The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-06-04

under cover OF guns the despoiled tray-
elers were allowed tc, resume their
places in the coach and the driver
was ordered to proceed on the Jour
ney.
The immunity granted Marie and
her aunt evidently displeased their
plundered companions, and this dis
satisfaction was openly vented upon
the two ladies.
Il should certainly have begged the
senorita to act as my treasurer, said
one of the men, chad | known that
she would be exempt"
$50 would /" groaned and growled
each of the others.
Marie's eyes flashed: "Had you
the spirit of a girl of 19, senore," /" she
said, "you would not have given UP
your arms, but would have used them
TO save your property and prevent
two women from insult" Silence
reigned in the coach after that, and at
the next station two passengers left
the vehicle, but were replaced by two
other men, one with coarse, bad
face In strong contrast with his hand
some companion, man somewhat
past his prime, and showing marks of
care, but with kindly eyes, a
courteous manner and most fascinat.
ing smile. He sat near the door, and
evidently knew the country by heart,
pointing out every place of interest as
they passed it. Through him conver.
sation was renewed, and the whole
story OF the robbery rehearsed, which
tale seemed to amuse the rough stran-
ger beyond measure. Marie thought
the voice of the gentle newcomer some
what familiar, and like that she had
heard coming from the darkness, but
the fearless glance, the honest eyes
and charming manners of the man dis
armed all suspicion; his attentions
showed that he admired her and were
so marked that this fact was soon
apparent to all the company. In two
hours the coach was again stopped,
and robber presented his gun and
lace at the door, requesting the pas
sengers to allght. The pleasant stran-
ger near the door just touched the new
visitor on the wrist. The robber met
his eyes, changed color, stammered,
and begged pardon.
"Shall you want to see my passport, !"
inquired the stranger.
Pardon, senor," replied the robber,
"No. no."
The coach proceeded without fur
ther annoyance. cit would have been
fortunate had we had you with us
when we were attacked before" said
the man who had growled at Marie.
81 wish | had been there" answered
the polite stranger, with smile, while
his rough companion roared with rude
laughter, while all the rest looked on
amazed.
BY gradual approaches the stranger
and Marie became unintentionally
communicative, and he discovered
that she was the niece of the rich bank
er De Navarro in Chihuahua.
''De Navarro" he cried; 'twhy he is
an old friend of mine! Will you pre-
ent him this, my card / am going to
Chihuahua myself and will certainly
renew my acquaintance with him"
Marie promised and performed in
her secluded life she had never heard
of Don Carlos Mendana, and when she
gave the card and message to her
uncle she thought he turned pale. But
it might only have been her fancy
Ii was weeks before Carlos redeem
ed his promise, but he never forgot,
and at last he came, much to the
amazement and discomfort of De Ma
varra.
otAh?" cried Don Carlos, "and do
we meet after these many years! You
turned traitor and tried to have us
all hung but yourself. Well, we all
live, you see and intend to do so.''
"Hush!' cried De Navarro; "what !
did was to save my own neck. Do
not whisper of the past to my niece.
"Do not mention your niece's name
in the same breath with that of our
villainous past. She is too pure and
sweet to be spoken of by our lips; but
yet I-blood-stained, guilty wretch
though | AMI love her. Let me try
to win her for my wife, De Navarro,
and swear i will forget your treach-
cry and hide your past--as my own
from her, nor shall she suspect or
know my pursuits while live
De Navarro had, for long time pre-
vious, been member, sometimes act
i've, and, at others, plotting, in Don
Carlos reckless, murderous band.
Once he was detected, and only by
bribes and treachery to his compan-
ions had he escaped death, since which
time he had striven to lead an honest
life. He dearly loved his niece, and it
racked his heart strings to give her to
his former master, but by so doing
only could he purchase his life, which
he knew he had forfeited at the hands
of every member of the robber band.
So he gave his consent.
The wooing OF Marie by Don Carlos
was speedy and happy and pressed by
her uncle, the marriage took place
within few weeks The girl had
learned to love her husband devoted
ly, even ir short time, and he edevot-