The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-11-14

he endeavOrcd to regain MS 1eet, Dut nc
never succeeded, and when at last, weak
from pain and loss of blood, he tainted.
Wild Frank threw the bloody whip to
the ground and, mounting his horse, rode
away. The whole affair had been so
sudden and unexpected and had resulted
so differently from what the spectators
imagined that the boy had disappeared
behind a roll in the plain before the as
tonished cowboys recovered their senses.
They raised the unconscious bully up,
washed away the blood and poured
whisky down his throat. He recovered
sufficiently to be assisted back to his
rancho, and when week later he was
able to leave his bed he swore a big oath
and vowed to have Wild Franks life.
Intelligence of Flanigan's purpose was
brought to Frank He made no counter
threat, but there was peculiar CLEAN in
his ewes which led his informant to be-
lievc that the boy would DC ready.
About two weeks later, at another rancho,
the two again met. Both were mounted,
and drawing his Winchester from its
8 .abbard, Frank spurred his horse to-
ward the bully and shouted:
"Look out, Flanigan"
The ranchman raised his rife, with a
wicked look in his small gray eyes. Both
fired at the same time and, still pressing
forward. discharged their Winchesters
in rapid succession. Flanagan pitched
from his saddle with three bullets in his
body, and, satisfied that his enemy was
dead, Wild Frank rode to the nearest
ranger camp and surrendered to the com
handing officer. Public opinion on the
frontier has a great influence in court
of law, and Wild Frank was acquitted.
The ranger captain had taken great
fancy to the boy, and he urged him to
become scout. Accordingly he en-
listed in b company of the frontier bat
talon, and remained in the command
several years. 1t was company of brave
men, but none were Drawer than Wild
Frank. With perfect disregard for
his own safety, he was always in the
done, and many times risked his life in
defense of fellow scout.
When Frank left the rangers he de-
termined upon trip through Mexico,
and this was one of his numerous adven-
lures in the land of the Montezumas:
He crossed the Rio Grande at Preside
del Norte and amused himself for four
or five days hunting and fishing. Game
of all sorts was abundant, and the simple
hearted peasantry were kind and hospi
table. One afternoon the sky became
overcast, and when toward night furi-
Gus storm burst he sought shelter at a casa
rancho. No one was in sight when he rode
up to the massive gate of the corral, and
it was not until he had pounded vigor
ously on the barrier with the butt of his
cuarte and called loudly several times
that the door opened and a sourvisaged,
wrinkled old Mexican woman appeared
on the threshold. Frank demanded
shelter in Spanish, but before the bag
could reply brutal-looking man, who
spoke English like an American, pushed
her aside and began to question the
stranger. Franks answers were evident
ly satisfactory, for the ranchero babe
him enter and peon hoppled his horse
and turned the animal loose to Craze.
Franks host provided him with a change
of clothing-his own was wet-and after
supper conducted him to room. When
the door opened a young and beautiful
girl rose and faced the two men inquir
ingly. The ranchero addressed her:
This stranger will camp with us,
Eleanor" he said. "He will occupy
this room. You can sleep With Dolores. "
The girl bowed and, gathered up some
fancy needlework upon which she had
been engaged. left the room.
"She's my daughter" said the stern
visaged ranchero when they were alone.
When he finally retired from the room
Frank closed the door, 1t had no lock,
and, placing his siX-shcOter under his
pillow, he threw himself upon the bed
without undressing. The anomaly of a
beautiful and accomplished girl being
the voluntary resident of a miserable
rancho house and acknowledged as a
daughter by so villainous- appearing a
man as his host excited Franks sus-
picions, and he examined the room care
! fully to discover some clue to the iden-
| tity of the fair stranger. The room was
comfortably, almost luXuriously furnish
ed, ana the books which filled the shelves
of hanging closet and were scattered
about the room the pictures on the walls
and the general air of refinement con
WINGED him that the girl was far above
/ the average ranchero's daughter
! in education. lie looked through
the books and searched every bit of pa
per in the room. but without finding a
clue to the mysterious Eleanor's identity.
Still thinking of her and her strange sur
roundings Frank fell asleep, to be aroused
by some one gently shaking him. lie
started up and discovered by the din
light of taper which she bore that hi.
visitor was the beautiful Eleanor. lie
attempted to speak, but she signed fol
him to be silent and whispered the
words:
Follow me"
Buckling on his ix-shootcr belt Frank
followed her from the room and she lee
the way through several narrow entries
to the yard. His horse stood ready sad
died and bridled just outside the CORA
gate. The girl pointed to the capari
soned animal.
You are an American" she said
"Your life will not be safe here
She pointed again to the horse and re
treated into the house. After a moment
hesitation Frank mounted his animal