, 1886-06-25

diabolical work and descend 10 enjoy tho
fruits. Meantime, their task had given
them a good appetite for the breakfast OF
tcrtilas and ~frijoles which they had
brought with them.
Harris, creeping cautiously through the
bush, marked the place they chose. 1t
was some distance to the southwark, and
high on the hill. Then he returned.
well" said Burke, as he approached,
blame me, If for pure cussed deviltry, that
don't just lay over anything l ever see in
all my born days.
ats al right" said Harris, with a
sLiile. "Now, it's our turn. They're just
behind that gray rock you see there, near
the old pinon. Now We'll go to work and
spike that rail again. We can see them IL
they hear us and come down to find out
what's going on. You, my boy-he turned
to Stanley-"go down the other way and
keep a good lookout; out first lend me a
land with that hammer and bag Of
spikes
The young fellow started at once
When he was out of hearing, Harris spoke
again.
1T was better to send him off" said he
W don't need him; and it's filter work
for you and me than for a youngster 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 hay
ing proper tools, they made speedy prog
ress.
Meantime, Jose and Carlos finished their
breakfast, took each a long pull AT a flask
of aguardiente, and lighted their pipes.
What with unwontedly early rising and
novel labor, they were a little drowsy,
and only the finishing blows of the heavy
hammer, welded with extra force by
Harris stalwart arms, attracted their at
tention and aroused them. They stepped
from their hiding place. In an instant
Harris saw them.
"Get undo cover, quick there, Tom,'
said he, $50 they'll think there Is only one
man here
"One. indeed, was all the %scoundrels saw
as they crept down the slope. They were
almost overwhelmed with mingled aston
ishment and rage. Were their plans thus
to miscarry? Never, while they were two
to one, and that one did not see them, and
their knives were sharp. So on they
stealthily crept. They were just on the
edge OF n steep descent, when they saw
their expected victim drop his hammer.
In another second he was erect and facing
AutiHs anu uuOlutI Hull WIS WIN I'M
and both had their rifles TO their Shout
ders, and their fingers on the trigger.
Throw up your hands, you ID
greasersl' shouted Harris. The Mexicans
had stopped for a moment, but they had
the animal courage of desperadoes, and
: they whipped out their revolvers. Before
they could raise them the two Winchesters
cracked rs one, and Jose and Carlos fell
over the precipice and down hundreds and
hundreds of feet. Stanley, heAring the
reports, ran to join his companions.
Harris briefly explained the situation to
him.
"Your heads level, my boy" said he,
and | ALLOW you don't need to be told to
keep mighty dark about this thing. Tom
and / will see the sheriff this%a afternoon.
OF course. it will come out pretty soon;
but it wouldn't do to let the boys know
now, for they'd clean out that old outfit of
adobe shanties in about five minutes.
Now, wen gather up these things and go
down below the curve; and when Tom
Lewis comes along, we'll signal him and
get on the train"
So they did; Harris and Burke climbed
on the engine when the train, after sweep
ing safely round the curve, came to a
stop. Stanley had some difficulty in con
trolling himself and appearing at his ease
as he entered the passenger car; but there
came to him II speedy distraction. Pretty
Miss Nelly, who had been looking out of
the window, turned to see him standing by
her, and the least confident of lovers could
hardly have mistaken the expression in
her eyes.
Stanley took his seat by her.
"Did you receive my letter at Alamosaf'
he asked.
With heightened color she said: ayes, n
then turned and looked out of the win
dow.
He %shuddered again, as he sat gazing at
her, and thought what might have been
her fate but a few moments before. Soon
she once more turned to him.
II dom think much OF that Mule-Shoe
curve, which you told me was grand and
a~we-inspiring, +" she said. "When we as
cended it was dark; and when we anne
down, just now, / I'm sure l did not notice
anything in particular. But then" she
added, with a pretty blush. 81 suppose /
was thinking Of somebody-I mean, some
thing else."-A. A. Hayes in Belgravia.