Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-04-22

IL made profound sensation In the stage
company. As soon a. che ceased one and
annihcr ~ the women cried out that they
would MT 80 past the ambush. They
started 70 shelr feet, insisting that they 10
allowed q slight on the spot. This driver.
Who bal no intention of staying where he
was tiil morning, asked. none too politely,
whether they wanted 10 stay there In tho
middle Of the road while he went ON and
left them. Compelled by this counter ter
rur To remain In their seats. they clung TO
each other, interchanging their alarm and
Indignation, while the driver aud the men
among the passengers counted firearms
md laid plans for defense should an attack
hc made. Finally at crack of the long
whip the horses started and the stage rolled
Away ngaln down the rpal.
Meanwhile, .Iuana had at still npon her
horse by the side OF the road. understand
Ing but little Of the rapid confusion of talk
going ON In the stage. She had done her
duty. and She knew that her business now
wasto get quickly and safely home. Yet she
eonld not 20 without knowing how thing.
turned out. She had not much fear Of
serious rcsults now the driver was on his
guard, for she knew n show Of force and
preparation would scatter the halfhr,d';
stlll less did she fear that nny Of the con-
feierates would b. captured amid their IN
miliar folds, and exposed TO the world.
Ncrcftholc-, the mltgiying TINT soma one
might possibly be hurt drew her on after
he stage
She caniercd along behind IL until Il had
pissed an old walnut tree. not far beyond
which was tho place. Of ambush. Nearer
10 the concealed group OF men than this
tree she dared not 20. for not man stand
ing concealed IN the dark spot beyond
would have failed 20 know at glance the
glrllsh figure on the familiar little mus
tang.
80 she drew rcin ia tho shadows Of tho
walnut. and AT nn1 watched the stage a.
Il rapidly decreased the distance between
itself aud the fatal spot.
From the place whpre Pedro stood, un.
seen herself, she could clearly sec hat spot.
She knew Just where tho men must b'
standing--jnst what their positions must
h.. Juan's and Domlngo's aud Sancho's-
Just what signal would be given. and what
move would he made. The stage boro down
upon the plaoo--lt was almost thcrc-a
sharp crack Of tho whip cleft the air and
reached the gifl'sears. and the stage lungcd
more swiftly forward into the shadow.
The girl leaned forward with strained
eyes and ears. Would that sudden, resist.
loss dash curry them pasti Then came
several quick, confused shouts, and then q
pistol shot. followed by long. low cry Of
agony and despair. Then the stage stopped.
The moonllt air grew black TO the Rlrl
and she cried out herself with piercing
shrek, all thought Of rclf control lost IN
her passionate Spanish soul. She knew II
I 0.N -. . l.
road cleared TO her eyes she shook the reinl
and chung hlindly 10 p,dro's back a. hs
| new over the ground toward tho huddlo Of
stage and men.
The horse checked himself abruptly
trembling little, rs he came upon the OK
cited group. Tho men who stood about
something on the ground wheeled sharply
~ look a. hc dashed down upon them
They cast weird shadowHin the clear moon
light NJ they stepped forward aud stopped
recognizing the girl aud looking at bet
with more nmazcment than before. a. shs
aid down from the horse, and without pay
ing any attention TO them staggered Acros,
tho moonlit space. dropped down beside
the PROSTATE figure and put her arm,
about IL.
The old man lay stretched ont IN tho
dimnc-s, between the uioon and Swallowed
place OF ambush, where they Ind carried
him aud laid him with his head on a loose
~ rolled houc blanket. His eye. were
closed. and the blood triekled from q
wound ia his left shoulder. making nm
ugly nd track In the soft white dust. The
halfbrceds wera nowhere ~ be- secn--thcy
must have shrunk back aud scattered
away across tho fields at the flrS,.ign oi
resistance. The men standing about drew
away. half respecting tho girls despair
half eager 10 tell their story to the women
who waited. frightened, yet full Of curio.
ity, In the stage. Only the driver stood
close by. TO enforce his claims on the rol,
ber's person. lest JuAna should dlsput,
them Notwithstanding at once, now b. had
seen old Pablo's face, how much the SIR
had concealed, aud guessing her relation
ship 10 the raneher.
Pablo was not dead. JuAna looked up
aud a. she saw tho man standing grlni,
10y u flashed across her what he was thrr,
for, and tho whole sequence OF prison Ant
shame, crowded from her mind by IN,
morn Imminent fear Of death, rose up be
fore her.
With dry. fearless sob aud passlonai,
movement ~ despair, She sprang up AM
flung herself before tbs man, breaking int,
wild pleading.
leave him with mel" she cried. "Ieay,
him with mel You are safc-sce no one I
tho worsol Why must you take him
What good' Give him to me-,lo not con
,cy HIN TO prison. lie Is an old man. Sc
his gray hair aud tho blood. He Is hur
alrcady-sparc hlmi You shall have gold
all you want, there Is no ono but me, ani
care not II there Il nothing LEFT for me
but leave my father"
The driver WINS not hard man, and IN
glrl'a piteous voice and pathetic eyes move
him. nor was he possessed OF 70 rigid
tense OF civic responsibility as to make hin
think that Il was his duty to resist her. IN
gray hair that Juana appealed 70 brough
70 his mind hls own gray haired father
lilo looked ut her and at the robber, am
turning around left her kneeling In th
dust and walked away without word
minute more and the stage had resolved I,
self into a cloud OF dust, fast disappearln
down the dim stretch OF road.-kathArln
Du Bo!s In Overland Monthly
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