Semi-weekly south Kentuckian., 1886-10-12

"torcWarneu Is tOfearmeu, my DOy,
said he. There's plenty of time. The
night freight eastward is taken of, and
there'll be no train over the curve till
Toms comes along, an you bet your
life she won't be thrown off the track.
neither; and them cusscd Greasers will
well, just you wait and see. Don't
say a word to a 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 Americdno, strong-armed and
loud-voiced, had brought his fate upon
himself. Had he not dared to pay at
tention to The sweetheart Of one cabat-
lero, and insult another by laying vio-
lent hands upon himp His blood should
atone. And then, what mattered If ten
or twenty more accursed GringoS were
sent to perdition at the same timer 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
revolyers 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 beguiled the
weary way with glecful talk; they in
dulged in roseate visions of the future;
they built grand castles in the air.
Why, pious rascals as they were, when
their revenge was achieved and their
fortunes were made, they might even
place votiye offering in some tawdry
little adobe chapel on a 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 a 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'at last they reached the chosen
spot, and toilcd at 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 impatiencc. "Say, Jack, "
whispered he, "what's 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. Not
for the world" said he, with a grim
smile. "We'll do as the guards did
down at the penitentiary at Canyon
City last month, when the prisoners had
put up a 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 'em. And then, when they'd fin.
ished the hole and was crawling through
they bagged EN- all as they came Out
and wished en- all good morning. Ant
blame me if they didn't make EN- &C
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 moro to dis
pose of these; and then, at last, the raj
lay loose, and touch, they said, woult
throw it from its place. Now to choose
a good hiding-place, by no means toe
near, from which they could ultimatel,
see the result of their diabolical worl
and descend to enjoy its fruits. Mean
time their task had given them goot
appetite for the breakfast of tortilla'
and frijoles which they had brough
with them, and afterward they coult
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
"Well," said Burke, as he approach
ed, "blame me if for pure cussednes
that doesn't just lay over any thing
ever sec in all my born days"
"It's all right" said Hawis, with ,
smile "Now, it's our turn. They'r
just behind that big gray rock you Sc,
there, near the pinOn. Now we'll g,
TO work and spike that rail again. w
can see them, if they hear us, and com
down to find out what's going on
You, my boy Che turned to Stanlcy)
: 60 down the other way, and keep goo'
lookout; but first lend me hand witt
, that hammer and bag of spikes" "
Tho young fellow started at once
, When he was out of hearing Harri
spoke again.
ut was better to send HIM off," sal
he. 1--WE don't need him, and it's fitte
work for you and me than for young
Bter like him."
, The two men examined the caps Q
; their Winchester rifles, placed til
weapons against the rock within cas-
, reach, and began their work. Bein
experts and having proper tools, the
made speedy progress.
Meantime Jose and Carlos ffnishe,
l their breakfast, took each long pull 9
) a flash Of aQuardiente, and lighted thei
pipes. What with unwontedly earl
rising and novel labor, they were a lii
tie drowsy; and only the finishing blow
5 of the heavy hammer, welded with eS
= ira force by Harris stalwart arms, al
tracted their attention and reused them
They stepped from their hiding place
In an instant Harris saw him. g.
! "Get under cover quick there, Tom,
said he, $50 they'll think there's onl
one man here"
l One, indeed, was all the scoundrel
: saw, as they crept down the slope. The
were almost overwhelmed with mngle
( astonishment and rage. Were thei
plans thus to miscarryP Never, Will
they were two to one, and that one di
: not see them, and their knives wer
| sharp. So on they stealthily crepi