The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-06-04
The RObber Chief of the Sierra
Madre.

In one of the fertile wales at the base
of the Sierra Madre mountains, the
famous Alcade de Mendana controlled
the affairs Of the region. Among the
inhabitants of the hills, the bandits
and their lawless friends, this same
man was known as Don Carlos, the
robber chief, but so well was his se-
cret kept, by those acquainted with
it, that no whisper of his unholy con-
nection ever polluted the air of the
valley over which he held sway.
AS Don Carlos, he conducted his
outrages with all the courtesy of a
robber of romance, being liberal to the
poor with what he gained from the
rich, and, while often cruel, he would
sometimes exhibit such seeming gen.
erosity towards his vict Tins, or those
in his power, that his virtues were
loudly sung by the easy-going multi
tude, while his wrong-doing was only
whispered, and most charitably gloss
ed over.
From Sonora, on chilly evening in
January, 18-, the coach which trav-
elled the old road to Chihuahua was
filled with passengers, all Of whom by
display Of arms, as we'll as by person
al appearance, seemed to be possess
ed of property worth defending; and
weapons were necessary, for the road
to be traversed was notoriously in.
tested by robbers.
In the party were agentle, timid old
lady, and her black-eyed, vivacious,
beautiful neice, Marie de Navarro, sole
child and orphan OF the noble Count
de Navarro, who dying, left his moth
erless child to the care of her dead
mothers sister: and with this aunt
the charming girl hadpassed her early
life in the Sonora.
Good as beautiful, and with all the
frankness of innocence Marie entered
into unrestrained conversation with
her fellow-travellers. Naturally the
talk settled into experiences of each,
or their friends, in connection with
robbers and robberies, and this con-
tinued long, dread inducing wakeful-
ness. But at last fatigue and slumber
conquered, and all were sound asleep,
despite the terrible jolting OF the
clumsy vehicle.
A very sudden pull up of the horses
and halt of the coach betokened that
Something had happened" !" and in an
instant every one was wide awake
awake to see, surrounding and peering
In on every side, fierce, dark, wild and
wicked faces, made more hideous by
the dim flicker of the rude torches the
!; men carried.
The passengers were made to dis
mount and stand in a row, while the
brigands hastily pillaged them OF their
valuables.
Somewhat apart from the Others
were Marie and her aunt; they were
the last to be searched, and the cool
headed girl occupied the time in keen
observations. Through the darkness
she could discern the figure of man
on horseback, evidently in command,
though he took no part in the active
plundering.
When rude desperate approached
Marie and her aunt, and the light OF
the torch fell full upon her beautiful.
pale and determined face, she placed
herself before her aged relative. 81
have no wealth worth your taking.
We do not carry our treasures with
us. My aunt neither has anything OF
value; and the first of you who lays 9
hand ON her or me-" The rounded
arm flew cut fiercely, and in the little
hand was firmly grasped keen, long
stilleto. Staggered for a moment by
this most unexpected opposition, the
ruffian started back, with hall oath
and half laugh, and was about to
grasp the girl, when from the gloom
was heard voice:
HThe senoras are not to be mclest-