The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-07-01

wildly improbable ne would nave tnoughI
IT'D the beautiful girl who might be eyea
now on the top OF the stage on her way
from Del Norte to Alamosa.
When he parted from his new friends,
before the train from the north arrived, he
left the Mexican village on one side,
climbed little elevation, and, getting
therefrom a splendid view of the Spanish
peaks, threw himself on the ground, and
lay there smoking and surveying the
prospects, just as two vilainous-looklng
Mexicans approached the base OF the low
cliff, and began talking eagerly together.
Suddenly his attention was arrested by
what he overheard of the conversation
below. Fortunate, indeed was it that
he understood Spanish, for the fel-
lows were plotting vengeance against
Tom Lewis He listened eagerly;
they spoke vaguely, but finally agreed to
obtain certain information and meet
again at the same place at s O'Clock
Stanley waited until they were out OF
sight, and then descended and walked
towards the snew town. There was an
uncommonly serious expression on his
face, and he said but little to the ac-
quaintances whom he met on the streets,
or while submitting to the miserles OF
supper at restaurant called, with savage
irony, "Delmonico of the Mountains"
After it was over, he sat silently smoking;
and then, after carefully exam
ming the caps on his revolver and
looking several tunes at his watch, he
walked away in the direction from which
he had come. .r .... =. -. ~.
An hour later he broke in upon Burke
and Harris, sitting in the !atter's room.
Burke caught the expression on his face
in minute.
"Bet you ten to one, Jack" said he, "be-
fore he opens his mouth, that this yere
young feller's got something serious to
tell u.s." ."- ,..o4
4Wen, should say so," said Stanley.
He told his story rapidly and concisely.
The Mexican scoundrels had, he said, O
grudge against Tom Lewis.
u told him co." interrupted Burke. 1t
was Jose and Carlos, an don't you forglt
it! Wa'al, what Ahe devils work are they
up to now"
"Only throwing his train off the track
tomorrow morning." said Stanley. Then
he gave all the details of the plan, as dis
cussed in his hearing, and designated the
place which they had selected where they
would draw thu spikes from the rail.
The expression of his hearers faces, as
they listened, boded i'll for the future we'll
fare Of the two MeXicans.
"Sort O rough on Tom," said Harris, IAN
not on him alone. The vice president an
his party will be on that thar train. The
telegram came half an hour ago. You
asked me to let you know, an l was
a-goin' to send word to you, out to the
ranch. Now Well just-eh! what's the
matter, young feller? Here, drink this"
Stanley had turned deadly pale, and well
he might, for in that party was Nellie!
He struggled to regain his composure,
and few works sufficed him to make the
situation clear to the men. Harris rose,
muttering an oath between his teeth.
aForewarned is forearmed my boy" said
he. "There's plenty Of time. The night
freight eastward is taken off, and thereW
be no train over the curve till Toms comes
along, an you bet your life she WORT be
thrown off the track neither; an them
cussed greasers will wrastle their hash in
well, Just wait and see. Don't say a
word to soul, and look sharp now, for
we've plenty of work to do"
v
Jose and Carlos had conceived, as they
thought, very satisfactory plan. The
big Americana, strong-armed and loud
voiced, had brought his fate upon him
self. Had he not dared to pay atten-
tions to the sweetheart of one caballero,
and insult another by laying vigorous
hands upon him? Madre de Dios his
blood should atone. And then, what mat.
tered it If ten or twenty Gringos were
sent to perdition at the same time? Ac-
cidents will happen, and rails will be
loosened, in spite of all possible vigilance.
No one would be the wiser; and, indeed, II
they concealed themselves near the spot,
there might be rare chance for plunder.
Yuien sabe? They would be wary and
watch their chance. The Gringos some
times 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
beguiled the weary way with gleeful talk;
they indulged in roseate visions of the fu-
ture; they built grand castles in the air.
Why, pious rascals as they were, when
their revenge was achieved and their fort
unes were made, they might even place a
votive offering in some taWdry little adobe
chapel on q Mexican hillside. 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 before harm should come to lives
entrusted 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 eXternlina-
alton of an entire settlement of them with
extreme Indifference. Trouble ahead,
Senors Jose and Carlos!
When at last they reached the chosen
spot, and toiled at the spikes with their
il Il