The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-08-20

J posure, and . few words sufficed to
make the situation clear to the men.
Harris rose. uttering an oath between
his teeth:
i "Forewarned is forearmed, my boy, :"
said he. There's plenty of time. The
night freight eastward is taken off and
there'll be no train over the curve till
Toms comes along. an you bet your
life she won't be thrown of the track.
| neither; and them cussed grcasers will
we'll just you wait and see. Don't
say . word to soul. and look sharp
now. for we've plenty Of work to do.
Jose and Carlos had conceived, as
they thought, very satisfactory plan.
The big Americano, strong-armed and
loud-voioed. had brought his fate upon
himself. Had he not dared to pay at
tentiOn to the sweetheart of one cdbdt-
Zero. and insult another by laying vio-
lent hands upon him? His blood should
atone. And then, what mattered if ten
or twenty more accursed Gringos were
sent to perdition at the same time? Ac-
cidents will happen. and rails will be
lOosened. in spite of all possible vigil
ance. No one would be the wiser, and,
indeed. il they concealed themselves
near the spot. there might be rare
chance for plumber. They would be
wary and watch their chance. The
Gringos carried plenty of money in the
cars, and if the big man with the two
revolvers and the belt full of cartridges,
who took care of it, should be killed, as
he surely must be. they might secure a
fortune, cross the mountains by paths
known to them, defy pursuit and live
rich and happy in Sonora or Chihuahua.
A pretty plan. indeed. So. in the gray
of the early morning, before the first
rays of the rising sun had bathed the
snowy summit of the Sierra Blanca in
rose pink, they climbed the steep and
intricate trail They beguilcd the
weary way with gleeful talk; they in
dulged in roseate visions of the future;
they built grand castles in the air.
Why, piOus rascals rs they were, when
their revenge was achieved and their
fortunes were made, they might even
place a votive offering in some tawdry
little adobe chapel on Mexican hill
side. Little did they know that, an
hour before. three men had climbed
that same path ahead of them, all strong
and brave, all armed to the teeth, and
two of them frontiersmen, faithful and
devoted enough to be cut to pieces be-
fore harm should come to lives intrusted
to their care; and who, too. hated the
greasers with such righteous hatred
that, in the line Of their duty, they
would have looked upon the extermina-
ton of an entire settlement of them
with supreme Indifference. Trouble
ahead. Seniors Jose and Carlos!
When mt last they reached the chosen
spot, and toiled ut the spikes with their
rude tools. little, too, did they know that
from hiding-place not far distant.
these three same men watched their
every movement.
Burke, filled with righteous wrath.
showed some Impotence. .'Say, Jack"
whispered he, whats the use of wait
ing? Let's blow the scOundrels' brains
out now. and have done with it"
Harris put his hand on his arm. mot
for the world" said he. with grim
smile. ''We'll do rs the guards did
down at the penitentiary at Canyon
City last month, when the prisoners had
put up job to dig their way through
the wall, and some one give 'em away.
They let 'em enjoy themselves a-work-
ing the whole of every night for three
weeks. saying that exercise was good |
for EN-. And then. when they'd fin
ished the hole and was crawling through,
they bagged 'em all rs they came out
and wished 'em all good morning. And
blame me if they didn't make EN- go |
to work and build the wall up again"
So Jose and Carlos tOiled away with
out molestation. Finally in the bright
daylight, they succeeded in drawing
the last spike, and they tried the rail. |
All ! they had forgotten the chairs at |
the ends, which bound it to its fellows. |
1t was an hours hard work more to dis /!
pose of these: and then, at last, the rail
lay loose, and a touch. they said, would
throw it from its place. Now to choose
a good hiding-place, by no means too
near. from which they could ultimately |
see the result of their diabolcal work |
and descend to enjoy its fruits. Mean
time their task had given them good
appetite for the breakfast of tOrtillas |
and frijOles which they had brought
with them, and afterward they could
smoke the pipe of peace.
Harris, creeping cautiously through !
the bush, marked the place they chose.
1t was some distance TO the southwark
and high on the hill. He then returned. |
.'Wcll." said Burke. as he approach
ed, ''blame me If for pure cussedness
that doesn't Just lay over any thing l
ever see in all my born days"
Its all right" said Harris, with a
smile '.Now, it's our turn. They're |
just behind that big gray rock You see
there, near the pinon. Now we'll go
to work and spike that rail again. We
can see them, if they hear lis, and come
down to find out what's going on.
You, my boy Che turned to Stanley. |
60 down the other way. and keep a good
lookout: but first lend me hand with !!
that hammer and bag of spikes
The young fellow started at once.
When he was out of hearing Harris |
spoke again.
ut was better to send him off," said
he. 1--WE don't need him, and it's filter
work for you and me than for q young
ster like him."
!. The two men examined the caps of !
their Winchester rifles, placed the |
weapons against the rock within easy
reach. and began their work. Being
experts and having proper tools, they
made speedy progress.
Meantime Jose and Carlos finished
their breakfast. took each long pull at !
a fash of aguardiente. and lighted their
pipes. What with unwontedly early
-