Saved from Death. or THE RESCUE OF BETTY LEITER.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 1839, 16 June 1903, Page 7

Saved from Death. or THE RESCUE OF BETTY LEITER.

.John Leiter was in the throes of despair, and sat by his fireside musing over the apparent cruelty of Fortune. Five years ago he was in a good way of business and accounted by his fellow-men a prosperous tradesman, but since then disaster had followed disaster until now the only vision is ruin.

The one great calamity that had never been expected had happened. He had " failed " and the creditors were seizing his very all ; and though John Leiter could not see beyond the blackness of the presenr, there were two members of his family who remembered that there's a silver lining to every cloud. These were his wife and daughter Betty. They were determined, if possible to retrieve the family fortunes, and thus it happened that the ruined John reluctantly appealed to a rich brother, who, on strictly commercial terms, advanced the capital for another start—this time on a small cattle ranch in America.

The Leiters had not long been settled in their new home when Betty noted that the district had no School, and she soon announced to her astonished father her intention to practically help in the retrieving of fortune in starting a school on her own account.

Mr. Leiter tried to dissuade his daughter from such a course, for it was a rough country, the houses a long distance apart, and the pupils would probably give her considerable trouble ; but his daughter was resolute.

The school' was the regulation " rural " variety, with pupils of all sizes and ages, located about three miles from Mr. Ijeiler's ranch. Betty said she would ride her pony there and back each day, and she expected to thoroughly enjoy the

experience. The first day of school was marked by adventure. The post-office lay between the Leiter ranch and the school. "Wager for the post, Miss Leitei' cantered up to the rude little building. dismounted and went inside. When she came out a scene met her eyes that roused all the indignation in her nature. A cowboy was attempting to break in a bucking little broncho, while half a dozen of his companions stood by looking on witli keen interest.

The pony was going through the usual manoeuvres, first drawing up his four feet, together, arching his back, then with magic swiftness rearing his hind legs straight into the air, his nose to the ground. The rider shifted his position to suit the sudden changes of the animal's mood dug his spurs deep into his. sides, and lashed him severely with a whip Betty, horrified, could not restrain an outburst in the animal's defence.

" Aren't you ashamed, you great, brutal man, to treat that poor little horse so ? " she exclaimed. "Get oil and let him alone this minute, or I'll—l'll have you arrested for cruelty to animals. The cowboys looked at her in astonishment, then turned away to hide their amusement. The rider stared a moment. " I mean just what I say," the dauntless little champion of the dumb brute continued, stamping her foot, her eyes snapping, her colour rising. " And I shall go—go and report you if you abuse that pony again."

The onlookers gazed off across the open country, wondering doubtless where she would go and report the affair. The rider dismounted. " I'd hate to be reported, that's a fact," he said in a droll tone, stifling an

impulse to laugh ; and the young woman, feeling she had done her duty, mounted her own pony and rode off to her iirst day's experience in training the young idea, followed ] by the admiring glances of the cowj boys. I Thereafter the cow punchers i watched the road with considerable interest to see a spirited, pretty young woman ride by. A w.:man is a rarity in thut locality, specially one whose high spirit. • i ' ;;ce<i by her daring defence of the ;.<.,,. little broncho, would alone r ■ , I gained universal homage. For weeks they found various exI cuses to transact business at the Leiter ranch, but the young woman gave them not the least notice. To tell the truth after she learnt more of the ways of bucking bronchos she felt a little mortified over the impulsive outburst with which she had rebuked the cowboy. Besides, she had learnt also, much to her chagrin, (hat her culprit was no other than Robert E. Catton, a rising young cattle king, owner of some thousands of acres, extending almost to her father's ranch, and a well-educated young man. In the meantime Betty's school was progressing with surprising results. The increased attendance aiuong the larger boys was phenomenal, and some of the cowboys threatened to join the ranks. One afternoon is October, she remained later than usual at the school, then on her way home, stopped by a pile of huge boulders to examine some curious inscriptions cut into the surface. She let her pony graze along the trail, and soon was deeply enguged in deciphering the marks. • A low rumbling sound startled her. She sprang to her feet. A large herd of cattle was coming towards her, their noses to the ground, their horns clanking together, and enveloped in acloud of dust. At tbe same moment her pony became frightened, tossed his head in the air and rushed away across the plains. She uttered a scream and sank down. Yells arose from the cowboys. They rode madly into the herd, trying to check the onward rush of the leaders by firing revolvers in their faces. j Betty crouched for a moment ou ,

the rock pile directly in front of the stampede ; then, impelled to make an effort to save herself, she arose arose and darted off across the country ahead of the herd. I The cattle came thundering after j her. Faster and faster she sped, her bright skirts flying back in the wind. Louder, nearer came the frightened herd. The earth vibrated beneath her. She heard the angry roarings, almost felt their hot breath, and weak from exhaustion, blinded by the dust, she .stumbled and fell. Without strength to rise she could only lie there and await the oncoming, merciless hoofs that would soon trample out her life. At that moment from out of the clouds of dust, clashed a snorting broncho, maddened by the gasping spurs of his rider. A few leaps and he had reached the prostrate form, and bending down from his saddle, his strong arm lifted her from the ground, hardly checking his speed, and the sturdy pony sprang forward | under the double weight. She was saved !

i A little later the cowboy reined in his pony at the Leiter gate and for the first time Betty opened her eyes and looked into the face of her rescuer, Robert Catton. Her arms a-

bout his neck, tightened for one brief moment, she hid her blushing face on his breast, then she struggled from his arms and ran into (he house.

Robert Catton needed no formal words of thanks.

The next day she received a gift—no less than the little pony that had saved her life, the same bucking broncho she had so valiantly championed in front of the post office. Young Catton is now a frequent visitor at the Leiter ranch, and all the other cowboys in the country arc consoling one another, each regretting he could not have been the lucky one to save the life and win the heart of the intrepid girl. It is said that Betty is giving up the school. She has also changed her mind about reporting young Catton for cruelty, but the culprit will soon have a report to make to the nearest parson or registrar and

it is said that all the cowboys on the range have been invited to the wedding.