San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-13

maui some eNGSINe reply DuIlug
the evening Dill, the half breed, came
into the barroom two or [hree times,
and the last time / noticed that he
secretly beckoueI to me to go ont of
doors. Waiting till he left the room
managed to follow him without attract
ing attention.
On reaching the middle Of the wide,
dusty road he stopped, approached me
closely, ana said, "You see two men
come On horseback
nodded in reply.
He continued: lone bad man. DO
rob stage and 90 to prison, Now he
come back"
"A stage robher?" l echoed.
Yes" was the answer; FIVE years
ago he rob the stage and sent to prison.
Maybe he think no one know him. | re-
member. l tell yOu and tell the boss
50 you look out for him"
| thanked the fellow and rewarded
him III substantial manner, for the
warning was Of value to me.
On returning to the barroom now
watched the two strangers with consider
able attention. There was nothing of
the rufiian about either. and would
have thought nothing more about them
than any of the teamsters that stopped
at the hotel for the night had it not been
for the half breeds caution.
as the host lighted he to my room he
told me what the Indian had said to
him. and warned me 10 be on my guard.
Determined TO be on the safe side, l
pulled my bed against the door when |
retired for the night and securely fast
ened the only window.
I slept sounlly till past midnight.
when | was awakened by movement
of the he'd. It appeared rs though some
one Yas slowly opening the door and
causing The bed 10 move across the floor.
l reached under the pillow. firmly
grasped one Of NY pistols. and awaited
developments. Inch by inch could
feel the bed move slowly over the floor
Ny senses were stimulated by the ex-
cite;nent Of the moment. and / could
hear the breathing of the would-be rob-
Der. The door was EOw sufficiently open
to admit the thief. Thinking 10 capture
him, sat up in bed waiting for him to
approach.
1t was TOO dark to distinguish his
form. but | could tell his position from
his deep breathing rs he slowly and eau
tiously approached the head Of the bed.
At that instant / raised my pistol and
cried. Stop, or | will fire"
H.. {. h.
and fired ar The same inSSant. He gave
Il cry of pain. bat continued his flight
jumped from my bed, rushed to the
door and shot again IT the retreating
figure. Thu bali evidently missed him,
for it did not stop his mad race, and the
next moment we heard the swift gallop-
ing of Il couple of horses.
The house was in au instant uproar
Men came rushing from their rooms,
each one crying aloud rs TO the cause Of
the shooting TIE explanation was brief,
but it took an hour or more to qucll the
excitement, and ! am certain hut few
slept during the remainder of the night.
1t was plain that the two strangers
had made their preparations and had
their horses near by. Had they been
successful in obtaining my gold, they
would have disappeared in the night.
When day gave rs light, spots of blood
were visible upon the hall floor and on
the stairs, but a seaTh for some distance
along the road revealed nothing of the
robbers, so it was evident that my shot
had not been 4 serious one.
Trusting That | had seen the last of
my assailants, mounted ray horse after
breakfast and pursued my journey. My
route lay for some miles through a most
picturesque and scenic region. Volcanic
rocks rose abruptly from the hillsideS,
assuming the forms of temples and tow
ers. Here | fauciel | could trace
ruined fortress, and there Il moss COW
cred arch or massive gateway.
Absorbed in detecting these fancied
reseIublancc5 TO them0st noted creations
Of man, had ridden for mile or more
without seeing or hearing anything to
bread; the silence OF my lonely ride when
: loud report rang ont my horse plunged
violently ana q sa.OId later fell to the
ground. carrying Inc with him.
1--WE have him" shouted voice that
recognized as belonging to the man
who had asked me about the holsters the
night before.
Hay upon my side, with my right leg
under the animal. The two men, each
with gun in his hand ran toward me
from behind n neighboring rock. Ny
situation was most critical. Twas pinned
to the earth and unable to move. Luck
lily MY hands were free and l could reach
one of the pistols in my holsters. De-
tnr.r.,innl u oil my. Il e. 10 lpnrl,. nc n.y..