, 1889-02-02
ENRIQUE.


ish, or, more properly, Spanish-Amer
lean, people who had been friends OF
Mr.. French, and who, when they died.
had left their little boy to his care.
Both his wife and he had taken q
strong fancy to the pretty orphan, and
had finally adopted him.
The summer-the dry season-oi
California was just beginning, En-.
riquo was n little tagged with his
studies, and it had been deemed advis.
able TO send him to the coast 10 re
cruit Pcscadcro had been selected ms
at once healthful, and possessing the
proper attractions for the little fellow.
and the time had come for him tp be
made ready. But just ms everything
else had been arranged, his board en-
gagged Mt the house of a fatherly ranch
Gro, even his little trunk brought
down from the attic-whcn, in short,
all things were ready Il be got ready
what should occur but n startling
stage coach robbcry2
When Enrique got out upon the
platform Mt Redwood, there was n tall,
spare man with n face heavily bearded
and much sunburned, ready TO show
the passengers 10 the stage. This per
sonagc proved TO he the driver him
self, and Enrique looked with deep re
spect at his tall, strong figure us he
moved about directing how things
should go, and nodding his head au-
thoritatively.
At last everything seemed TO be mr.
ranged; Enrique and three of the
other passcngers-all women-had
been disposed of inside, n stout old
gentleman and n tall young man
had been given seats upon the box,
and the driver mounted to his place.
He received the rcins graciously from
an assistant, pulled his gloves n little
better in place, and gave the signal TO
the horses. Away they wen mt n great
pace.
First they Graded and bounced along
the streets of the little town, then pro
ceeded more slowly across the black,
fiat open country covered with tar
weed that extends to the beginning of
the foot hills; and at last, moro mod
eratcly still, up the hills themselves.
Now it was very uncomfortable, for
n while. The sun poured down, the
dust rose up, and no refreshing breeze
found its way into the deep cut road.
The poor horses clambcrcd and swcated
and painted. Tho stout man outside
put up his umbrella and grumbled.
The passengers with Enrique com
planned and "Oh-dearcd."
AT last they reached the little ham
let of Scarsvillc, and here the driver
stopped the horses. They were glad
enough, poor brutcs, for the moments
rest, and gladdcr still when water was
brought and they were allowed to
plunge their heads up to the very eyes
in its GOODNESS.
Then forward again, and presently
the way became more agreeable. The
road wound about more exposed places,
little pulls of air reached them, and
now they rolled down into little deifs
where the cool trees almost met over
head.
Il hcarn this mornin' how the driver
was goin' TO carry three or four guns
with him, after this, " said one of the
women, who sat by Enrique. "Ididnt
see nothin' of en-" she continued,
when | got in, but l s'pose he must
have hid 'em round somewhercs.
Can't be he would tempt Providence
not 10 take EN-"
LORI said another woman, 81 hope
10 mercy he hain't took EN-. What
could he do lone aginst eight or
ten road agontsi I'm sure, Tor my
part, | should 20 for all hans bein'
Jstassubmissive as they could, s'pos'n'
the agents did come"
And l think with YOU" said the
third passenger, n lady like, rather
pretty young woman, somewhat bet
ter dressed than the others. 1--WE could
do nothing TO resist n gang of men
fully armed and determined. | am
sure, for my part, l only camo today
because thought 1t would be an un-
usually safe time. Lightning rarely
strikes twice in the same place"
That's what father said, " here spoke
up Enrique, He judged it n fitting
time to say n word, and was heartily
tired Of keeping still. He thought
the robbers would keep away from this
stage for n while" he went ON, and
hide, maybe, for a spell, like mice"
Tho bright, animated countenance
OF the boy, and especially his great,
dark, Spanish eyes, had been observed
by his fellow passengers for some time,
but his rather shy manner had pre-
vented their making any advances to-
ward acquaintance. They were glad
to hear his voice, and at once replied to
him. They had succeeded in finding
out most of his brief history, and had
learned that he was nearly 10 years
old, when they were interrupted by
the coach stopping.
The passengers all glanced out IN
some alarm, but were reassured by
discovering that it was merely n pause
for a way passenger. He seemed Il
have come out of a kind Of gorge, ant
appeared 10 have come across from an
other road. lie was n short stoutlS
built man, dressed in a gray cuisines!
suit, was smoothly shaven and wor
green spectacles- He appeared TO b,
about As OF perhaps so years old.
81 think / will ride inside, if ther
is room," he said, in a pleasant, rattle
BucIxIen's ArnIca SaIye.