Catoctin clarion., 1884-12-04
NMm

butt of his cu'9S2a
several times ths
sour-visaged', s8W
woman appeared on eng
Frank demanded shelter
but before the hag couldr -
tal-]ooking man, who spokt
like an American, pushed NJ
and began to question the stla
Franys answers we're evidedtly.
factory. for the ranchero bade hir
ter and peon hoppsed lis horse
turned. the animal loose to graz,
Franks host provided him with
change Of clothing-his own was wet
and after supper conducted him to
room. When the door opened young
and beautiful gill rose and faced the
two men, inquiringly. The ranchero
addressed her:
This stranger VIII camp with us,
Eleanor" he said. "He will occupy
this room. You can sleep with Do
lores.''
The girl bowed aha, gathered up
some fancy needle work upon which
she Had been engaged, left the room.
She's my daughter" said the stern
visaged rahchero when they were
alons
When he finally retired from the
room Frank closed the door. It had
no lock, and, placing his six-shooter
under his pillow, he threw himself
upon the bed without undressing. The
anomaly of Il beautiful and accom-
plished girl being the Voluntary resi-.
dent of miserable rancho house and
acknowledged as daughter by SO yil-
Misunderstanding man as his host
excited Franks suspicious, and he ex-
amined the room carefully TO discover
some clue to the identity of the fair
stranger The room was comfortably,
almost luxurously furnished, and the
books which filled the shelves of Il
hanging closet and were scattered about
the room, the pictures on the walls and
the general air of refinement convinced
him that the girl was far above the av-
erage rancheros daughter ineducation..
Hd looked through the books and
searched every bit of. paper in the
room, but without finding clue to the
mysterious Eleanor's identity. Still
thinking of Fer and her strange sur
roundings Frank fell asleep, to be
aroused by some one gently shaking
him. He started up and discovered
by the dim light of a taper which she
bore that his visitor was the beautiful
Eleanor. He attempted to speak, but
she signed for him to be silent and
whispered the words
Follow me- -.
Bhcklin' on his sixshooter belt Frank
followed her from the room and she led
the way through several narrow entries
to the yard. His horse stood ready
sadLled and bridled just outside the
corral gate, The gial pointed to the
caparisoned animal
You are on American she said,
your life will not be safe here, :,
She pointed again to the horse and
retreated into tie House. After a
moments hesitation Frank mounted
his animal and rode away. Day was
just dawning. He made inqiries about
the ranch people he had just quilted,
but could learn nothing concerning
them. A. few months thereafter while
at Saltillo he strolled by the walls Of a
rich convent one evening. TIE heavy
gate swung open and two sisters of the
order came out. They started at sight
of the stranger, and Frank uttered an
exclamation of surprise. One Of
the nuns was the beautiful Flea.
nor, who had so mysteriously assisted
him to lease the old rancho house.
"Eleanorn' she said and started to.
ward her. The nun shook her head
and laid her finger on her lips as a
sign of silence. The scout drew back,
the two nuns passed and he saw them
no more. The next morning the citr.
zens of Saltillo We're Mortified and ex.
cited. The nunnery Of Saint Dolores
had been robbed Of valuable plate and
Jewels and it was presumed the vandals
were led by the celebrated female. ban
dit, Ell Chiquaita, VINO had a hiding
place in the mountains toward the,
Rio Grande and was the terror of all.
that country. The daring woman had
entered the convent in the guise of a
pious novitiate, had learned the secrets
of the cent and at the first favorable
moment admitted Fer confederates,
who had robbed the nunnery Of all Of
its valuable treasure and escaped safely
with their booty. They described the
false nan, "and," concluded Frank, as
he told me the story, will you believe
it, the description exactly Tailed with
Eleanor. She was captured by the