Wichita eagle., 1888-05-20

1
country had been reached, and there were
fresh signs on every side The utmost eau
ton was necessary, but Billy's best laid plans
were continually frustrated by the half
breed. he was jeopardizing the lives of tho
whole party.
ToQuiet matters down Billy ordered him to
| tali back in the rear of the party and To keep
| In that position during the balance of the
I way. He obeyed with evident reluctance,
| and 1t could easily be seen that be was bent
| upon mischief Of some kind. Presently he gave
| loud Sioux war whoop, which could have
been heard mile away, and, putting spurs
| TO his horse, dashed past Billy, and SIS he did
| so discharged his carbine almost full
| at his breast Billy knocked the muzzle of
| the weapon up just in time to save himself,
| and, riding close in on the half breed. slapped
& revolver TO his head and forced him to drop
| his gun and dismount The whole party was
| so eZasperated at the half breeds conduct
that it was with difficulty that Billy could
save him from being suInmarily disposed OF.
de was, however, deprived Of his arms and
forced to travel on foot until so thoroughly
tired out that he became submissive.
In the summer OF $50 Billy had a romantic
and thrilling experience down in the district
Of Saueripi, some 800 miles south OF the bor-
der line Accompanied by another scout he
had been sent TO gather up some government
stock which had been left behind Their
route was south TO the town of Saueripi.
capital Of the district, and from there TO
Bacanora, a little town in the mountains,
about forty miles further to the west. It
was their intention to locate all the stray
as they returned by the same trail. Arriv-
ing at Saueripi they put up at the house Of
an old American physician who had lived
IL the place many years. The old gentleman
had been surgeon in the Confederate army
during the civil war, and, in common with
many others who fought on that side, had
enigrated to Mexico after Lees surrender
He was full Of life and vigor. and he insisted
that all Americans who visited the town
should enjoy the hospitality Of his home
Billy and his partner were handsomely en-
tertained, and in the evening the doctor
called in few of his neighbors to have a
frolic ia an inner courtyard of his place. A
number Of Mexican girls came to enjoy a
moonlight dance with the two gringoS, who
spoke very little Spanish, but who knew all
about a Mexican dance. Billy looked his
best in a suit Of bucliskin, and his graceful
bearing was enough to captivate any
woman's heart. He impressed all present,
but there was one in particular who showed
very plainly by her actions that she had Sc
riously fallen in love. This was Senorita
Carolina, tall, graceful girl not more than
IS years of age. She had al abundance of
glossy black hair and great, big, lustrous
eyes; but q low, receding forehead and very
large mouth gave her face a peculiar express
sion.
She danced several times with Billy and
seemed perfectly happy as long as he re-
mained by her side; but the moment ho left
her to dance with any one else she seemed to
give way 10 q fit of melancholy. The old
doctor, who was watching with evident in
terest all that was going on, noticed the
girls actions and twitted Billy about his
monkey faced" sweetheart. When the
crowd dispersed Billy was still joked by his
companions, and poor Carolina was inva-
riablv spoken Of as ''mcnhey face"
Early next morning the two scouts set out
for Bacanora and arrived there late in the
afternoon The trail between the two towns
leads through an exceedingly rugged range,
which has always been o favor1te hiding
place for rowing bands Of Apaches. AS they
passed over the trail Billy and his partner
counted eight new wooden crosses, which had
been erected on spots where travellers had
lately been killed by Indians. They were
not on the lookout for Indians, as Gerominos
band had been seen only few days before on
the Barispi river, nearly 800 miles to the
north.
Accomplishing their mission at Bacanora,
the two men started on their return trip, driv
ing three or four horses before them. They
had covered about half the distance TO Saueri-
pi, and were jogging leisurely along through
the mountains when they reined up short on
hearing the report Of guns not very far
ahead Immediately afterward they saw q
woman mounted on horseback dashing up
the trail towards them.
"What IN the h do you reckon that isl"
exclaimed Billy in astoHishment as he and
his companion hastily dismouuted and got
their Winchesters ready.
"Its some greaser tryin' to kill his wife,
guess" was the nonchalant response, but
a moment later, as the woman came near
enough for her features to be distinguished
Billy cried out:
''If it amt my monkey face you can have
my hat"
eyes, and here comes the whole cusSed
Apache tribe right behind her." chimed in
his companion.
The woman wes now only a few yards
away and it could plainly be seen that the
bosom of her plain calico dress was saturated
with blood Billy sprang forward to catch
the frightened horse, which she was evident
" 10 veal, too manage, and as he did so heard
her murmur family:
"Cuidadol Los Indiosl Los Apaches" and
the next instant she fell heavily forward into
his arms Billy eased the girl gently to tho
ground, and tearing open her dress tried To
stanch the blood which flowed from two
gaping wounds in her breast but he soon
saw that she was dead, and Re turned 10 as
sist his companion. whose Winchester had
alreadvs begun 10 talk. The two scouts
pumped Lead lively for few minutes, and
the Apaches. who were completely taken By
surprise. could not take 70 the rocks before
three of their number had been Killed out
right and several others wounded. oncs
under cover it WAS next 70 impossible 10 get
q glimpse Of an Apache again, and after
waiting in vain for several minutes Tor soFnc-
thing TO shoot at. Billy's partner exclaimed:
Look here. Billy, we'll have TO git outn
this mighty quick. The cusses are Shipping
up on Us al around
"And leave that girls body hereto be torn
TO pieces bv the brcech clouted devilsr re-
marked Billy; mot much I'm going TO
take her with Us or die trying.
He meant Just what he said, and regardless (
of tic heavy fire which was opened On him
whenever he exposed himself 10 view, ho /
succeeded in lifting the girls bocy % tae I
back Of the horse she had rode and securing /
ii 10 the saddle with his lariat When this
was done the two men. with their animals, !
ccnme1ced 70 retreat fidly toward Bacst-
nora. stopping only 70 return the fire Of tne /
Apaches, 50 as to keep them q a respectful /
distance. Night see IN before they reached /
a., ,ovr7, b,,t IT, 51-s-,s=s l,el->pi them 20 (