San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-05
Y.

One day, rs George on his fiery mustang
pony was riding along the range, getting
together the cattle, as the annual counting
and branding was about to take place, his
pony stopped short and made signs Of I'M
easiness, and George thought to himself:
"I'n bet there are Indians about" But
| the most careful search failed to reveal
any. He dismounted and looked for o
| trace or trail. but still there was NJ sign,
| when q low moan fell upon his ears, and
| he followed the direction from whence the
| sound came and in a few moments came
to a man living unconscious in the grass.
GEORGE tried to rouse him, but Tor a long
time without success. He poured water
from his cauteen into his hand and
| sprinklcd tie pale, emaciated face, and let
q few drops triCkle into the mouth, which
looked dry and parched, and this soon
caused the mar to open his eyes, and
afterward ID rally enough to whisper:
more, for Gods sake"
George gave him more by degrees until
the poor wretch revived enough to talk
and tell who he was.
81 started out to get to San Diego, to
reach a coastwise steamer and get up to
Frisco, but ] got lost and ave been four
days without water or food"
well, you must try and get Oh my
horse and | will take you to the ranch,
and then YOU can go on when you get
stronger and with considerable effort
the man, aided by George, got on the
horse, and they went back to the camp,
where Maxwell undertook the care of the
exhausted man, while George returned to
his duty again; but somehow he could not
help thinking that he had seen that man
and heard that voice before, but where he
could not tell. But in some indefinable
way the recollection was connected with
an unpleasant feeling.
Several days passed and the stranger
remained q welcome guest at the ranch,
and he began to recuperate, but he had
an unfortunate fondness for liquor which
he could hardly overcome even enough
for ~decency's sake while a guest at this
h~ospitable ranch. Every possible excuse
he would make to persuade Maxwell to
let him have a little Of the liquor that
they kept on hand to be used only in cases
of great emergency, but one day he got a
chance when Maxwell was away and he
filled a canteen from the keg in the store
room and went off by himself and drank
it, and was soon as drunk as he could be
and walk.
George had always had a peculiar feel
ing toward this man, and he was always
under the influence of a sensation as if he
was searching to recall a dream or vision,
which in some way connected this man
and himself, but always without avail
until this day, when he returned from a
long trip after rounding up"
The owner Of the ranch had made ar
engagements to build a number of sheds
20 shield his sheep. and the lumber wa
arriving in large quantities and was piled
up in several places. AS George rode
along his thoughts went bach toward the
day when he sat cTouched in the lumber
yard near the river and heard the CONVEX
satiOn between Starting and Randall and
which had decided his own fate. Just
at this instant the man he had rescued
staggered into sight and in a second
George recognized him as Randall, the
engineer. The association of ideas had
brought about this recognition. The man
skunk back as soon as he could. And
George was afraid now TO let him escape
from his sight, and he sprang from his
pony and followed the man. who had given
the nam of John Samuels to George and
his employer.
Georges heart beat to sulfOcation as he
followed the wretch, and he was undeci-
ded how to act. Finally he thought:
''The best thing | can do is to let cir
cumstances decide for me. II he does not
know me and how should hen | will get
him back 10 the ranch, and then | will
tell the whole story to Mr.. Osborne, and
let him and Max advise me. But | will
never let him go.n
SO George went to where Randall had
already fallen into IN uneasy siumber,
and reused him and made him go back
with him to the ranch, telling him that
he ought not to expose himself that way
among new lumber, for he certainly
would get bitten by a tarantula or cent?
pede, and at last he managed TO get him
back, when he was put TO bed, and a
young Mexican was stationed at the door
TO prevent his escape.
Then George called Mr.. Osborne and
Maxwell and said:
81 want to speak to you boil on a most
important matter, and l want to be alone
with you both"
'lf it's the gold mine up on the sheep
walk, l knON all about il already" said
Mr.. Osborne.
mo. 1t is not, but | beg your attention
all the same, though his is a matter
which concerns only myself. You know,
Max. but mu begin at the beginning
that you may be able to understand, Mr..
Osborne;' and then George told the
whole story of his certainty of his
father and mothers foul murders. and Of
the plan To take his own life, OF his es-
cape and intention to bring the murderer
TO justice; and then he told them that the
drunken wretch in yonder knew and had
witnessed the crime. When this was all
told George took his precious bag from
around his neck and showed it to Mr..
Osborne with the faded portraits, and