San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-10

George tried TO rouse him, but for a LONG
time without success. He poured water
from his eanteen into his hand ano
sprinkled the pale, emaciated face, and LEI
few drops trickle into the mouth, which
looked dry and parched, and this soor
caused the man to open his eyes, anc
afterwari 80 rally enough to whisper;
| "MOre, Tor Gods sake.
| George gave him more by degrees until
the poor wretch revived enough to tall
and tell who he was.
AZ started ont to get to San Diego, tC
reach a coastwise steamer and get up tc
| Frisco. Iut got lost and have been foul
| days without water or food"
"WeU. You must try and get on my
| horse ard I VIII take you to the ranch,
and then you can so 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 indefnable
way the recollection was connected with
an unpleasant feeling.
Several days passed and the stranger
remained 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 guest at this
hospitable ranch. Every possible excuse
he would make to persuade Maxwell to
let him have 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
1t, and was soon as drunk as he could be
and walk.
George had always had peculiar feel
ing toward this man, and he was always
under the influence of a sensation as il he
was searching to recall a dream or vision,
which in some way connected this man
ard himself, but always without avail
until this day, when he returned from q
long trip after rounding up"
The owner of the ranch had made ar
engagements to build q number of sheds
to shield his sheep. and the lumber was
arriving in large quantities and was piled
up in several places. As George rode
along his thoughts went back toward the
day when he sat crouched in the lumber
yard near the river and heard the CONVEX
sation between Startling and Randall and
which had decided his own fate. Just
ut this instant the man he had rescued
staggered into sight and in q second
George recognized him as Randall, tho
engineer. The association of ideas had
brought about this recognition. The man
skunk back rs 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 name Of John Samuels to George and
his employer.
Georges heart beat to suffocation Is he
followed the wretch, and he was undeci-
ded how to act. Finally he thought:
''fhe best thing can do is to let cir
cumstances decide for me- II he does not
know me land how should heD will rst
him back TO the ranch, and then 1 Wi
tell the whole story to Mr.. Osborne, and
let him and Max advise me- But viii
never let him CO."
So George went to where Randall had
already fallen into an uneasy siumber,
and reused him and made him 20 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 ut last he managed to get him
back, when he was put to bed, and q
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 both on most
important matter, and want to be alone
with you both"
''If it's the gold mine up on the sheep
walk, know all about it already" said
Mr.. Osborne.
''No, it is not, but beg your attention
all the same, though this is a matter
which concerns only myself. You know,
Max, but l must 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
the purse with his grandfather's name
in it, and the pierced So piece. When
Mr.. Osborne took the two pictures in his
hand he turned pale as il death had
seized him, and then when he read the
name in the purse and took the money in
his hand be burst into tears, and heavy
sous shook his frame. After While lie |
managed TO gain calm enough to say |
brokenly: