The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-04
EHAPTF-E VII.
1 Flower for Remer71s-

A bright day in June some time i later, Stimer rode the river. Inter l utuabLe stretches of yellow sand . lu-@ed the sluggish water - smoo,1. l arra, deceptive. Through nd under . those beds of sleeping gold creDt the l river-nolseless, treach5 roaz. On the farther side. the sand rose in TOW huumccks dune above dune. 4 fuze of ragged weeds lay on them q ere-u lace on cloth of =o-l-
 l flock of blue cranes s-a-ked ma je=--eaIIy. Cattle stood motionIess, statues cut in mOJLlad g-au--es moved LanEuidly- or darted forward fran -.ra.Ly, sgunE by flies. A horned frog ran along the sand. Cap bounced upon it. crushed tt in his teeth and tossed iG into the air. II feM on it's back, gasDed. died. 4 tiny drop or blood stained a white morningSIory blossom.
 Srimer turned and gazed down the river in the direction of Smiths ranch. His quick eye picked our an object at the waters edge Something Huttered like 8 womau's dress. He stopped and stared f20=dIy a great fear seized him, his heart pounded at his throat.
 IT was Ruth caught in the quick sand No other woman could be here on the river
 He put spurs to General and dashed r-cIzlessly over rocks and driftzvooJ till he stood before the struggling horse It had sunk to its Hanks. The water and sand already lapped Ruth's dress. She sat calmly, but with white face, urging the pony to useless ef- fort with every fresh exe-tion iC only sank deeper in the bog.
 Stop. Miss Ruth. Fer Gods sake 5topt" Stimer cried. He spraug to the ground and stood hesitatire- Cap trOtted gingerly across the sand and snifred at Ruth. Just up the river a solennu-faced sheep stood chewing it's cud- Above, circling in the sunlight. a hawk screamed passlo louateIy- 4 req bird dropped a nOttonwood and fit teed low to the farther bank a dou- ble red streak on the water
 MT. Stmer!" Ruth called. her eyes on his face.
 Pm comin', Miss Ruth.' he said calmly. ''TVe cant save the horse, but don't fear'' He quickly Iznyvound the rope in his hand and sent II whirling to her feet. '"Tie it roun' yer body under yer arms, Miss Ruth. an when I say the word. jump from the horse an run. run fer yer Hfe!''
 Rut obeyed.
 Now" cried Sttrner, pulling on the rope. Ruth leaped onto the sand Took a step and sank to her knees. ! She threw out her hands, falling for ward on her face. Sttrner tugged ar the rope franttca5lv. It Uightened about Ruth till her breath came in sazps. her face grew Iivtd. hut sIowry she rose from the bog. Another effort ! and he had pulled her to safe ground. He stopped and lifted her in his arms, unconsciously straining ner to his breast. He IOosened he rope under her arms and stepped back.
 Thank Heaven. Miss Ruth.' he said, panting from the eEerton.
 'T-I thank you. MT Sttmer' Ruth 1 said ferventIy. looking into his eyes. l You saved my life"
 .'Tt 'uz yer-yer pluck"
 Ruth turned to the struggling horse.
 Cant we do something to save 'e- MT. Gttmer." she said.
 NO sands like nush-no bottom. ! Lucky you didn't try to git out for ' come"
 "I want to save Fan - ough.n' vertuEed in fer the silly sheen"
 The ergulfged horse foun6ered 1 desperately. gave a low moan. then i lay motion1ess. Ruth turned her back
 
 Ruth climb the bluff to he prairie ] above. and paused uncertainty. Ruth i stopped and pIUcked some scarle- ! flowers. How pretty" she said. holding them toward him. .'NIr. . Stiuer-nay T pin one on yer coat?" Sh= said tiuidIy.
 'rFer-Fer savin' my life"
 ''Pshaw. Miss Ruth, 'twuzn't noth- in" insisted Stimer, his eyes gIow- 1 -F +y-., I'll keep it always
 He couldn't feel Ruth's breath warm on his neck as she bent to the task. The fragrance of her en- wrapped and uaddened him. He thrust out his arms tr-DuIsive1v. Then they fell empty at his side He star ed bIa-kly Two h0rs- men turned over the divide toward them.
 "Good-goodbve lIr. Stiner." Ruth said, moving away, a restrain and confusion falling upon her at the sight Of the men
 were. Miss Ruth. ride General ' . can come by fer 'i1l.'' urged Stlmer- 1
 ''H1o, thank you. MT. stimer. It's jest short way. can walk"
 The men Eauooed up.
 Hello. Sttme-." said Bud Peters cordially. g,ancing covertly at the retreattng figure. This Is Sam Cook not long go"
 The men nodded a greeting.
 The sheriff an a posse" went C1 {. Peters, '1s Iookin' fer a feIer name . Bill Duncan-that's the name hes knowed by-he's wanted fer murder. . He killed Cooks brother back n Arkars saw. Cooks been trailtn' i'm . fer a year. He spotted i'm over ar BenvanUe three months ago. out
 
 ill a officer come out from ArkaDsa7v. . Cook had never seen Duncan. an he'd Erowed a beard.
 An PoveIIs got evidence he mur- ] dered or man E-haley. Quit work i at Sugg's an been blowing tn money | over at Wichita-an' I foun' one Of his spurs over at Whaley's dugout.
 To Be Continued Tomorrow. Copyright 1922. Thompson Feature 1