take the
children home and the two men cap
ture the mad animal He bound up his
injured arm as best he could Then
he went back to the tree where little
Vera had sat, to gather up the Dor
rowed finery the children. had dropped
in their flight.
The signet ring had slipped from
Vera's finger and he secured this. An
open letter and a photograph lay
where she had abandoned it.
With start of incredulity Rolfe
recognized the portrait as his own. 1t
must have been secured from the vii
1oc ,1af hnr nd
glance fell upon the open letter to
view his own name, a few words only
with it, but enough to instantly fill his
soul in the most extravagant joy.
He was overwhelmed with express
sions of gratitude as he reached the
house where Marcia was coddling the
frightened little ones He found him.
self a hero in their eyes, he thrilled
as Marcia poured forth her fearful
thanks. He insisted that the hurt to
his arm was a mere scratch. Then
he placed the gathered up finery on
the porch table,
II also found these" he said, hand
Ing Marcia the signet ring and the
letter, as he had discovered it, open.
"You-you-read," fiuttered Marcia.
Il could not help but see my name
1 few words with it, and-I am glad"
She flushed crimson. He thrilled.
There seemed to be embarrassment,
yet throbbing delight-the essence
If the moment. His love took hope.
"By a strange coincidence" he said,
lis voice trembling, also wrote let
er today, still unmailed. 1t is only
air that you should see it,
Her hands shook as she glanced
,ver it. Her eyes met his. They
lrooped, but glowed.
do not send it," she whispered,
ind ran into the home in happy con-
usion.
Copyright. 1913 by W. G. chapman)