The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-02-03
The Girl With
the Lariat
BY DWIGHT NORWOOD

ne WOulu ike 10 20 west anu DeCOne |
rancher SO he bought a sheep |
ranch with good house on 1t and
well stocked. Then he settled himself |
to wait for his sheep to grow and their
wool TO stand out thick on their sides.
For awhile riding over his broad
acres and doing little bossing morn
ings kept him contented. But 1t
wasn't long before he began to pine
for something more exciting. An OPP
portunity was afforded him by seeing
one day girl chasing steer. There
was something picturesque in her gal
Looping over the ground, her alpine
broad brim hanging to her neck by its
ribbons and her hair streaming behind
her. Brayton, who was on horseback,
put spurs to his animal to help her.
But she didn't need him, for before he
reached her she drew a lariat, caught
the steer by the horns and held on to
him till some punchers came up and
relieved her.
The girl was the daughter of a
neighboring rancher, Evan MacDougall,
Scotchman, who had recently come
to America for the purpose of cattle
raising.
Brayton complimented the girl on
her exploit, and then and there began
an acquaintance that gave the young
easterner something to occupy his
mind. He spent many Of his mornings
riding with her and most of his even
ings at her fathers ranch. PingpoDg
was In fashion at the time, and, the
MacDougalls having a good table for
the purpose, Jennie and Lloyd spent
a lot of time batting the tiny ball be-
tween them. But the cellulOid sphere
was only typical Of the love taps that
were passing between them. When
Jennie sent it 1t was to say, ~ don't
love you," and when 1t went back 1t
seemed to carry the message, Eyes,
you do; you know you do" And so
the ball kept flying.
The affair went on till Brayton took
1t into his head that he would go east.
His affair with the ranch girl he re.
garded as a pastime, and the idea of
breaking with her didn't trouble him
at all. If his going affected her she
was too proud to show it. He tried
hard to make her show her colors on
the separation, but she resolutely kept
them furled. 1t is singular how man
will consider a woman not for him
and at the same time try to make her
show that she wishes to be his.
The day before he was to take his
departure he was out on his horse
some distance from his ranch 1t hap.
! pened that Jennie MacDOugalI had
lost a pet antelope, and she, too, had
ridden afield looking for 1t. She knew
every foot OF the country, and Bray
ton knew very little about 1t. Rein
ing up on rise in the ground, Jennie
saw Lloyd half mile away riding to-
ward a dangerous Quicksand.
Great heavens!' she exclaimed
Suppose he doesn't know it's therer
The young man rode on as lightly,
as carelessly us IL his horse were
treading on flowers. Jennie's cheek
blanched He was within 100 feet of
the quicksand, while she was half a
mile away from him, with no other
person in sight. Then suddenly his
horse began to founder. His rider
! gave him the spur, but to no purpose
Down came Jennie's quirt on her
horses flank, and like fash he dart
| ed to the rescue. But his rider had
no hope. She knew the sucking prop.
critics of the dreaded quicksand and
that before she could reach the man
1t was dragging down to death he
would be half buried I'm it, What
would she do to save him? If she
rode near enough to extend a hand
she. too. would be drawn in. Though
she drove her horse on a gallop. Bray
tons horse had disappeared before
| she reached the quicksnnd. Brayton
himself was engulfed to his waist. He
believed himself lost
"Goodby. dear heart!" he cried.
Jennie seldom went out without fire.
arms and never without her larlat.
She rode up so near and so fast to the
quicksand that she was obliged to pull
her horse back on his launches to save
herself from going into 1t. Then in-
stinetlvely her fingers clasped her lar
lat colled to her saddle UncOiling ii.
she began to swing It in the air, her
eve fixed on her object; then 1t left
her and fell around Brayton. Turning
her horses head, she urged him slowly
away The rope tightened without
breaking and encircled the sinking
body about the chest.
1t was now question whether the
rope, the girl and the horse were
strong enough to drag the man from
the quicksand. Jennie fixed one end
OF the lariat firmly to the saddle and,
restraining her horse 30 far as possi-
BILE from Jerking, let him out by de-
grees. A lariat Is not weakly arti-
Gle. and lennies stood the test
Slowly Brayton was pulled from the
quagmre from the back OF the horse
that went down to It's death. Reach
Ing hard ground, he sprang to the girl,
who was reeling In her saddle, and she
fell Into his arms,
When she came TO herself again n
great change had come over her rela-
tlons with Brpyton. He was holding