THE GOVERNOR S WAGER. 
The big gun roared, and echoed back 
from cliff and crag. 
In a few minutes the Bishop and Daisy 
were seen coming along the ridge to- 
ward town. Both were mounted, and 
when they reached the point where the 
trail forked, Daisy dismounted, and gave 
her pony a sharp cut with the quirt. 
The animal turned, and took the back trail 
for home. She walked slowly along the 
ridge and was soon out of sight. 
The Bishop watched her a moment, and 
then leisurely proceeded toward town. He 
had hardly gone 500 yards, however, when 
with a jerk he wheeled his horse, gave a 
yell like a Comanche, and dug his spurs in 
to the animal’s flanks. Old Pete knew 
what this meant and bounded forward like 
a shot. 
When he came to the fork of the trail, 
he was seen to take the one to the right. 
The crowd below was breathless with sus- 
pense, and hundreds of eyes were riveted 
on the flying figure, dashing it would 
seem, to instant destruction over the cliff. 
Women paled and almost swooned, and 
strong men groaned and clenched their 
fists, their cheeks blanching with horror. 
Except for an occasional gasp, and the 
rattle of the broncho’s hoofs over the 
loose rocks not a sound could be heard. 
But see. The Bishop is now nearing the 
ledge, the horse straining every muscle 
to gain more speed. There is no hesi- 
tancy, no turning back. The horse and his 
wild rider must inevitably plunge over that 
cliff. Will it be to destruction? ' The 
breathless crowd shuddered. 
As the broncho struck the broad plat- 
form of rock at the very edge of the cliff 
he did not change his gait but shot right 
Of Over it into the air. 
As the crowd saw horse and man go 
like a flying Pegasus into empty noth- 
ing a cry of horror went up. 
“My God,” cried the Governor, “what a 
leap!” 
Jake, in his excitement had waded into 
the lake almost to his waist while others 
rushed to the water’s edge to see the 
result of the fearful plunge. 
In about a second, with a tremendous 
splash the horse struck the water, and 
with his rider disappeared, but in a mo- 
ment they had risen, and the gallant pony, 
snorting like a walrus, was seen swimming 
for home across the lake. Soon he was 
clambering up the bank on the other side. 
The Bishop, however, made no sign to the 
crowd. He did not look back, although 
the shouts and cheers of the crowd, added 
to the roar of innumerable 6-shooters. 
“were deafening. 
While the noise was at its height. Chick- 
en Bill was seen gesticulating wildly, and 
pointing upward to the ledge from which 
173 
old Pete and his rider had made their 
daring leap. 
Instantly there was silence, for there, 
poised gracefully on the very edge of the 
rock, more like a fairy sprite than a hu- 
man being, stood a beautiful young wo- 
Mit Sie mas clad ink a natty = bathinic 
costume, and the wind blew her wealth of 
hair into tossing ringle:s. 
The fair apparition was kissing her hand 
to the crowd below, and the latter, sup- 
posing there was a little theatrical per- 
formance in store for their benefit, cheered 
wildly, never dreaming of her intentions. 
But the Governor knew, and his face 
blanche. He made a gesture as though to 
stop her, but at that instant Daisy, for it 
was the Bishop’s daughter, raised her 
hands above her head, and sprung off the 
ledge. Fora moment it looked as though 
the girl wou:d strike the water flat, and 
break every bone i. her body. Just an in- 
stant the little figure quivered in the air, 
then turned as gracefully as a trout, jump- 
ing for a fly, and shot straight down inte 
the Jake, as swift as an arrow from the 
bow o a Ute. She punctured the shim- 
mering surface and slipped out of sight 
like a steel bullet trom a Winchester, 
leaving only a widening ripple circling | 
from the spot whe:e she had disappeared. 
Blank horror froze the crowd. Men 
looked at each other paralyzed. 
But Daisy soon arose like a . enus from 
the water, and shaking the liquid diamonds 
irom her. .prethy .curis; | struck out for 
the © ther shore with swift and graceful 
movements. 
By this time the cro d had regained its 
senses, and the cheering was renewed with 
even more vociferation than before. In a 
short time the plucky girl reached the op- 
posite’ shore. As she started up the 
bank she turned to wave her hand 
to), the, <crowd. ~The bathing “suit - clung 
close to her form <nd she looked like a 
polished statue in ebony and white, glis- 
tening in the sun. Then she dashed up 
the bank and into the pines with the speed 
of a frightened deer. 
The Governor wiped away the beads of 
perspiration that bedewed his brow, and 
drew a long breath of relief. 
mBOvstleasdidermlavenwon, bit at Im 
forgiven I'll never make another bet, no 
not even on the next election.” 
He promptly disnatched Jake to the 
Bishop’s cabin to see if all were well, and 
to escort him in triumph to town. 
“But where is Lord?” he asked looking 
around. 
“A little disfigured but still in the ring,” 
and Lord was seen pushing his way toward 
the Governor. 
During the progress of the events just 
related Lord had outwardly preserved his 
calmness though his nerves, hardened by 
