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Show SOUTH CACHE COURIER PH By FRANK H. SPEARMAN Frank H. Spearman CHAPTER XVI Continued Her eyes, as she raised them to his, flashed through the tears. And But Monica, our faithful nurse, if it were? she echoed slowly and has told me that four days after gravely. It has been the dream of the burning of the rancho and the my life sometime, somewhere, to murders my sister and I were meet that man. In my heart I have brought back to the rancho by three said, If I can ever find that man I white men with heavy beards. They will wipe his feet with my hair. I could speak no Spanish; she could will serve him at table. I will be not understand a word they said, his handmaiden for life. and they were not going to leave Henry, she exclaimed, holding us with her until our old Padre out her hand for him to help her Pasqual happened along, walking up, how do you think I have stood down from San Gabriel. The men, it since Monica told me it was you? or at least one of them, talked by Could it indeed have been I? signs with the padre, and he as- Could that sobbing little brown-eye- d sured them it would be all right to girl I carried that day on my shoulturn us over to Monica. der be this magnificent woman who Senorita, said her companion stands before me now? Carmen! gently, this is too hard on you. You His voice threw more into the words are suffering. Dont tell any more than she had ever heard from hunow. I feel it myself. He drew a man lips. I love you. I have breath of relief. Thank God, you loved you from the first moment I did escape. ever saw you, Carmen. That is the Carmen gave no heed to his plea. reason I had to leave Guadalupe. Who were these men those three That is the reason I never could men who saved my sister and me stand it to come back to Guadafrom what shall I say? She put lupe and yet stay apart from you. her face into her hands, shudder- Now you know everything! ' Her composure, as she stood, ing. Dont say, dont try to say, se- astounded him. It was now he who must work to control his voice and norita! From worse than death. For words. months we two lay ill, our lives Henry," she said. His name on were her died from Terecita lips maddened him. He caught up. given , Do you know everybrain fever. I, poor I, could not her hands. Not quite not die. My aunt, Dona Maria, took me thing? she asked. for her own. She and dear Don how shamefully silly I once was. I Ramon adopted me. For years aft- dont know whether you can ever erward, senor, I would start out of forgive me. But since you have told a sound sleep screaming and sob- me what you have just now told bing. At other times horrible dreams me, Henry what more must I tell assailed me. you? It was Dr. Doane and, most of CHAPTER XVII all, the help of my religion and the ministrations of blessed Padre Martinez that brought me through those Dona Maria may or may not have terrible years. Dear Padre Martiguessed things when the young misnez When everybody else despaired tress of the rancho appeared at the of my recovery he, almost alone, dinner table. Carmen was a bit too supported me and told me I must animated to seem natural. And and should get well. Bowie laughed at times, Dona Maria thought, without adequate reaFor that reason all my illness when I became the foster daughter son." You made a long ride of it, of Guadalupe it was strictly forbidden for anyone ever to mention the she suggested as a leading remark. w tragedy or the fact that I was not Carmen responded composedly. But not a fruitless one. I went their very own child . . . This is a out to capture a very wild horse and very long story I cant tell you how deeply I managed at last to coax him into the corral. feel it, senorita. Dry old Don Ramon interposed You asked me why I was afrkid What did of being carried away. I have told an impudent question. wild into? horse coax your you And I a had reason more much you. Carmen met the attack without a grave for recounting all this, Senor Bowie. And a confession to make. tremor. Nothing to speak of. The Monica, my Indian nurse, is still liv- important thing is, California can ing. She lives with my brother near count one more Caballero. Don HenSan Diego. Once in a long, long ry Bowie is coming back to Guadatime Monica comes away up here to lupe. Dona Maria rose to her feet, clapsee me. Glorious! Do you remember, Senor Bowie,' ping her hands. He has promised to stay. that among the portraits at GuadaBetter and better. . lupe there is one of you? I remember. But, of course, continued CarMonica, the instant she saw your men blandly, you never can tell picture, screamed. When I quieted about really wild horses. her these were the words she spoke: They are serviceable only when 'That is the man who brought you actually brought to bit, observed back to me at Los Alamos!' Don Ramon . dispassionately. FeHer voice broke. She hid her face lipe, he said to the houseboy, here is a key to the wine cellar. Bring in her hands. He spoke quietly. Dont let that three bottles of the 1830 champagne It was a good vintage, he upset you. It might easily be a mistake. She could hardly remem- observed,' addressing Bowie. The Tejano left in the morning for ber after so many years, senorita.; I argued with her. You told the fort to break away from Sutter. It was difficult to make his peace, me those men were heavily bearded, I said. "This man is smooth but the captain was not wholly unfaced. She only shook her head. reasonable. Bowie took him into That, she said over and over, is his confidence, and in the end the the man who laid you in my arms veteran promised to come and dance at the wedding. at Los Alamos! A week went before Bowie, I was shaken almost to death very by her story, senor. Shouldnt you impatient, could get back to Guadbe? Senor Bowie, were you that alupe. Fortunately, in the circumman? Try to recollect. stances, he reached the rancho in He stared at the grass by his the evening. The night was clear. side. At length he shook his head A full moon was rising over the She must have been mismountains, and just within the patio slowly. taken. Plucking at the grass, he a slender girlish figure, wearing the added with a slight tremor, I wish very highest of her combs and it were true. draped in her most elaborate ChiBut Carmen had not done: she nese shawl, waited to greet him. Three nights, she whispered only pressed her victim more closeKnowing you as well as I now whqn she could catch breath to ly. do, senor, perhaps better than you speak, three nights I have waited I felt it here long, long for you. Wicked think, she continued, would be well to talk first to Senor Tejano, to keep a poor, poor girl Pardaloe, because I knew he came shivering out here in the cold. You with you to California and might ex- need not make excuses. I know plain it. I did talk with him. He you just forgot me. How are you, confirmed the story absolutely, even querido? And now that you have to the beard. Senor Bowie, you are what you call it a job, you must the man. ask Don Ramon in the morning for his daughters hand if you think her Struggling no longer with pent-u- p worth it I, myself, dont. But I emotion, she burst into tears. Why, why, should this upset you have heard it said that there is no so senorita? he pleaded. It may accounting for .tastes. Don Ramon made the asking easy only possibly be true. And if it for Bowie. If Carmen had done were . . 18 I WNU Service as I wished she would have been to shoot half a second too soon than yours long ago. You are welcome one hundredth part of a second too to my household, Senor Bowie. I late remember that. This rancho trust you two may be happy to- belongs to your master, Don Ragether and may provide for Guad- mon, and these squatters must be alupe the descendants for which taught that it does. These boys, my wife and I have vainly longed. explained Bowie The betrothal was made an occa- afterward to Pardaloe and Simmie, have been cowed by Blood and sion of festivity at the rancho, culminating in a formal dinner to which his bunch, who have been doing Padre Martinez and his assistant about as they please. Were going and Aunt Ysabel from Monterey to call Bloods bluff, and you boys were summoned. The household and know how to do it. Im going to the guests sat at table late and had get him for killing Sanchez, if for gathered in the living room with a nothing else. Whats the talk in fire in the huge fireplace. Monterey, Ben? While the talk went on Felipe Well, they say Bloods friends came in to whisper a message to let him loose. I saw Deaf Peterson Bowie. He excused himself and was there one night, and he acted mean. gone only a few minutes. When he Hes squatting over there with returned Carmen looked at him Blood. The talk and I guess its questioningly, but he ignored all so is that Blood has got together curiosity concerning his absence twenty or thirty guerillas, and he from the room and no one asked claims hes going to clean the counfurther. try up. Theyre tough birds, and It was only when he and Carmen bloods got a special spite against were alone after the guests had left Guadalupe. and he was bidding her good night And Guadalupes got a special that he answered her question. remarked against Blood, spite It was a messenger from Dr. Bowie. But if the cuss does get Doane. Felipe will put him up for a bunch of guerillas together they the night. can do mischief. No matter. Well but what did he want? just have to look alive till I can He brought a message from the get my hands on him again. He claims hes aimin to get doctor to let me know that Blood is out again. He broke jail to- his hands on you, grinned Pardaloe. night at Monterey. Im easier to find than he is, Bowie was in Monterey next day on business. His business was with Ben. But well get together some Ben Pardaloe. When they had fin- day. Pardaloe and Simmie went to ished their conference Ben had engaged to return to Guadalupe. A Monterey next day after powder fortnight later Bowie was riding and lead and extra pistols and to along the river with Carmen. She pick up what they could concerning had asked to visit the quarter of Bloods whereabouts. Bowie intendthe rancho threatened by the squat- - ed to raid the squatters the day following the return of the two scouts. He himself, on the day they left, took his vaqueros into the foothills to round up the herd from which steers were being run off by squatters and raiders. That day Carmen took Felipe with her to go over to the mission on a joyous errand. She wanted to talk over with Padre Martinez arrangements for a wedding. She found the padre a little thinner each visit marked him as sooner to become a walking skeleton. But happily, he told her, he had not been molested by raids for some time and prayed and hoped for a long relief from depredation. His guard? Yes, he had his dozen Mexican soldiers; they were good fellows but were eating him out of house and home. Today they had 1 ... . I remember. ters three of their shacks were visible from where Bowie and Carmen had halted. As they rode away a rifle shot echoed across the Melena, and Bowie heard the sing of the bullet as it passed. Run for it. Carmen! he exclaimed, striking her pony and spurring his own. Not until they were well out of range did he slow up. What was that shot, Henry? asked Carmen. Bowie was thoroughly enraged but he spoke quietly. Just another messenger from Blood to make sure I know hes out of jail. Then he exploded, unable to restrain himself A man whod do that in longer. Texas would be shamed out of the country. Its all right to take a pot shot at me; I dont object to that. But to take one when it endangers the life of a woman! It only shows, he added after an ominous silence, what a dog this fellow is. One of us will have to get out of this country. On the morning following Pardaloe rode out to Guadalupe. He was welcomed noisily by the vaqueros and, having brought a goodly supply of poor tobacco, made the cowboys happy by passing it around. Ben is to be your boss, boys, And you are all explained Bowie. to carry pistols now, along with Within your lariats and knives. three months Ill have for all of you theyre ordered and paid for. Weve got a bunch of pesky squatters on the other side of the river above the Melena. They expect to gobble up Guadalupe. Theyre mistaken, but they dont know it yet. Weve got to set em right on that point thats why I sent for your old foreman, Ben Parrs daloe. Now dont misunderstand me. Dont start a fight with this scum yourselves let them start it. But if you see one of them riding anywhere on the rancho, order him off. If he puts up a fight and you think you can handle him, well and good If you think you go after him. cant, whistle for help. If you catch one of them running off so much as a sick calf, go after him fast with your lariat and gun and dont give him a chance to shoot first. Powder and lead are cheap. Its better gone down, likewise, his administrator to San Jose for a fiesta; he was afraid some of them would come back drunk. And his poor Indians they had mostly turned hunters and trappers to keep from starving. But, Deo gracias, they were firm in their faith. He wished that his soldiers behaved as well. The scene that afternoon was as peaceful as the message from the other world which the mission had brought to men. The few girls and women remaining were busy with THE CHEERFUL CHEM I lilte tKe Hurdy-gurd- y mun For vftry vround fie mikj scatters tKe : D tHrougH Kelt-Fille- d div A little. cHoerFul sound. WNU Service. Restaurateur Believed Himself Well Supplied The coiiple had enjoyed a meal in the restaurant. When the bit' was presented the husband was horrified to discover he had come out without money. Calling the proprietor, he ex! plained the situation, ending with: It wont take me long to slip; home, and my wife will remaiit I here as security. Pardon me, said the propri-etor, but havent you anythin;' up f I else? Sir, snapped the customer an l grily, are you insinuating that my wife is not worth the $1.50? I Not at all, the proprietor but I already have a' tested, - pro-- f f wife! i i 4150 &&&$?& . pbis itfifhoprf'g Without Thinking Many a man fails to become a thinker for the sole reason that his memory is too good. Nietzche. DON'T BE BOSSED BY YOUR LAXATIVE -- RELIEVE CONSTIPATION THIS MODERN WAY When you feel gassy, headachy, logy due to dogged-u- p bowels, do as million! at bedtime. Next do take morning thorough, comfortable ofrelief, your helping you start the day lull like s normal energy and pep, feeling doesnt disturb million! the your night s rest or interfere with work the chewing t, next day. Try gum laxative, yourself. It tastes good, its handy and economical ... a family supply Feen-A-Mi- nt their varied tasks. Carmen visited with them and asked questions and distributed largess, asking at the same time for their prayers. She took supper with the padFEEN-A-MIre and his assistant, and with Felipe started for home in the cool of the evening. They had not ridden far when the Indian signified CarAs One Thinks men to stop. He scanned the Man is only miserable so far as ahead. he thinks himself so. Sannazaro. Men, senorita, he said, horsemen. Half a dozen or more. They are not our kind. I dont like to meet them with you. 10DUCTI0N BRED, MOUNTAIN What shall we do, Felipe? tED, AND ACCLIMATED . . . Turn back at once. had two the faced about Hardly LEGHORNS TTIfiFTfk WHITE when the clatter of hoofs behind c. R. I. REDS HAMPSHIRES NEW them indicated they were being folBARRED ROCKS lowed. They broke the ponies into WHITE ROCKS BUFF ORPINGTONS a swift lope; their pursuers rode WHITE WYANDOTTK faster. Fortunately, the distance CORNISH GAMES GIANTS was but short, and, as dusk fell, y WHITE BROWN LEGHORNS LIGHT BRAHMAS Felipe and Carmen dashed safely t through the opened doors into the itched RIGHT. Delivered FRESH. mission compound and Felipe, leapdelivery te all Internoantsln points ing from his horse, closed the clumMammoth Bronze Turkey Poults sy gates behind them. Priced lie te SOc each delivered, The clattering horsemen pulled up rite, Wire r Call for FREE Illnstrated in front of the church and with Circular. many shouts and oaths scattered over the plaza, demanding admisFeen-A-Mi- nt Feen-A-Min- Tot NT ala-me- da :.. i - Out-(h- sion. Felipe, though mild, was game in a pinch. He caught up a blunderbuss from the guards quarters and coaxed two neophytes to arm and appear with him in the church tower. The raiders yelled at them and one of them, a renegade mission Indian, shouted insolently to Felipe to open the gates or they would break them open. Felipe, equally defiant, declared he would shoot the first man that attempted it. There were hesitation and wrangling threats among the horsemen. They milled around the plaza, while within the church Padre Martinez and all in the mission enclosure were on their knees before the Blessed Sacrament, beseeching heaven for aid in the extremity. An hour or more passed, with the raid- ers churning about the plaza but shy about testing Felipes marksmanship from the tower. (TO BE CONTINUED) HAWS RAMS PIONEER HATCHERY UTAH BALT LAKE CITY. UTAH BEACONS of SAFET-YLike a beacon light on the height the advertisements in newspapers direct and you to newer, better easier ways of providing the things needed or desired. It shines, this beacon of newspaper be advertising and it willfol-- . to your advantage to low it whenever make a purchase. yo ! ; |