The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-08-12

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 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 a votive 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 insrusted
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 toiled at the spikes with their
rude tools, little, too, did they know that
from a hiding-place not far distant,
these three same men watched their
every movement.
Burke, filled with righteous wrath,
showed some impotence. ''Say, Jack"
whispered he, ''what's the use of wait
ingp 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'n 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 'em all as they came out
and wished EN- all good morning. And
blame me if they didn't make EN- go
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
a 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"
'.It's all right" said Harris, with a
smile. ..Now, it's our turn. they're
just behind that big gray rock you see
there, near the pinon. 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,
go down the other way, and keep a good
lookout; but first lend me a hand with
that hammer and bag of spikes"
The young fellow started at once.
When he was out of hearing Harris
spoke again.
at was better to send him off," said
he. 1--WE don't need him, and it's filter
work for you and me than for a 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 a long pull at
a flash of a~guardiente, and lighted their
pipes. What with unwontedly early
rising and novel labor, they were a 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 creptdown the slope. They
were almost overwhelmed with mingled
establishment and rage. Were theil
plans thus to miscarryP Never, while
not see them, and their knives were
sharp. So on they stealthily crept.
They were just on the edge of a steeI
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.
"Fhrow up your hands, you -
greasers," shouted Harris. The Mex
leans had stopped for a moment, but
they had the animal courage of desper
ADDE'S, and they whipped out their re
volvers. Before they could raise then
the two Winchesters cracked as one
and Jose and Carlos fell over the preci
pice and down hundreds and hundred:
of feet. Stanley, hearing the reports
ran to join his companions. Harris
briefly explained the situation 10 him.
"Your heads level, my boy" said he
''and 1 allow that you don't need to bt
told to keep mighty dark about thi,
thing. Tom and 1 will see the sheriff
this afternoon. Of course it will al
come out pretty soon, but it wouldn't dc
to let the boys know now for they't
clean out that old outfit of adobe shan
ties in about five minutes. Now wei
gather up these things and 60 down be
low the curve, and when Tom Levi
comes along We'll signal him and ge
on the train"
c. %Lor III IT.. - D-.1-