The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-20

a proceeding. The moment the hei'''S
saw the blundcr they had r"nmltted
they SUNK away. leaving Mad=r stand
ing on the veranda. Tucker sitting "i'
his horse below.
Those fellows have spoiled every
thing" he said
Their motives were good. "a~ ti''
reply
Nevertheless they have pui Il bar
rier between you and me that 'nnn"'
be removed.
No barrier WAS required
II left YOU because had been
pledged 10 another before ! n" w..
have returned free from that l'''l1"-
and all might have been we'll hal th'~'
men not intcrfcred.
With this he turned his h'f~'> head
and rode away without locking imrk
Gnin- TO his ranch. he hctluu-ni him
self what 10 do. Should he sell uui
and 20 home: No: he had teel
placed in an unenviable position, AMI
he must live il down among ii">" wa"
had condemned him.
lie turned his attention I" li> ranch.
,levoting himself tu it exclusively.
Ncighborng ranchmrn. hearln- 81 the
outrage that had been nut upon nm.
went to his ranch house and welcomed
him back When he met amy OF the
hcrlers who had ntcricred between
him aud Madgc Ilar,lcStH the h"idcf
apologizcd for the mistake 'lal had
been made. ana IN some ta~rS 'h"A
sought him out for the i'url''~" \"
one hut himself knew that ne lGd r.
turned from the east to ask MWi-r o.
he his wife. Nevertheless the prevail.
ing sentiment among th0>r about aim
was that he had been badly treated
ANA they, being people ~ extremes
were rs prone Ia favor him MS they
had been before 10 condemn him uu
heard
The next winter was hard one
An early blizzard occaSioued the loss
eft II great man, animals. 1t came sud
denly and caught the stock grazing AZ
a distance from shelter. and. unprotcct
ed, they We're frozen by hundreds. AT
the first sign of danger Tucker sum
moned his hcrlcrs for the purpose OF
getting his animals under shelter. But
Madce was IN his mind He knew ihat
she had few assistants and would bc
liable to u severe loss. Sending his
men out to drive in his stock. he rode
toward Madgc's ranch.
Reaching her house. he learned that
she had ridden forth with but two
herders. all there Mere IN her employ.
to save her property. Following the
tracks IN the SNOW over the bleak
rolling ground-hc could see nothing
distant through the dense flakes he al
last reached point where he heard
voices. Riding Oh he presently came
upon "A man driving n flock Of sheep IT,
shelter
"WhcrcS yonr MISTRESS" asked
Tucker
''ONcr there replied the man, point
ing. and Tucker. following the tracks.
soon came upon the other hcrdcr with
another lluck al sheep rncNer re-.
pcatcd the question as Ia Madge. $
whereabouts and was told that shp
had gone off after some stray ewes
and lambs Fixing his ewes upon the
tracks Tucker started anew
Meanwhile 'he mercury had been
rapidly sinking aud now stood TAR be
low zero, while the wind was blow
ina a gale Troubled as To- Madge' ;
safety. Tucker hurried on He could
not see fifty Yards ahead Of him for
the snow, hut the tracks were an in
fallihlc guide
Suddenly lac came upon Madge' =
horse standing Shivcring IN the hliz
zard. Tnckrr'S heart sank within him
lie believed Madge was near and fear
ed the wcgst MOI far distant he came
upon a heap of something covered
with snow Throwing himself from
his horse. he brushed The white cover
ing from the pile and came upon
Madgc and half Il dozen lambs all ly-
ing in a heap Most uf the lambs We're
frozen SIll. hadGF was aSicpli hpSldp
them.
Tucker a>prd her and shaking her
raised her She opened her eyes lie
had taken the prcaution To bring u
!lask with him and poured liquor int
her mouth. Then. forcing her To wall,
the few steps 10 his horse. he placed
her in the saddle wrapped his over
coat about her Tor additional protce
lion against the wind and started fpi
the ranch houS,' But lac had not con,
far before She Shaved signs of drnwSi
ness. and. climbing NJ behind hc-. Il,
rode in that fashion. both supporting
her and guiding the horse.
The SNOW was by this time deep aud
the tracks had been ohliterated. Tuck
cr had no guide except the contour Of
the country Fortunately he struck a
creek, ana this gave him his direction
The whirling flakes were confusing
but he pushed ON. and at last. seeing
through the snow IA barn that he knew
was near the ranch housp no crioI f.,