Los Cerrillos rustler. (Cerrillos, N.M.) 188?-1891, 1891-06-12


Yes I'm a tramp. and worse, I'm .
convict. hut I have had touches ~
human feeling. aud they've intericrci
with my prospects murr'n once. Ne !
don't mind telling q one ease. a. -
member ~ this moment and something's
I'm sorry. and sometimes I'm glad IL
vas 10 have been robbery. and Il might
nave been murder. though I've always
kept clear Of HAT
ME and Bill noolin-he's doin' time
In the pen Tor lifting gcntlemen's vali-
Ses ON the cars-was set 10 rob n house
IN the suburbs. Thene wa money and
plate. and only 4 feeble woman and
two children. girls AZ that, in the place.
We wanted 60 get through with the job
afurc midnight. 30 a. 30 take a train
that would carry Us put Of reach II We
were suspicioned. and we walked out
eight miles 20 the place. and got there
early In the evening.
AT the depot we heard Of n dog-A
blood-thirsty mastin that was kept
chained day and night-only nj night IL
was taken into the house. so we had TO
change our plans There was a park in
front OF the house, and | got up n
scheme. One OF us would be taken sick
suddenly, and call out TO attract atten-
ton. The women and children would
run out and see what was the matter.
and then the other one would Slip in
side and get the valuableS As the house
was only an ordinary family residence
we believed this could be easily done.
The night was dark aud there was no
street lamps, which favored our scheme.
'Bill insisted that ] should do the
sick act, and when the folks came out
he was TO slip in and rob the house. Up
10 then II seemed easy enough. but
you've heard of burglars luck? No
Well, it's a kind of presentiment hat
gets hold OF you just at the wrong mo-
meut and makes you weaken. Oh
pshaw! II was the soft spring night
and the pure country air that turned
my head, and all in n jify, rs you
might say. ! got sick OF the Job and
wished myself out OF IT,
'H~owsomever, ! was ashamed 10
back down now, so told Bill not TO
start till ] gave him a certain signal
agreed upon betwixt MS, and then ! be-
gan TO groan, aud hollcr, and call for
help. There was no other house near,
the next building being a church, and
now | saw lights moving in the house.
Then n woman came out on the ver-
inda She had a lantern. and looked
put into the darkness 10 see where the
cries came from.
"'lt's some poor man in dreadful
pain | heard her say.
'Shc was followed by two children.
Bill was hidin' back Of me In among
the trees, and he whispered loud:
"'Now's my time
"'No,' | said back to him, wait till |
give the signal
"Then | groaned and carried ON
worse than ever. ! saw that the lady
was coming down the steps OF the YER.
anda The children began TO scream.
"'Don't go, mamma, don't go; you
will be killedr
"'Nonsense,' she said; suppose II was
papa lying there hurt and suffering q
gave another yell), wouldn't you be
thankful to anybody who would help
him.
'Nyith that she came direct towards
me, and | groaned and shut my eyes as
II In great pain. She leaned over me,
and | could see that she had Il good,
kind face.
"'What is the matter with you, good
man? What can | do for your
''Her voice was sweet and kind. and
all the time | could hear Bill making
motions for the signal, in the bushes
behind me. The two children, pretty
little girls, had hold of their mothers
gown, and was staring ut me. There
was everything | had planned for just
within reach, and you'll never guess
what did. No, | can hardly believe 1t
of myself.
"'Are you in great pain? What can
do TO help you? she said again.
| 81 opened my eyes wide and looked
4 at her.
/, "'Take your children, and go pack
1 into the house, and lock the doors.
, ma'am. Don't wait a minute, and dou't
, send anyone to look after me-you un-
derstand?'
I ''She did She turned as white as n
> sheet, but she vas plucky, and, says
, she, come, children and walked
8 straight back to the house aud into it,
, and | heard the doors and windows
I slam, and the keys turn in the lock.
, Then there was a roa like a lion, and
. ] knew that she had let the dog loose
e inside to protect her.
q "'What in -" II was Bill Doolir
in n white rage at my elbow.
dish Not a word or I'll make
II the worse for you
a "He saw my revolver in my hand and
e looked ugly, but / was his pard, and he
t darsn't go back on me. But he raved
, and tore over what he called my CIR
fnnlishnnss' In letting such n snnn es.