Year: 1875

In the stable, l s'pose,' answered the
station, keeper.


No, said Frank, shaking his head
wistfully.


'What!' said the station. keeper. 'Stran
ger. you must be crazy
! He went to the stable and looked in
What the devil do you mean ? cried he.
. Your horse is there, all right Then he
added, in lower tone, wonder if the
darned FOOLS loony?


That's not my horse, said Frank,
shaking hi. head.


Not your horse? I'll take my oath,
on the biggest bible ever was got up
saw you ride him TO the stable


Did you see that long bearded scoun-
drcl who came in with me leavey
| Il did


What horse did he rider


The same he rode in on
] Frank heart went down with sudden
plunge. The matter was no longer ia
doubt; he understood it all Poor Little
Phil was gone forever. To overtake him
with the glass eyed qnadruped, after three
hours start, was beyond all hope.
! Frank told his host the story of bis
meeting with the blue eyed horse thief,
and his foolish change Of horses. As he
proceeded the station, keeper eyed him
more and more flercely to the end of his
story. Then he stepped inside the door
of the rancho, and came out again armed
with Henry rifle.


Friend said he. that story is too
darned thin. | want you to git out o
here. You don't put up none O. your
jobs on me. You get after your ehum as
quick as the Lord will let yer. This ere
rancho is no horse thieves boarding.
house, If you think you are going to
scare any money out o me, you're mis-,
taken. I'm no fighting character, but !
don't skeer worth cent.
| Frank was too much annoyed and hu
inflated to resent this speech. He told
the landlord, very humbly, that he was
istaken-that what he had told him was
the plain truth He made NO claim
against him, and wanted nothing from him
but to be informed which way his late
companion had taken.


He left the way you both came said
the host and, friend, If what you say,
|
been plucked in these parts But, darn
my skin! | cant believe they raise sich
in the United States. Even the greenest
New Yorker ever see out yere couldn't
be fooled that way.


Frank saddled Spectacles with heart
/ full of bitterness. lie felt as if he could
have shot the poor srutc. He had never
kicked an animal in his life, but he came
terribly near it then. His better nature
re asserted itself, however. Poor ami
NAL, thought he, it's not your fanlt il
your late master was a horse thief, and
your present one afool.'


He mounted Spectacles, and, without
any further words with the station mas
ter, rode back on the trail of the ravish-
er of his lameuted Little Phil. He had
no clear idea why he did so. But to go
on to Bog.sville would be to give up
Little Phil forever, and that he could not
make up his mind to do as yet. He in
stinctiveiy sought surceasc of sorrow in
rapid motion, and driving his spurs row
ell deep in poor Specs banks, he dashed
off at full speed.


Specs, though a rum 'un to look at,
like most ponies of Indian antecedents,
was not, after all, very bad 'un to GO
But after few miles he slackencd his
pace, and at the same moment Frank
heard the clatter of rapidly approaching
hoofs behind him. He rened up for a
moment to reeonnoitre the new corners.
Two men were riding rapidly toward him.
Tney made no sign, they did not hail him
but he heard the report Of pistol and
the unmistakable whiz of bullet close
to his ear 1t was what they used to term
in the army a close call, and could have
been meant for nobody but fer him.


He pulled up, and turned his horse to.
ward the persons approaching, drew his
pistol aud snapped it. determined to give
them shot for shot The cap failed to
explode. His pistol had not been very
well cared for He did not expect to
have occasion to use it. The cylinder
wonld not revolve Before he could dis
engage it, his pursuers were at either side
of him, holding pistols at his head.


Don't budge! shouted one Of them
if you move finger, you're dead
mani


Surrender! cried the second { it's
your only show


/ Frank had no course left but compli
ance; so he said l surrender, gentle,
men, since you insist upon it, and do
not want to be shot for nothing But
swear to you | am the most astonished
man IN the world, You do not look a.
if you were joking


Joking! said the first speaker. il
you don't say this things no joke before
you're through with it, I'll agree to keep
you company on the devils underground
railroad, TO morrow morning


I'm glad he's takin' it sensible, any
how, said the second. 1t saves a heap
o. trouble Now. just hand over that
shootin iron o. yurn like nice, quiet,
Christian gentleman as you are


Frank rendered his pistol to the
speaker.


! sAh! damn it, none o that!


Drop that darned thing9


The two cooked revolvers almost
touched Franks head


Now, hand over that six shooter butt
foremost, there's a good little man.


'Will you have the goodness to tell
me, now, gentlemen, what is the meaning
of all this 2


oh, you needn't play innocent; you
know blamed we'll what il means