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Show siSra&tw ( - THE RICH COUNTY REAPER, RANDOLPH. UTAH By FRANK H. SPEARMAN Frank H. Spaarman SYNOPSIS Don Alfredo, wealthy, Spanish owner of a Southern California rancho, refuses to heed several warnings of a raid by a band of outlaws, Sierra Indians. One day after he has Anally decided to seek the protection of the nearby mission for his wife and family, the Indians strike. Don Alfredo is killed and his two young daughters are torn from the arms of the family's faithful maid, Monica, and are carried away to the hills. Padre Pasqual, missionary friend of the family, arrives at the ruins of the ranch and learns the story of the raid from Monica. After a trying and difficult trip across the plains and mountains from Texas to California, youthful Henry Bowie, a Texas adventurer, with his friends, Ben Pardaloe and Simmie. an Indian scout, sight the party of Indians who have carried off the two little girls. The three Texans attack the Indians. The girls war party of fifty-odare saved. The group makes its way out of the hills and meets the distraught Monica, the childrens maid. The girls are left with Monica and the friendly Padre at a mission, and the Texans proceed to Monterey. Here Bowie completes his business for ' WNU Ssrvica ber, you are always welcome, with your friends, at Guadalupe. And if you honor us again with your company I shall be careful not to lead you into any more bear traps. You have saved my life. As the last day of his stay approached, Bowie began to wonder whether he should catch a final glimpse of the young girl who had occupied his thoughts so much since coming to the rancho. She had been visiting in Monterey and came home the night before Bowie and his scouts took their departure. The scene in the morning as the trio made ready to mount their horses was a lovely one. The sun had broken into flame above the eastern Sierras and flung its billows of gold over the land. They livened comhas who of Houston Sam Gen. Texas, the spreading green of the pepper missioned him to deliver an important message. Bowie decides to have a look dis-at trees and brightened the pink tips of the wild untamed California. Bowie the burgeoning oaks. appears but returns eight years later and makes the acquaintance of a friendly SpanThe family were grouped together. ish family at the Rancho Guadalupe. He is After good-by- s to Don Ramon and attracted by the lovely Carmen, daughter of Don Ramon, the ranchos owner. the Dona, Carmen came forward, Bowie saves Don Ramons life in a fierce with her cousin Francisco for infight with a huge grizzly bear. terpreter, to thank Bowie for the d . CHAPTER VII Continued Carmen had a sweetheart, Don Ramon de Haro. He had a twin brother . . . Now if you are an admirer of General Fremont," Don Francisco interrupted himself to say, you would not like to hear this. Fremont, said Bowie, means nothing to me." The brothers, one day this spring, took a boat at Yerba Buena to row over to San Rafael. They wanted to see Fremont about getting pay for a bunch of steers his men had taken from the De Haro rancho. They took with them an old friend, Don Jose de Berreyesa, to interpret. The three men landed at San Rafael, and when they were seen by Fremont he detailed three to meet them and kill them. Kill them? echoed Bowie, surprised. Listen, continued Don Francisco. One of these three men sent by Fremont was his scout, Kit Car-soCarson, before he set out, asked Fremont whether he should take these three Californians prisoners. Fremont growled, Ive got no room for prisoners. Carson and his two men dismounted about fifty yards from the De Haro boys and Berreyesa, who were walking up the hill unarmed, and, covering them with rifles, deliberately shot the three. Is Bowie tightened up a little. that the kind of a man Fremont is?" he asked. Judge for yourself," returned Don Francisco succinctly. For a moment Bowie made no comment. Ive heard some tough stories about him, he said slowly, but nothing to equal that. They buried the boys fine young fellows and poor Berreyesa. You can imagine hqw Californians felt." ; . I can. Senorita Carmen was wild. Don Ramon and she were not, what you say, engaged, but they were deeply in love. I really believe if she could have got hold of Fremont she would have strangled hiim. No wonder she hates Americanos. Bowies padre surgeon, Martinez, came often. When the danger had passed he confessed he had greatly feared infection. But I should have he said one day. known better, Texans are strong blooded. You may be discharged from my care, let us see it is four weeks. You are a lucky man, Senor Bowie. What will you do now? This was the question that was being asked In the .Estrada family. After prolonged discussions in which Padre Martinez was consulted Don Ramon spoke to Bowie. You have come to California to live.. You mean to go upriver to join Captain Sutter. I have something better,. If you will become of Rancho Guadalupe I major-domwill ipake you a rich man. Bowi thanked Don Ramon but I would rather be shook his head. I have always Ramon. Don free, been free. A Texan just naturally hates to be tied down. Besides, I want to see more of this country. It And who is very wonderful. knows? I might be called back to Texas. Don Ramon did not press his offer. As you will, senor. Remem ; , n. . o claws. Bowie yielded to an impulse and stepped up to Carmen to thank her for the Canton jar. Since I cant take it with me, I have left it in the car of Don Francisco, he It was most kind of explained. you, senorita, he said, while Don Francisco translated, to think of the stranger within the gates. I shall not forget it." He watched her narrowly as Don Francisco repeated his words, but her manner was reserved, her smile cool. Yet at the end as he turned away he thought, perhaps imagined, that a faint flush crept unwelcomed into her cheeks. If ever I am happy enough to revisit Guadalupe remarked Bowie, soliloquizing, as he. rode I shall certainly have away, learned to speak Spanish. In fact, I wont come back till I can. He kept his word. They heard from him at Guadalupe. For months after the Texan had ridden away there came from upriver, almost regularly, choice bits of game from Bowie saddles of venison and elk; Canadian geese, mallard ducks and, not infrequently, pelts, from, the fox. Of north, of the silver-tippe- d these there were always two, soft tanned and deep piled, for the Dona and her daughter. The Texan has the instincts of a gentleman," observed Don Ramon at dinner, one evening,, since he exaggerates in his mind the slight hospitality we have been able to extend to him and his men. Nor does he forget Padre Martinez, for Pedro tells me that Santa Clara receives much courtesy from him not alone in gifts of compliment, but so Pedro says he and his men have helped the padres recover horses and sometimes cattle, driven off by thieving Indians. The Indians are growing constantly bolder, Don Ramon, said his nephew indignantly. I hear it on every hand. They raid our neighbors already. Soon they will be after our horses. Yosco and Stanislaus long ago taught them rebellion. They need to be driven out of these mountains. Dont undertake it yourself, Don remarked his uncle, Francisco, who knew his fiery disposition. Nevertheless, my uncle, you will see them give us trouble if they are not taught a lesson. Don Francisco proved too good a g Indians prophet. The did grow bolder. Their depredations increased, and they raided the big ranchos with less fear of consequences. Every young Californian along the foothills was angry. They demanded something be done by the soldiers at the mission or the pre- ... horse-stealin- sidio. But the authorities were indolent. minor depredations at Rancho Pinole, the Indians, emboldened, ran off, (me dark night, every saddle horse on the place. Don Jose Martinez and his son had to borrow horses from Don Ramon at Guadalupe. , The neighbors were infuriated. They organized a party and set out to recover the horses and chastise the thieves. Don Francisco of Guadalupe was chosen captain. The posse was in die saddle early next morning, and two vaqueros tracked the marauders through the hills to a canyon in the mountains where, toward evening, they charged the Indians in a surprise attack. Following It was made too hastily, and the red men, scattering at the onslaught of the rancheros, sent back a cloud of arrows at their pursuers. Pedro and his vaqueros took advantage of the sudden confusion of the warriors to run the stolen horses out of the canyon and head them downhill for home. For a time the brush was fast; but there were too many Indians. Don Francisco called a retreat, and the Californians slowly retired from the field. As the leader of his little band, Don Francisco was the last to wheel from the scene of battle. The youngster was fearless beyond his years. ' Unhappily, as he spurred after his an arrow struck him becomrades, tween the shoulders. For a moment he swayed in his saddle, but before he had galloped a hundred yards, striving to cling to his horse, he pitched forward headlong to the ground. A score of Indian horsemen in hot pursuit yelled in triumph as he fell. His companions turned to, attempt a rescue. But the fighting line of pursuers had already passed the fallen Don, and the pitifully few Californians were driven back without being able to save their youthful leader. The duty of informing Don Ramon of the capture of his nephew was put upon Don Guillermo Castro, eldest of the young men. Hat in hand, he headed his companions into the living room. The family were, unDon Ramon, fortunately, there Dona Maria and Carmen. No sooner had Don Guillermo spoken than all seemed to grasp the dread tidings at once. Don Ramon sank, crushed, into a chair. Dona Maria burst into tears, and Carmen, ghastly white, fainted. Like wildfire the bad news spread to the servant quarters. Guadalupe, that night, was a house of mourning. It was nearing midnight when a clattering of hoofs was heard outside. Carmen, in the living room, was still trying to comfort her mother; Don Ramon sat gazing into the dying fire. He had smoked a final cigar and given himself over to painful thoughts. At the sound of horsemen he stirred and, answering a rapping on the door, rose to his feet, answering, Adelante! Don Ramon thought some of the neighbors had returned. The visitor strode somewhat forward and spoke easily in Spanish. You do not remember me, Don Ramon. It is more than a year since I have seen you. I am Henry Bowie, the Texan. The Dons gloomy features lightened. Who Senor! he cried. could be more welcome? I am only sorry that you find us grief stricken. Bowie raised his hand. "That is why I am here. The bad news reached me in Monterey tonight. I came down the river this morning with Pardaloe and Simmie, bringing a batch of furs. They are with me. And I came at once to offer any help that I can to my friends, Don Francisco and yourself. Don Ramon recounted briefly the tragedy and said the rancheros were waiting for daybreak to assemble for pursuit. You tell me .that Pedro was with him? May I go to the vaquero quarters to speak with him? Stay. He will come here. Carmen, tell Pepita to call Pedro. When the sleepy-eye- d vaquero appeared Bowie plied him with rapid questions. Don Ramon listened, impressed by the ease with which Bowie reconstructed, step by step, the fatal fight. It was almost as if he had been there. ( - . CHAPTER VIII You say you can find the canyon in the dark?. Without doubt, senor. And you think you know the band? Yosco led them, senor. I know him. Bowie turned to Don Ramon. "Pedro seems sure he can find the ground of the fight. We will start at once. Pedro might .easily go wrong on a night like this, senor. It is rain- ing hard. Bowie shook his head. Every hour is precious if Don Francisco is alive. The Indians will not kill their prisoner before daybreak. Since they drove off the Califomianos they may have remained in the canyon. Vamosl. How about carbines, senor? My men are well armed. You, Pedro, see that your vaqueros have carbines with plenty of dry ammunition and hatchets and knives, Pe- dro. Bowie spoke rapidly. His eager- ness to get started was most apparent. In the vaquero quarter Pardaloe and Simmie, who had gone to bed, were roused with the vaqueros picked for the rescue party. Under the conditions it was not possible to go fast after the beaten trail was left behind. Yet Bowie was keenly anxious to make time. The party halted for a moment while Pedro took his bearings. I I want to get to the canyon by Push daylight, Pedro, said Bowie. on whenever you are sure you re not to get lost. right. But be careful like the rainy I for that, Except night. Sabe? Si, senor. The others of the party were cautioned to stick close together, to make no noise and not to attemptof to light pipes. The faintest light sky dawn, penetrating the leaden resand the driving rain, found the cuers riding fast. They reached the canyon entrance an hour later, but the high walls shut out the added was daylight, and utmost caution reused in threading the winding cesses. Pedro suddenly halted and waited for Bowie to come up. Here is the place, senor, he whispered, pointing to a sharp rock that jutted well up from the canyon floor. The fight was here. Then wed better scout ahead a way to look for Indians. Well go on foot. He spoke to Pardaloe and Simmie. Pedro and I will work ahead, You boys folBen, he explained. low. Keep your priming pans dry. The horses were left with the vaqueros, and the four stole forward on foot. It was a bootless search with no signs of the Indians. Daylight was well advanced by the time the four had covered the canyon and Pedro had signaled for the horses. Riding back, the quartette found the vaqueros riding in circles over the scene of the fight of the day before. They had counted, when Bowie rejoined them, the bodies of eleven dead Indians, but there was no sign of Don Francisco. Once more Bowie ordered the party up the canyon to pick up the trail. He himself was riding slowly ahead, alone and under a driving rain, across a field of loose rock and shale when his eye was drawn from the trail by an object lying near to a clump of stunted trees. He reined toward it, looked again, hesitated, then sprang from his horse. It might be the naked body of a dead Indian. But a closer look brought a shock; it was the body of Don Francisco. A saddle blanket was stretched on the ground. The dead lad was wrapped in it and slung across the back of a horse, and with every precaution against ambush the so her horsemen made their way back to open country and the ranch. At Bowies insistence Pedro rode ahead to break the news; he himself did hot feel equal to it. Loud wails greeted the little cavalcade as it approached the rancho. Servants and children made no effort to restrain their grief. At the ranch house door Don Ramon, stem faced and bitter, stood with Dona Maria, who was supported by Carmen, the two women in tears. They suppressed their sobs as best they could while Don Francisco was awkwardly but tenderly carried in by the tall Texan and laid on the young Dons own bed and in his darkened room. Don Ramon summoned Dr. Doane from Monterey, and under his skillful hands the features of Don Francisco, as he lay in the candlelight the next night in his rough coffin, were less terrible, more nearly natural and, in some measure, more consoling to those who gathered around him to recite the prayers of the dead. Indeed the whole night heard their voices raised to heaven in intercession for a dear one. Hour by hour groups of the household, from master and mistress to the lowliest of the servants, relieved one another in vigil beside the rude bier. Next day, lying before the mission altar while Padre Martinez and his Franciscan assistant intoned the Mass of Requiem, the youthful victim seemed in his repose almost to speak words of consolation to those who still mourned him with unceasing sobs. Bowie had never seen just such a Catholic funeral. The solemn ritual, the marked reverence, ,the uplifted hands of the suppliant at the altar, joined by those ved uplifted at times at the altar him beyond any spectacle he had ever witnessed- Dr. Doane spent the night at Guadalupe and sat late with Bowie and Don Ramon. Again the master of the rancho talked with the Texan about taking over the management of the great domain. Now more than ever I need you, Senor Bowie, said Don Ramon quiMy nephew was my right etly. arm; without him, I am helpless. And without him, well-nig-h defenseless. He has handled the vaqueros, managed the matanzas, arrangec the sale of the hides and tallow. These marauding Indians from now on they will be bolder, encouraged by this partial victory . . . Don Ricardo, he said, addressing Dr. Doane, will you not also lent your voice to persuade our Texan friend to become, as you have, a Calif omiano? Give me- tonight to think it over, Don Ramon, said Bowie at last. Tomorrow 1 will decide. In any event, I thank you. Geod night - (TO BE CONTINUED) Scents for He-Me- n After a heavy snowstorm in New York crowds gathered at the entrance to a certain perfume house. The reason was soon clear, for instead of melting the ice in front of the store with rock salt the janitor had used rejected bath salts. !n this and many other ways American manufacturers of per- fume are trying to attract custom, especially that of men, whom they say are notoriously perfume shy. 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