San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-28

More riders We're needed, and the Don was
relieved from his duties as cook and sent out
TO look up stray cattle. This change in his
labors he hailed with pleasure, although it
meant loss of $40 a month and harder
work.
I've alters held that cookin' warn't no
proper business fur white man," he said;
but done it-blessed are the meek-an' it's
conquered my pride in great shape"
Preparations for the spring round up were
rapidly made; the wagons were examined
and repaired, the horses were driven up from
the pasture and corralled in a convenient
place, new horses were broken in and old
ones shod Men were sent out over the range
TO examine the watering places, with orders
to pull out of the DOGGY ground about them
any BARGE cattle that had become mired and
unable to extricate themselves.
These duties were both hard and disagree
able not having either the excitement or the
social pleasures incident to round up, but
the Don performed his part willingly. One
morning he rode away from the ranch with
Instructions TO examine carefully certain
specified territory that lay in the west His
route led up Los Tanos, and as he started,
Rube, who was preparing to ride south,
called out to him, in unconscious quotation
of Tony Weller: Beware O. tn widder,
DOM To which the Don replied, with
wave of his hand: Thanks, Reuben-judge
We not Others" and disappeared around
bend in the stream.
1t was the afternoon of the second day of
his excursion that found him approaching
Horseshoe 8 ranch. 1t had been perfect
day in April. that best of all months in New
Mexico The gramma grass had exchanged
its winter coat Of silver for fresher one of
green; the few trees that grew along the river
were bright III leaf and blossom. Even the
somber sagebush had put off its mournful
gray, and the cactus was gorgeous in its vel
low flowers. The cattle, too, seemed to feel
the benign influence of spring. and as the
Don drew near, hurried heller SHELTER across
the vegas, followed in frisky content by their
wabbly, long cared calves
The Don dismounted at the ranch house,
and having unsaddled Rozinante and turned
him into the corral, STROBE into the bunk
room.
I'm from the Barzee," he said to one OF
two occupants there, IAN I'll put up with ye-
the birds of the air hev nests-till to-morrer."
"Well," said one of the men, "what's the
news over to the BARGE way"
''Nothin much" said the Don, as he took
q seat on bunk and commenced to white
Bed time comes early at a ranch, and there
were dozen men packed away in the bunk
room that night, when Texas the foreman,
SHE'D his spurred boot at the candle. Yet,
although the Don was tired, for he had rid
den far and hard, he could not sleep. He
was dissatisfied with his lot. He had soul
above his work, and yet he had succeeded IN
nothing else. He had always had lofty
ideal in woman-an ideal that had been
rudely shaken several times but still stood
upright-aud yet he had not been fairly
treated by the sex There was that little in
cident at the Wilder Davis'-he still recol-
lected the details of that perfectly. Indeed,
there were one or two black and blue spots
ON his body yet. Still. for all that, his chivai-
rous regard for woman-as woman-was I'M
abated, though when you come to particular
Jewell, that was a different matter. de
was partially reused from his reverie by
hearing a voice over in the darkest corner or
the room say:
oval Jim was sayin' you punched the fell
ler's head till he didn't know nothin'."
Guess didn't hurt him very much then,
fur he didn't know nothin' afore."
''Haw hawl best ever heard; must tell
Jim that"
"Why, the Teller called me a Mexikin,"
said the second voice. "Id right T. pump
lead into him fur that, hedn't 1F
"Surely, but Jim was sayin' you called the
Teller boss thief"
Don't recollec bout that. Might a done
so. never could recollec' little things"
"Hawl haw When did you say you was
goin' to run the gal off,"
ssTo.morrer, expec'. She'll be all alone
up to the place. Tn widder's gone to Vegas,
and Tom Davis-weil, you know him"
Eyes, know him. SO you carlate to run
her off tomorrow, when her material guar
deem is away, Ell, Bohp
Eyes, an make for Sanity Rosy" said Bob
"And I'd like mighty we'll if you could be
there then, Billy"
The Don saw it all This was the young
man he had had the trouble with at the wild
der's that night last winter, and now he was
going to forcibly abduct Mirandy III the alb
sence of her mother and brother All the
chivalry in the Don's nature was reused at
this. He determined to thwart the scheme
and save the lovely damsel from the clutches
of the villain. He wouid-his thoughts were
again interrupted.
Glow was you lowin' to do it, if it's fair
question, Bob" said the first voice.
1T surely is. Why, l was just a-goin' to
put her on a pony and then dust for Sanity
Rosy. fggered to foller the overland stage
trail till we come to the Montezumy marshes,
and then-cross lots. There is path over
that bog, near the spring, that only two fell
lers-I and RUDE Priday-know, an I'll save
five mile over follerin' the rud, that way.
Shouldn't care to try it with female gen
rally, but ez we amt he'd rain in six months: