St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-08-28

They let EN- enjoy themselves a-work-
ing the whole of every night for three
weeks, saying that exercise was good
for en-. And then, when they'd fin
ished the hole and was crawling through,
| they bagged 'em all as they came out
and wished EN- all good morning. And
blame me if they didn't make 'em 90
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 more to dis
pose of these; and then, at last, the rail
lay loose, and a touch, they said, would
throw it from its place. Now to choose
good hiding-place, by no means too
near, from which they could ultimately
see the result of their diabolical work
and descend to enjoy its fruits. Mean
time their task had given them a good
appetite for the breakfast of tortillas
and frijoles which they had brought
with them, and afterward they could
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 cussedness
that doesn't just lay over any thing I
ever see in all my born days.
ats all right" said Harris, with
10
just behind that big gray rock you see
there, near the piasoaa. Now we'll 90
to work and spike that rail again. We
can see them, if they hear us, and come
down to find out what's going on.
You, my boy Che turned to Stanley,
60 down the other way, and keep good
lookout; but first lend me hand 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. ave don't need him, and it's filter
work for you and me than for Young
ster 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 having proper tools, they
made speedy progress.
Meantime Jose and Carlos finished
their breakfast, took each long pull at
flash of aquordiente, and lighted their
pipes. What with unwontedlv early
rising and novel labor, they were lit
tie drowsy; and only the finishing blows
of the heavy hammer, welded with ex-
ira force by Harris stalwart arms, at
tracted their attention and reused them.
They stepped from their hiding place.
In an instant Harris saw him.
"Get under cover quick there, Tom,"
said he, $50 they'll think there's only
one man here"
One, indeed. was all the scoundrels
saw, as they crept down the slope. They
were almost overwhelmed with mingled
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 steep
descent when they saw their expected
victim drop his hammer In another
second he was erect and facing them,
and another man was with him, and
both had their rifles at their shoulders
and their fingers on the triggers.
Throw up your hands, you -
greasers, shouted Harris. The Mex
leans had stopped for moment, but
they had the animal courage of deseer-
ADDE'S, and they whipped out their re-
volvers. Before they could raise them
the two Winchesters cracked as one,
and Jose and Carlos fell over the preci-
pice and down hundreds and hundreds
Of feet. Stanley, hearing the reports,
ran to join his companions. Harris
briefly explained the situation to him.
"7our heads level, my boy" said he,
land allow that you don't need to be
old to keep mighty dark about this
hing. Tom and | will see the sheriff |
Ibis afternoon. Of course it will all |
come out pretty soon, but it wouldn't do
o let the boys know now, for they'd |
clean out that old outfit of adobe shan
les in abort five minutes. Now we'll |
gather up these things and go down be-
ow the curve, and when Tom Lewis
Conueo "lohS We IL signal MN ana get |
On the train.''
So they did. Harris and Burke
climbed on the engine when the train,
after sweeping safely round the curve,
came to stop. Stanley had some diff
iculty in controlling himself and APP
oearing at his ease as he entered the
passenger car, but there came to him a
speedy distraction. Pretty Miss Nellie,
Who had been looking out of the win
low, turned to see him standing by her,
md the least confident of lovers could
hardly have mistaken the expression in
Ter eyes.
Stanlnr tool hir cnof h.r Lo,.