Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-02-07
m THE QUICKSANDS.

The story properly peSlfls NJ midnight
a, The san Luis Obispo coast, California,
,usrty years ago, when tho September
,o,ulght shone down upon Stoners
cattle ranch, near the Pacific ocean, In
,he rugged Santa Lucia mountains.
s,oner had been Texas ranger. and
could hold his own extremely well In
,hat rough frontier community. lie
hai carried OF n pretty Spanish wife
from the chihuahua region years before,
lad brought her 10 the rocky California
eoas,, and had purchased settlers
claim and an old adobe house built by
aspanish hidalgo half n century ago.
Here ho faf1ned. raised cattle on the
unused government lands, and kept n
,,rt Of hotel. for several mountain trails
joinei ai that point tho broad highway
which led from the county seat. twenty
miles south, TO the northern settlements
N the pincrics. lilo had FIVE daughter.
too-tho youngest, Theresa. known Ms
Tessa, girl Of H.. That added to the
attraction. and almost every night the
dark eyed. half Spanish girls sang aud
danced. and old Stoner managed TO hear
All the nows that was aiicnt. and some
bow most Of the loose coin Of the re-.
zion ultimately found its way into his
pockets He was deep one. that aamo
fphraim s,oncr. quiet, sly and patient,
secret in his methods and deadly in his
blow.
S,oncrs wife and his four eldest
daughters were uncduoatoi and In com.
pleie subsection to his will. But Tossa
bad more brains and energy than all
M rest put together, and quite "a much
brauiy. aud 20 the old Texan ranger
took certain pride Ia her. and had
even allowed her to attend n district
rhool for two years.
This midnight when. as I have said.
ihe story begins, person Of u Irying |
deposition might have discovered sew. |
efal interesting performance In progress
around the Stoncr abode. On the north
side Of the house Tcssa WIS leaning from
her window conyorsing IN low tones
with blonde, fair haired and sturdy
young man on horseback.
Tom, do You know my father; II.
4 not the careless, warm hearted nan
you may suppose. must admire his
ability. but TINT Is all. warn Won.
Tom, there never was more dangerous
man. He may be where he hears every
word you say, though n he is be will
not speak to you or me about II. But N
b. knew you cared for mo no would bo
Your enemy. lic 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 TcsSa Ind been ono Of hi-
pupils, Thrown upon his own resources
nom his childhood. he had developed a
Strong earnest character, and was nj.
rady 70 popular Ia the county that he
bad Just been elected sheriff, though the
youngest man on tho ticket.
while Tcssa and her lover were talk.
ng' scene Ot n different nature was he
ils enacted on the south side OF the old /,
'dohe, which overlooked deep rayine.
'hd camp Of Ave or six men in a field
'cow. For several years these men had
leht Their summers there, ostonsibly ,
uniting, hslhry and exploring the coun. ,
y with their dogs aud guns. Every one ,,
new Them, and most persons liked
lem. Tcssl did not,
sionor, though II WIS midnight. sat I'm
ne moonlight ON an old rawhide chair
aslde tho door. smoking his pipe and
tough, sincwy, griszled
light owl Of n man.
7
Ihhl Internal lmncklehend nj In.
uhp ought IN hayo reported bcfor. =,
ow' be thoughtto himself a. he smoked.
a man came out OF the brush and ,
poke dcfercntially.
"1aptn, good evening""
You're late" U
"Diok was shot"
"Weli'
Just as tho driver throwed on tho
~ shot by a passenger in the neck q,
ID shoulder"
ne mustn't stay here to get ms into
ouuls' Take boat and carry him TO :.
Y POINT and leave him in the cave :,
"Yes. capt'n.p u
How much aboardy' v
ABOUT 5000 for tho Josephine min. y
fthl u over tho cliir before morn. ~
: ahu III divide 1t up soon. Bnt you =,
iart one" ~ a
ek to camp. ' "'"' o
q moment later. Just as stoner WINS n
'us mo the house, there was "A low :,
w. " hofses lloofs, and Tom Warren, N
~, Souis sheriff, rode down tn. trail, Ii
, /, ~. hecornerof the old adobe build. e
m'o me country road that led TO u
WEST Ho had at last Welded IN