Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-06-13

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cruel, - cried the girl, tearfully.
But not needing her distress, the
ranchman strobe angrily from the room.
Arthur Forbes WAS a remarkably hand
some fellow-a little above the medium
height, broad-shouldered, deep-chested
and muscular, with curling, gold brown
hair and honest gray-blue eyes. He
had been three years in the service of
Mr.. Roberts, and during that time had
become great favorite with the ranch
man.
But when Lucia confessed to her
father that she was engaged to his over
seer he was very angry. with them both
for their deception, and resolved to make
short work of the affair.
Arthur Forbes was at distant part Of
the ranch with the cattle when all this
happened, and therefore knew nothing
about it; nor did he know of the depart
ure of Mr.. Roberts and his daughter for
Rio Grande City.
| The following night, as the overseer
was on his way to Mr.. Roberts house,
he discovered half dozen horses teth-
cred in small grove near the dwelling.
Hitching his own animal to q saplin at
the other end Of the grove, he turned
from the beaten path and passed through
the trees toward the house.
The night was cloudy and quite dark,
yet he detected the forms of three or
four men standing in the path before
him. Advancing with more caution,
and holding his pistol SO that he could
readily use it, Arthur still crept forward,
carefully scanning every object, but
with his attention centred upon them.
He had advanced but few steps when
he saw two of them lift from the ground
what appeared to be the form of
human being wrapped in dark blanket.
Springing forward he leyeled his pistol,
commanding them to stop. The word
had scarcely passed his lips when he re-
received blow from behind which rend-
cred him senseless.
1t was past midnight when Forbes re-
gained consciousness. Making his way
to Mr.. Roberts house, he reused the
servants and told them what he had
witnessed in the grove. Great was their
excitement when it was found that
neither Mr. Roberts nor his colored man
servant, Jim, who had also accompanied
Lucia to Rio Grande City that morning,
had returned The negro was presently
found in the grove dead, with deep
wound in the side of his head.
"Mr Roberts has been abducted by
bandits, and if he is not rescued he will
be held for ransom, said Arthur. 81
must go to the camp and rouse the men
ct once"
An hour later Arthur Forbes, accom-
panied by twenty stalwart cowboys, was
riding across the prairie ON the trail of
the abductors.
Dragged from his horse, beaten, |
bound hand and foot, blindfolded and
all night and nearly all the next day
across the prairie, without food or drink. |
At the end of that time he was taken 1
from the horse and the bandage removed /
from his eyes. Two of his captors then
conducted him to rude log cabin con
tanning no furniture whatever, and
lighted only by dim, smoky lamp that
hung suspended from beam overhead.
Then, without word they left him, and
he heard them fasten the door on the
outside.
Exhausted by his terrible journey,
Mr. Roberts was about to throw himself
ON the hard floor when the door was
opened again and a man entered the
hut.
"Senor Moreno 20 the ranchman cried
hope reviving in the his heart. 'You
have followed-you have come to save
mel"
"Not so fast, Mr.. Roberts" Moreno
replied, sinister look in his handsome
face. ''Why should succor the man
who so recently gave me blow.
"Ahl Roberts fell back a pace, re-
garding the outher fixedly. ''Then
may l ask your business here I"
81 want your daughter.
"Welll"
Consent to my marriage with her
and you are n free man.
"Then it is by your instigation that /
have been brought to this robbers denl'
"Have a care, Roberts, you are in my
power nowl" cried Moreno, an angry
lush larkening his face.
ibid you ever know me to play the
part of coward? So the girl was right
after all, though 1 laughed when she ]
allied you bandit"
"Hal did she SOL No matter-by
md by she will spend the gold / bring
Ter without asking uncomfortable ques-
ions rs to how l obtained it. Come,
What do you say! DO you consent to
axe me for son-in-lawg" !
The ranchman's eyes blazed with in j
iignation. I
''Yillianr' he cried al would sooner
zee my daughter dead, and die a thou j
and deaths myself than give her toyou, !
N outlaw-a bandit" II
oven try what confinement and ,
hunger will do" said Moreno, with
neer. Il think you will change your
mind before YOU have been here many
lours longer" And, with mocking
,ow, he left the room.