The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-07-06
Produced by Combination Of Newspa.
per, and Published Serialy
in Parts, Every Sunday.
Copyright, 1874, BY Bret BartA
All Rights Reserved
A BLUE GRASS PENELOPE.
BY BRET HARTE.
Second Part.
CHAPTER III.

MT IhttCEuOu ulu uOL IutOE" uib WIZ VI wv
lawyers personal threat to himself But he
managed. after Poindexter had left to make
her conscious that Mrs. Tucker might b
a power to be placated and feared. You've
shot OF your mouth at her." he said. argu.
mentatively. and whether you've hit tho mari
or not you've had your say. Ef you think ita
worth possible 5000 and interest to keep on.
heave ahead. Ell you rather have the chancs
OF getting the rest 10 cash. you'll let up on
her." You don't suppose" returned Mrs
Patterson contemptuously. that she's got
anything but what that man OF hers-Poin.
dexter-let's her have 2" Tho shorin says"
retortod Patterson surlIly. that she's notified
him that she claims the rancho AS gift from
her husband three years ago-and she's In
possession now. and was 80 when the execution
was out. It don't make no matter" he added.
with gloomy philosophy. who's got Q full
hand % long rs tee amt got tho cards to CHG
In. wouldn't hev minded It," he continued
meditatively. "ef Spence Tucker had droppeds
hintto me afore he put out. And suppose" said
Mrs. Patterson angrily. you'd have put out
toop" II reckon" said Patterson simply.
Twice or thrice during the evening he 70.
ferred. more or less directly. to this lack Of con-
ldence shown by his late debtor and employer
and seemed to feel It moro keenly than the lose
Of property. He conflded his sentiments quite
openly to the Sheriff In possession. over the
whiskey and cuchre with. which these gentle-
men avoided the difficulties OF their delicate
relations He brooded over 1t as lie handed
the keys Of the shop to the Sheriff whom they
parted for the night and was still thinking oil
1t when the house was closed. everybody gone
to bed. and he was fetching fresh Jug Of
water from tho well. The moon was at timei
obscured By flying clouds-the arant-courier,
Of the regular evening shower. He
was stopping over the we'll. when hi
sprang suddenly to his feet again. Who's
there ?" he demanded sharply.
"Hushp said voice. 80 low and faint II
might have been whisper Of the wind In the
palisades Of the corral. But. indstinct as Il
was 1t was the voice Of the man he was think.
ing Of a. far away. and 1t sent thrill OF alter.
nate awe and pleasure through his pulses.
He glanced quickly around. Tho moon was
hidden by passing cloud and only the faint
outlines OF the house he had Just quilted were
visible. =" Is that you. Spence ?" he said trem.
| ulously.
Yes" replied the voice. and figure dlmlS
emerged from the corner OF tho corral.
| Lay low. lay low-for Gods sake" said Pat.
terson. hurriedly throwing himself upon the
appnrition. The Sheriff and his posse are In
| there"
But must speak to you moment" said
the figure,
/
| building. Its blank. shutteress windows re.
| vealed no inner liEht-a profound silence en-.
| comprised 1t. Come quick" he whispered.
| Letting his grasp slip down to the unrcsisting
hand Of the stranger. he half dragged. half led.
him. brushing against the wall. into the open
door OF the deserted barroom he had just quit
ted, locked the inner door. poured glass oi
| whiskey from decanter. gave it to him. and
then watched him drain 1t at single draucht
The moon came out. and. falling through the
bare windows full upon the strangers face. re.
vealed the artistic but slightly dshcvelled
curls and moustache OF the fugitive. Spencer
| Tucker.
Whatever may have been the real influence
| Of this unfortunate man upon his follows. II
| seemed to find expression In q singular unan-
unity Of criticism. Patterson looked at him
with a half-dismal. half-wccoming smile.
well. you are a hill Of fellow. ak your"
Spencer Tucker passed his hand through his
hair and lifted 1t from his forehead. with a
gesture at once emotional and theatrical. z
ON man with price on mev' lie said bitter
~. Give me up to tho Sheriff. and you'll get
five thousand dollars. Help me- and you'll get
nothing. That's my id luck. and yours too.
suppose"
Il reckon you're right there" said Patterson
gloomily but thought you got cIoan away.
Wont of in ship"
Went of in boat to ship."
interrupted Tucker savagely {; went OF
to "a ship that had oil my things on
board-everything. The cursed boat capsized
In sauall just off the heads. The chip. d-n
her. sailed away the men thinking was
drowned. likely. and that thoy'd make good
thing off my goods-I reckon"
But the girl. Inez. who was with you. didn't
she mako row.
"Quien SADIE" returned Tucker with q rock
less laugh. We'll 1 hung on Ike grim death
to that boats keel until one OF those Chinese
fishermen. 10 dug out hauled me in oppo-
site Sancelito. chartered him and his dug
out to bring me down here"
why here?" asked Patterson. with cor
tain ostentatious caution that Ill concealed his
pensive satisfaction.
You may we'll ask" returned Tucker. with
an equal ostentation OF bitterness. as he
slightly waved his companion away. But
| reckoned could trust white man that ia
been kind to. and who wouldn't 20 back on me.
No. no. let me gol Hand me over 10 the
Sheriff."
Patterson had suddenly grasped both the
hands Of tho picturesque scamp before him.
with an affection that for an instant almost
shamed the man who had ruined him. But
fuckers egotlsm whispered that this affection
was only recognition OF his own superiority.
that no was really the Injured party.
What hare and what have had is yours.
Spence" returned Patterson. with sad and
simple directness that made any further dis
cussion gratuitous insult. II only wanted to
know what you rsckoned to do here"
Il want to get over across the coast range 70
Monterey" said Tucker. Once there one OF
those coastlng schooners will bring me down
to Acapulco. where the ship will put in"
Patterson remained silent for a moment.
There's mustang In tho corral You can take
-leastways. I shan't know that it's gone-untn
tomorrow afternoon. In an hour from now"
he added. looking from the window. these
clouds will settle down to business 1t will
rain: there will be light enough for you to nnd
your way by tho regular trail over the noun
tain. but not enough for any one to know you.
II you can't push through tonight. you can lls
over at tho Posada On the summit. Them
Greasers that keep 1t won't know you. and II