The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-01

him over the e-brush-covered acres of the San
Luis valley, as his horse lazily drank from the
waters Of the La lara. To his right, miles
away, the picturesque Sangre de Cristo range
cut the clear sky with its jagged peaks, above
all Of which lowered the snow-crested Sierra
Blanca, or "Old Baby" and to his left. close
at hand, the foothills rose in tree-covered ter
races until they were lost in the distant masses
of the Sierra Madre, the backbone of the great
Rocky mountain chain. Between these two
lofty walls, reared by nature, the valley
stretched in barren fairness. broken in scattered
Bpots by the dark streaks OF timber wnlcn
marked the course of the Rio Grande river down
the center, and the occasional tributaries which
flowed from the surrounding mountains. Here
and there dot in the picture represented the
humble home of some settler who. with his
ranch of 160 acres, was eking out existence
by agricultural or stock-raising pursuits; and
how and then the eye met with an elongated
dash which stood for a bunch of wide horned
lattle, contentedly grazing on the. ranges
blamed by their owners.
Presently the horse ceased drinking and unin-
terestedly began surveying his surroundings, OBJ
Ierving which the sheriff gave the rens jerk
and at jog trot splashed across the little creek
A mile of dusty road followed, the hoof-bears
raising suffocating clouds of alkali, and then the
)hallow Alamosa was forded, and the horse was
burned abruptly towards the foothills to the
west After riding some time through the strag-
Cling cottonwoods which fringed the banks OF
Ehe pretty, narrow stream, he came to fence OF
such nondescrips and rambling pattern as to
actually impress an observer as work OF art
On the other side of it growing oats were send
Ing their green stalks up through the rich soil,
and few yards beyond, cabin, half logs and
half adobe stood at the very edge of the belt Of
timber. The door was wide open and as the
sheriff swung out of the saddle he noticed curl
Df gray smoke sleepily floating from the top of
The mud chimney.
Leaving his horse standing united, the reins
trailing on the ground the sheriff partly climbed
and partly pushed his way through the fence
and proceeded up the well beaten path towards
the cabin. The inevitable pistol protruded its
huge handle from the holster attached to his
belt, but beyond this he presented neither a
formidable nor warlke aspect asmallman, with
sleepy blue eyes of very light tint, thin-lipped
closely-cropped mustache Of . reddish color
stiffened his upper lip, and the balance Of his
features were bronzed by exposure to the sum-
wind and alkali dust For man OF his stature
and spare frame, he seemed remarkably slow in
his movements, and he walked with careless,
1ounging gait as though he had no particular OBJ
3ect In view.
When he had reached within thirty PAGES Of
hQ md wa in n
the half-rotted trunk of a fallen cottonwood
which lay across the trail he was following, a
young man. coatless and hatless, suddenly APP
peared il the open doorway. He carried rifle
IN his hand, and as ne moved into view he raised
& to his shoulder
stop whar ye air, Sandy-rve got ye xiv
cred, he said, and his keen eyes glanced along
the motsonless barrel of his weapon. With no
exhibition of surprise, or attempt to touch his
pistol. the sheriff halted.
rye hev got me kivered. Tom, but it don't
make no difference" he answered, quietly.
II dunno, Sandy returaed the other, though
I'd hate ter drap ye."
"Itd do ye no good" remarked the sheriff,
carelessly. "Yer'd better put yer gun up an
Dome along sociable-like, Tom"
''Td like ter 'blige We, Sandy, but reckon
can't this time Don't come any higher, pard-
ner."-as the sheriff stepped across the cotton
wood-''kase this ez only three pound trigger.
an my finger ez pullin' two pound now"
eyer pistol pulled on the h'ar yesterday" COM
mented the officer, coolly.
at had ter" replied the young man, Ger Jose
Vellejo would hev drapped me; instead o. me
drappin' him.
thet ! wasn't at the fight Thetll ali be fixed,
though in ther court and as he seated himself
ON the fallen log at his feet he added: "Thet
nut be gittin hevy, Tom, an yed better spell
ger arm awhile"
The rifle was lowered from the shoulder,
though its muzzle still pointed at the uncon-
eerned visitor, and the finger continued to rest
against the trigger. Then the young man sat
down on the doorstep.
"Oats looking well, Tom,' said the sheriff,
casting his eyes observantly over the surround
Ing field. He'd much trouble with the prairie
fiSome," was the laconic reply.
They've been dreffel bad down our way.
Jordan hez lost power O. his Seed an he put
In forty acres. Their, greasers, too, complains
considerable. Grain'll be high this year.
''Shouldn't wonder; its with cents at the end
o. ther track now, en- ther railroad hez ter bring
It frum Kansas fer Their teams"
Then there was a silence for few minutes.
Finally, the sheriff looked up.
"Hev We got anythin' yer want ter take with
yer Tom~ he said.
II amt goin,, Sandy"
Eyes. ye air, Tom. I sed I'd bring We back
with me, when cum was the cool statement.
I'VE oughtn't ter a-done it, Sandy replied the
other, ''ye didn't know what my pinion'd be, an
ye didn't know whether wuz hereS.
Eyes did, Iknowed ye'd cum with me- an
knowed ye hadn't skipped. Let's get along,
Tom" and the sheriff showed signs of rising.
But / amt goin', Sandy It wuz squar'
fight: he he'd his gun me, only wuz keeEest
on Their trigger. Thar amt no use o Their law
Eharps heyin' any chip in this game, an the
ledge don't want me-"
Eyes he does, an thets Their reason I've cum
arter ye He wanted me to bring a posse, but
allowed tibet wuz sS.mned ridlkulus. / seys,
seys l. I know Tom Mason too WE'LL seys l.,
IAN me an him'll cum ridin inter town in time
fer dinner He don't want no posse. nor more
do r. seys l."
Eye wuz right bout the posse, Sandy"
SIN course. / don't go much on posses 'thout
yer arter boss-thieves they're in ther way, an
Their most too sociable-like fer friendly talkin'
Ye kin bring yer gun with yer, Tom. of ye feels
lubi'us bout ther greasers; sides it might git
stole while yer down with us, eff We left IT," and
the sheriff stood up and stretched himself.
81 rackon I'll stay vsra ratnrnad tha -nthar