The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1876-06-01
- q le 1t II ale .
Adventure With Robbers.
FL PAUL PLUME.

A severe storm kept me at vanba
ni's rancho for several days. and dur.
ing the time L had TO resort to many
expedients in order to relieve the
monotony of the situation played
cards and chess with Don Jose, bat
he being al indifferent hand ut thes,
games, they consequently gave me
but little amusement. The thought
occurred to me that tho old man
might afford me some entertainment
by the narration Of some points in
his early lifo. / therefore airoitly
introduced topics that / knew woul,l
lead to the subject, aud pretty soon
got him talking about tho past.
"When was about twenty years
DID, began Don jose, cnt t,
live with Don Refugio Torres ut lis
hacienda on Escondido Creek. II
was just three leagues distant from
Durango, therefore nothing of ride
i was employed in the capacity of an
under superior Of the cattle, anl rc-
ceiyed my orders from Pedro Riyas,
the major ,lomo, for Dou Refugio
was very quiet, indolent and easy
man, and troubled himself very lit,
t.e about business, tho infringement
Of which he left entirely to Rivas.
"For some cause or othcr-l new.
er could find ont what--lhe major
domo took @ great dislike to me,
aud, being surly man, got from
him nothing but an abundance OF
hard work, and no small quantity OF
Ill will. ! went to Don Rcfagid
with an excellent recommendation
from my former employers, aud u,
my mother had been sort of dis
taut connection of the Torres fami-
ly, Don Refusio lookel upon me
with certain degree of favor that
was not accorded TO every person on
his place.
1--WE used to raise a good many
cattle on Escondido Creek, and send
them to Durango for sllo Tnc
herders always drove the beast there
while l followed leisurely in the
rear until they arrived, when our
agent would sell them aud pay over
tue money to me, which | would So
euro on my person and bring to
Don Refugio.
"l had been at the hacienda about
n year when one of my friends made
me present OF fine bloodhound
which named Moro. The animal
was three months old when | got
him, and as he grew to strength and
stature, he became very much attach.
ed to me. / really loved that ami
NAL, for though he had q savage M,
ture. he was gentle al II lamb to mo
He accompanied me wherever won't
and slept ut tho foot Of my bod. 1t
seems to me that he was the only real
friend | had in the world
"One autumn evening, Pedro
Rivas informed me that some cattle
would start the following morning
Tor Durango, aud as one of tho her
ders was sick, I would have to assist
In driving them. At first inclined
to resent what considered us an
affront and trick to mortify me
but upon second thought 1 conclu-
ded to have no words with him. as
he might make it a cause OF coin
plant to Dun Refugio. Therefore.
the next morning saw me in the sad
die with one herder to accompany
me. and my faithful Moro trotting
by my side. There were thirty
head OF cattle in all. bearing Don
Refngio's brand. The herdor had
Was named Bcnito, a surly fellow
who did nothing but grumble from
morning till night, and get drunk
every time he could obtain quipue
You can imagine / wished the jour,
nay soon over, end pushed the drove
on a. fast as pos ,ihle, so as not to be
long on the road 1t was always a
rule Of my life never to shirk from a
ny task imposed upon me. and nov
or eyipoe any uuwillingness at the
imposition. 80 | journeyed along.
/, !hietling and talking ~ Moro, but
paying little attention 10 tie Ill
@styiTel Bsnito We reached Du-
5Sngoin time Tor the great fair,
hlpb thsy have every yssr, anil our