Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-01-22
In THE QUICKSANDS.

the rugged Santa Lucia mountains.
Stoner had been a Texas ranger, and
could hold his own extremely well in
that rough frontier community. He
had carried off a pretty Spanish wife
from the Chihuahua region years before,
had brought her to the rocky California
coast, and had purchased a settlers
claim and an old adobe house built by
Spanish hidalgo half century ago.
Here he farrned, raised cattle on the
unused government lands, and kept a
sort of hotel, for several mountain trails
joined at that point the broad highway
which led from the county seat, twenty
miles south, to the northern settlements
in the pineries. He had five daughters.
too-the youngest, Theresa, known as
Tessa, girl of II. That added to the
attraction, and almost every night the
dark eyed, half Spanish girls sang and
danced, and old Stoner managed to hear
all the news that was afoat, and some
how most of the loose coin of the re-
gion ultimately found its way into his
pockets. He was q deep one, that same
Ephraim Stoner, quiet, sly and patient,
secret in his methods and deadly in his
blow.
Stoner's wife and his four eldest
daughters were uneducated and in COM
plete subsection to his will. But Tessa
had more brains and energy than all
the rest put together, and quite as much
beauty, and so the old Texan ranger
took certain pride in her, and had
even allowed her to attend district
school for two years.
This midnight when, as l have said,
the story begins, person OF prying
disposition might have discovered sew
eral interesting performances in progress
around the Stoner abode. On the north
side Of the house Tessa was leaning from
her window conversing in low tones
with q blonde, fair haired and sturdy
young man on horseback
"Tom, do you know my father? He
is not the careless, warm hearted man
you may suppose. l must admire his
ability, but that is all. warn you,
Tom, there never was more dangerous
man. He may be where he hears every
word you say, though if he is he will
not speak to you or me about it, But if
he knew you cared for me he would be
your enemy. He has other plans for
me. He wants me to marry for money"
Tom Warren had once been the school
teacher in the mountain district, miles
away, where Tessa had been one Of his
pupils. Thrown upon his own resources
from his childhood, he had developed a
strong, earnest character, and was al
ready so popular in the county that he
had just been elected sheriff, though the
youngest man ON the ticket.
While Tessa and her lover were talk
ing, scene Of a different nature was be-
ing enacted on the south side of the old
adobe, which overlooked deep ravine,
and a camp of five or six men in field
below. For several years these men had
spent their summers there, ostensibly
hunting, fishing and exploring the coun-
try with their dogs and guns. Every one
knew them, and most persons liked
them. Tessa did not
Stoner, though it was midnight, sat in
the moonlight on an old rawhide chair
outside the door. smoking his pipe and
meditating-a tough, sinewy, grizzled
night owl Of a man.
'oThat internal knucklehead at the
camp ought to have reported before
now" he thought to himself as hesmoked
A man came out of the brush and
spoke deferentially
"Capt'n, good evening""
you're late"
"Dick was shot"
"Well?'
"Just as the driver throwed off the
box. Shot by a passenger in the neck
and shoulder"
HE mustn't stay here to get US into
trouble. Take boat and carry him to
the point and leave him in the cave
there"
"Yes, capt'n."
"How much aboard?'
about $4,000 for the Josephine min
ers."
''Send it over the cliff before morn
ing and I'll divide it up soon. But you
be extra careful: that new sheriff is a
smart one"
'All right, cap'n," and the man went
back to camp.
A moment later, just as Stoner was
going into the house, there was low
thud of horses hoofs, and Tom Warren,
the young sheriff, rode down the trail,
around the corner of the old adobe build
ing, into the country road that led to
the west. He had at last yielded to
Tessas entreaties to ''Go, go this minute
Tom"
Impassive as Stoner was, he felt
little startled by the sight.
Where in the devil did you come
from, sheriff? Anything up in this part
of the country?"
''Oh, no; not particle. I've been Wis
iting my old school in the mountains,
and took the trail home down Cayucus"
This was plausible enough, for there
was blind trial that entered the canyon
just east of the angle Of the house.
Stoner felt little relieved.
won't you put up and stay with us
all nightY'
'No. Mr.. Stoner, l must 60 down to
Kestral to see my friends there. It's
only an hours ride"
s'That settles it," thought Stoner.
PLENTY of stout fellows TO use as sher-
ifs deputies there. He has probably
stumbled ON traces and is going for
help.v He sat and smoked and slipped
his hand back under his coat. Easy to
shoot the fellow" he said to himself.
''Well, good-by, Stoner," said Warren
suddenly; II suppose the beach road is
as good as everY'
Perfectly safe; only when you cross
Toro creek keep on the sandbar. It's as
hard as iron. crossed there today"
'sThank you. Adios-
Simple, smiling speech, those words
of Stoner's, and yet they were intended
to send Warren to his death more surely
and safely than by bullet Of pistol or
pellet of secret poison.
Stoner took an extra swig of brandy
and went to his rest. Warren rode down
the rugged hill to the bottom of the ra-
vine, then turned seaward and at last
the wide gulch opened broadly to the
shnre.of the Pacific