Hearts and Horses

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Bessie received a note from Uncle Dan along with a pony and was more than delighted with the handsome gift. Her sweetheart, Bill Walters, grew quite peeved at the way in which Bessie forgot him for her horse. Some days later Bessie's father, the sheriff, received a note that horse thieves were operating in his vicinity. He notified Bessie to watch carefully over her new pony and Bessie alert to the possibility, promptly rode to town to obtain a strong lock for the barn. She returned and banded it to Bill, asking him to attach it. But Bessie had been overseen by the horse thieves, who promptly laid plans to capture the horse. Bill, receiving the lock from Bessie, tucked it in his pocket and went into the corral to brood over her lack of interest in him. That night Bessie's horse was stolen. Bill, conscience-stricken, went to her father the sheriff and at his request was made a deputy. Then Bill started for the border. The following day he crossed into Mexico and was present at a horse sale. He recognized Bessie's horse and bought it, tendering a check in payment. This the bandit refused to cash. Then Bill, having arranged with the local sheriff to have a strong posse on the American side of the border, asked him (the bandit) to come across to the American bank where he would cash the check. This the bandit agreed to do. On the American side, Bill pulled his gun and a bandit was caught, but only for just one moment. The secret band of thieves, lying close by, rushed upon the American. A fast fight and a long chase followed before the thieves were finally rounded up.