Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-09-11

deep-chested and muscular, with curl
ing, 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 a great favorite
with the ranchman. =
But when Lucia confessed to her faith
er that she was engaged to his overseer
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
he ranch with the cattle when all this
happened, and did not know Of the d e.
parture Of Lucia for Rio Grande City.
The following night, as the overseer
was on his way to Mr.. Roberts house,
he discovered half q dozen horses teth-
cred in small grove near the dwelling.
Hitching his own animal to sapling 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,
vet 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 for
ward, carefully scanning every object,
but with his attention centered 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
a dark blanket. Springing forward, he
leveled his pistol, commanding them to
stop. The word had scarcely passed
his lips when he received q blow from
behind which rendered him senseless.
It 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
manservant, jim, who had also accom-
panied 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
bandids, and if he is not rescued will
be held for ransom" said Arthur. II
must go to the camp and rouse the men
at 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 loot, blindfolded and tied on
horse, Mr.. Roberts was driven all
night and nearly ali the next day across
the prairie, without food or drink. AT
the end of that time he was taken from
his 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 him
self on the hard floor when the door
was opened again and man entered
the hut.
'Senor Morena!" the ranchman cried,
hope reviving in his heart. "You have
| followed-you have come to save mer'
"Not so fast, Mr.. Roberts," Morena
| replied, a sinister look on his handsome
face. "Why should / succor the man
who SO recently gave me blow ?'
"Ah!" Roberts fell back a pace, re-
| garding the other fxedly. "Then may
I ask your business here?''
I wane your daughter"
"Well?"
Consent to my marriage with her
and you are free man."
Then it is by your instigation that
have been brought to this robbers
DEM"
"Have a care, Roberts You are in
angry flush darkening his face.
''Pooh did you ever know me to play
the part of coward ? So the girl was
right, after all, though | laughed when
she called you bandit"
cha. did she SOP No matter-by
and by she will spend the gold I bring
her without asking uncomfortable ques-
tons as to how | obtained it. Come,
what do you say? Do you consent to
take me for a son-in-law ?"
The ranchman's eyes glazed with in
dignation.
WILLIAM ~ he cried. I would sooner
see my daughter dead, and die thou
sand deaths myself than give her to you,
| an outlaw bandit"
"We'n try what confinement and
hunger will do" said Morena, with a
sheer. 81 think you will change your
mind before you have been here many
| hours longer. And, with a mocking
bow, he left the room.
The sun was just disappearing below
| the western horizon as Arthur Forbes
and his men entered the billy, wooded
country that borders the Rio Grande
| A thick column of smoke rising from D.
| pine thicket about three-quarters Of
mile ahead of them, showed where the
| outlaws camp was situated.
| Arthur babe his men conceal them
selves in the dense wood, while he went
on to reconnoitre. He found that the
outlaws considerably outnumbered his
own force, so, as Trey evidently had no
suspicion OF the presence of an enemy,
be determined to wait until they were
asleep and then surprised them.
A ter midnight. when the outlaws had
sunk into a profound slumber. he
ordered the attack. The cowboys adj
vanced stealthily, and were almost
within the camp before they were dis
covered 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 hurriedIy
| seized their weapons and made what
resistance thew could. hut If was inaf-