Evening journal., 1891-02-05
in THE QUICKSANDS.

The story properly begins at lnidnigh
on the San Luis Obispo coast, California
twenty years ago, when the Septembe
moonlight shone down upon stoner'
cattle ranch, near the Pacific ocean, il
the rugged Santa Lucia mountains.
Stoner had been Texas ranger. ant
| could hold his own extremely well il
that rough frontier community. II,
had carried of a pretty Spanish wifi,
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
a Spanish hidalgo half a century ago.
Here he farmed, raised cattle on the
unused government lands, and kept q
| sort Of hotel, for several mountain trails
joined ut 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
Iessa, girl Of H. 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 afloat, and some
how most Of the loose coin Of the re-
gion ultimately found its way into his
pockets. He was a 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 viii. But Tessa
had more brains and energy than all
tho rest put together. and quite as much
beauty, and SO the old Texan ranger
took certain pride ia her, and had
even allowed her to attend a district
school for two years
This midnight when, as ! have said.
the story begins, q 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 conyersing in low tones
with 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. must admire his
ability, but that is all. l warn YOU,
Tom, there never was a more dangerous
man. He may he where he hears every
word you say, though if he is he will
not speak to you or Inc about it. But if
he knew you cared for me lie would be
your enemy. He has other plans for
me. de 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
strong, earnest character, and was al
ready 50 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, q scene of 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, ostensiblv
hunting, fishing and exploring the coun-
try with their dogs and guns Every one
knew them, and most persons liked
them. Iessa did not.
Stoner, though il 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 man.
That internal knucklehead 40 the
camp ought To have reported before
now, he thought to himself as he smoked.
a man came out Of the brush and
spoke deferentially.
"Capt'n, good evening"
You're late
Dick was shot
"Welly'
Just as the driver throwed off the
box. Shot by passenger in the neck
and shoulder"
lie 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 aboards'
About $1,000 for the Josephine min
ers."
send it over the cliff before morn
ms and III divide lt mp soon. But you
be extra careful; that new sheriff is a
smart one."
All right. cap'n," and the man went
back % camp
a moment later. just Us Stoner was
going into the house, there was a low
thud Of horses boots, and Tom Warren,
the young sheriff, rode down the trail,
around thecorner Of the old adobe build
ing, into the country road that led to
the west. He had 1t last yielded to
Tessa's cntrcatics to "Go, so this minute,
Tom.
impassive rs Stoaer was. he felt Il
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 a 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 trlal that entered the canyon
just east Of the angle 81 tho house
Stoner felt little relieved
Won't you r'it Mp aad stay with us
an nightgn
l "NO, Mr. Efors- ips-ot ~ ,7a.v4, ~