The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-06
IN THE QUICKSANDS.

The story properly begins at midnight
on the San Luis Obispo coast, California,
twenty years ago, when the September
moonlight shone down upon Stoner's
cattle ranch, near the Pacific ocean, in
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 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 farmed, raised cattle on the
unused government lands, and kept
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, a 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 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 a certain pride in her, and had
even allowed her to attend a district
school for two years.
This midnight when, as l have said,
the story begins, a person of a 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 a blonde, fair haired and sturdy
young man on horseback.
TON, 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 a more dangerous
man. He may be where he hears every
word you say, though if he is he will
not speaa 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 childhoCA, he had developed
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, a 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
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 man.
That Internal knucklehead at 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"
"DiclI was shot"
"Wellg"
"Just as the driver throwed off the
box. Shot by passenger in the neck
and shoulder"
He mustn't stay here to get us into
trouble. Take boat and carry him 10
the point and leave him in the cave
there"
Yes, capt'n."
How much aboard
About &, 900 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
smart one"
All right, cap'n," and the man went
back to camp.
A moment later. just as Stoner was
gong into the house, there was a 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 10
the west. He had at last yielded TO
TeSsa's eutreaues 10 go, go this minute,
Tom"
impressive as Stoner was, he felt
little startled by the sight
Where in the devil did Won come
from. sheriff. Anything mp 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 Caucus"
This was plausible enough. for there
~z@s blind trial that entered the canron