Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1889-07-18
Come. wlssst de- you say Do you
consent to take NC for e son-in-

Come, What de YOU say Do you
consent to take me for son4in-
law ?" AZ & - s. 81 II
The ranchman's eyes blascd with
indignation.
ayillianlp' he cried. 81 would
sooner SEQ my daughter asRs1b end
die thousand deaths myself .than
give her you, an outlaw--a ban
ditm
"Wc'll try what confinement and
hunger will do" said Moreno,
with q sncer. 81 think you will
change your mind before you have
beon here many hours longer" Aud,
with mocking bow he left the
room.
The sun was just disappearing be-
low the Western horizon rs Arthur
Forbes and his men entered the hill
ly, wooded country that borders the
Rio Grandc. A thick column of
smoke rising from pine thicket
about three-quarters of a mile ahead
of them, showed where the outlaws
camp was situated.
Arthur bade his men conceal
themselves in the dense wood, while
he won't Oh to reconnoitre. He
found that the outlaws considerably
outnumbercd his own force, so, as
they evidently had no suspicion of
the presence Of an enemy, he deter
mined to wait until they were asleep
and then surprise them.
After midnight when tho outlaws
had sunk into profound slumbcr,
he ordered the attack. The cow
boys advanced stcalthily, and were
almost within the camp before they
were discovered by the sentinel, who
gave the alarm.
But it came too late. Arthur's
men rushed forward with cheers,
and were among the robbers before
they were fairly awake. The latter
hurricdly seized their weapons and
made what resistance they could;
but it was Intellectual. The struggle
was sharp and brief. Many of the
outlaws were killed, and the rest
fled prccipitatcly. Among the lat
ter was Moreno.
Arthur, rs soon rs the battle was
over, called few of his men and
went in search Of Mr.. Roberts. They
soon found him, and hc was ut once
released from his unpleasant quar-
tcrs.
The cowboys determined to re-
main in the outlaws camp during
the remainder of the night, and
start for home the next morning.
One of them told Mr.. Roberts what
had taken place at his ranch the pre-
vious night. lie listened until the
story was finished, then rose and
went to where Arthur was standing
with his back against the tr,.nk of
tree, gazing into the fire.
"Arthur," said he, grasping the
young mans hand. "I have learned
all that you have done for me. You
have proved yourself brave fellow
and a friend that one can rely upon.
Now what shall I give you as a re-
ward ?"
Arthur was about to deprccate any
return for what was simply his duty
when he caught the whimsical cx-
preston OF his employers face.
ooh, sir" he faltcrcd, a sudden
hope springing into life. "If dared
if you would not think me prcsump-
tuous--"
"Go on, my boy," said Roberts
kindly.
"Sir, II love your daughtcrn
eyes, so ] have heard" dryly.
"Forgivc me for dccciving you,
Mr. Roberts. | did not intend to
violate your trust in me. What man
could be near that adorable girl
that angcl--and not love hcr?"
"All very fine sir; very fine in
deed. But considering the fact that
the angel in question costs her ia
thcr something like $4,000 year,
how did you hope to keep her in
feathers on salary Of &500?"
'Im afraid | did not think of
that, sir" said Arthur with down
cast face.
"Of course you didn't! When
did lovclorn fools ever think Of any
thing sensible? But there, boy, I
wont tease. like you-you are 4
noble, brave fcllow---and you shall
have my Lucia, and enough money