Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders on the Great American Desert

and her party came up to the corral where the guide was

ache Trail. In addition, a red bandana handkerchief was twisted about the neck of each Ov

een of water for each, had been sent forward on the burros in charge

tioned Grace, stepping over towards the guide, who w

saddle holster where it will be handy. That's where I carry mine. The lieutenant is s

d, and he stood motionless while his new master was caressing him. The instant Grace stepped away, however, the black grew restless. He dragged the cowboy who was holding

uccessful in managin

dumb animals bo

gly, the color mounting to her chee

re, Mrs. Gray," inter

a

husband, the laughte

e, but Yvonne needs our letters to keep her from getting lonely at school.

but, though he threatened to buck, he did not. Grace finally subdued him and sat waiting for her compani

sed they were starting out on some duty connected with their work. All but two of them mounted, and there f

Grace and dismounted, the former removing

at Mr. Lang, Grace sa

his mind. I reckon h

nounced t

d Grace encouragi

gifted with the knack of gab, it fer me to speak for 'em.

nch' wishes you to

land

ale woman ever pulled off a stunt like it in these parts, they reckone

s who, lined up on their ponies, just to the rear of Bud and a companion, were eagerly ha

ittle present from 'em. I ain't much on spreadin' the dough, even if

ce, I should not know what to say next," comforted Grace seri

aced something in it. Emma Dean whispered to Nora that it

by a Greaser, but real horsehair, and warranted not to kink or to miss in the hands of a lady. The bunch reckons t

never threw a rope and could not hit the side of a barn with one, but now that you have given me this beauti

uide

ys here, and I will then throw the rope for you and you

derfoot already,"

g a kiss to her husband, clucked to her pony and was off at a gal

y. They had gone but a short distance when, hearing shouts to the rear,

Lang!" called Grace, u

out to give you a send

lling, whooping and firing their revolvers into the air. Now and then one's sombrero would

ach other. They were giving Grace Harlowe a demonstration of what western ro

e Overland Rider threw herself forward on her pony's neck just as the loop descended. It dropped lightly on her back, but she was out from under it in a flash, an

t, intending to ride under and catch it. Grace's revolver, the same weapon that she had taken from Belle Bates, the wife of the bandit of the Apache Trail, whi

. There were two, however, who were taking no interest in the shooting-the cowboy who had tried to rope Grace, and a companion

dust was a suffocating, choking cloud except as they rode ahead, and then only those in the lead were out of the worst of it.

iding toward Grace Harlowe, who was entering into the spo

not easy to find, but we have foun

d foot of the pony ridden by the man wh

, violently hurling its rider to the ground, but the little horse was up in a flash, galloping away a

oy rider, who, with one foot caught in a stirrup, was

way. She was abreast of it in a moment. Grasping the bridle of the runaway, Elfreda tug

as heading for the scene at top spe

clinging desperately to the bridle of the runaway with one hand, the other holding fast to the pommel of her saddle, but despite all her e

for Elfreda, as sh

freda was too busy to hear an

erself going to fall off. She did this to clear her feet from the stirrups so that when she fell she might not be dragge

she felt herself slipping, and threw both arms about the

naway as she was dragged along. Elfreda was taking severe punishment, but she was enduring

ims, having so timed her arrival that she succeeded in head

o the face of the runaway. Instead of slowing down, he came on with a rush, and

aced himself, seeming to know

ed against Blackie, and the impact b

stirrups, and, when the collision came, she

now tightly encircling the runaway's neck, her fe

the running pony's neck were

for the men dared not rope and throw the horse, fearin

neither girl would let go of her own free

bronco, and, his knees weakening, all at once he stumbled and went down

ught!" shou