Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-09-07
tween them became interspersed with

| cS, Sdiu ALICE, Iiiuiuiy.
1t seems to me as how-at least !
mean that-Do you know--it's pesky
hard climbin' thro' thlsyer pass ?
is it9' said Alice in a singularly en-
barrassed tone.
Yes, continued jim. It's kinder
tough. An it's sorter dangerous, too.
Road-agents round here, you know
There was a pause, and then Alice
said:
'Ohp
Jim cleared his throat vigorously.
Don't you kinder think could sor-
ter, as it were-well, you know what l
mean sEgtfffff9
Not very well, Mr.. Burton
No? Well, don't wohder much.
What mean is: Don't you think--at
least couldn't I--Alice, love your he
broke out in desperation. will you
love me?' .E ~fsfan
The question was asked at last, and
as Jim turned eagerly toward the girl
to hear her answer. he got one look in
her eyes by the bright moonlight.
Whatever he saw there, it was sufficient
to tell him all he wanted to know with
out any words. He took her hand and
drew her towards him.
Just at that moment the deep growl
from the great yellow dog belonging to
old man Duncan startled the lovers.
Jim hastily kissed the girl, and then re-
leasing her, stretched his hand out for
his rifle.
What is it. Alicep' he asked, in a
low tone.
Il don't know. Bose sees or scents
something
The dog had risen and walked TO the
end of the wagon, where he stood look
ing down the trail.
Hadn't you better wake your father.
Allie p said JIM,
No. If it's anything: Bose will do
that
As she spoke the dog turned to where
Duncan was lying, and Selling his
shoulder, shook him. The old man sat
up in moment. I.
What is it, Burtony he asked.
Il don't know yet responded Jim.
The dog sees something, but l have
not myself seen or heard
Ssh! Listenv whispered Alice. 81.
Horses said Jim. after pause.
AN shod, teo,' he added, as clink of
metal upon stone struck his ear.
Duncan got up hastily and took his
rifle. With a movement of his foot he
scattered the fire, and the two men
then crept forward a few yards to
where the trail took sharp turn.
Here, looking around the edge of the
rock, they saw party of five men rid
ing slowly up toward them. The wide
sombreros, thefleggins with bright sill
yer buttons down the sides, the short
jackets with the glistening gold onzas
in place of buttons, told the watchers
that party of Mexicans were before
them. Duncan gazed long at the lead
er, or rather at the horse he rode. The
moonlight was bright enough to en-
able him to see as if it were day, and
he watched the horse-a coal-black
with white star on the forehead and
four white feet-he turned to Burton
and said: That's Jose Gonzalez
Not man lived upon the border in
those days but what had heard of Jose
Gonzales, the Mexican bandit. A man
who seemed to revel in bloodshed and
crime; who never spared man, woman
or child; who had committed more
murders than he was months old for
whose head there were rewards offered
in four or five places, his own state,
Chihuahua, In Northern Mexico, being
one. .,t .d...., -t,.--. I'D
When Jim recognized him, or rather
his famous horse, he felt that thrill
which all brave men feel when brought
face to face before great danger.
.What'll we do, Jim?' asked Duncan,
in a whisper. WN q"
We kin shoot him from here they'll
be in range in a minute or two or we
can go back an hide, an trust to luck.
They may not see u.s.
Guess we better shoot. There's Allie,
you know
Il know; but they may pass an not
see u.s..
All right. Well hide them
No sooner said than the two men
Wcut Odch W ouc Wagon. huC OuCy
were away, Alice had put out the sticks
from the fire. The wagon had been
drawn up close to the rock, and, was
fortunately, in the deep shadow. As is
always the case with moonlight in the
mountains, the shadows are as deep as
the blacklist night. Jim drove the
mules and his horse into little rift in
the rocks in which they could stand,
and then placing Alice behind bowl
der, he took his station at one end of the
wagon while Duncan stood at the other.
The waiting men could hear the
Mex;cans coming up the trail, one Of
them singing Spanish love song. As
they rounded the corner from which
the two had seen them, Jim braced
himself for the possible fight. Nearer
and nearer came Jose, riding in front,
and the two men in the shadow fairly
held their breath as he passed. Fol-
lowing him came his four men. All
had passed in safety, except one, when
one of the mules in the rift squealed.
The bandits stopped instantly, and as
they did so Duncan saw two of them
in line i'm the moonlight. To level his