San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-02-12

| meadow.
"You are astir early after the ball,
jake" said l.
EFF wait till the gals in the train be-
gins to polky round shan't git my men
away nary time. They olluz burr to
gals, like all young fellers. Well haul
off jest as soon as you're ready"
I'VE are ready" l said.
l made our packs and saddled the
| mustangs
Come, Brent" said l, shaking him by
the shoulder, ''start, old fellow! Your
ride will rouse you"
He obeyed and mounted. He was
quite cowed and helpless. l did not
know my brave, cheerful friend in this
weak being. He seemed to me as old
and dreary as Mr.. Clitheroe. Love must
needs have taken very cruel Gluten
upon his heart. There was not one
man outside of our own party to be seen.
"Where are their sentinels, Jakeg'
said |.
TOO much spree for good WATCH"
says he.
ELDER Sizzum ought to look sharper"
"He's a prime leader. But he TUX
dance, agree and faro last night with
| perfect looseness. l dunno what's come
over Sizzum; bein a great apostles
maybe too much for him. But then he
knows Their amt no Utes round here TO
stampede his animals or run off any of
his gals. Both er you men could have
got you a wife apiece last night, and ben
twenty miles on the way and nobody
the wiser. Now, boys, be alive with
them mules. want to be off"
"Where are Smith and Robinson?' l
asked, missing the two gamblers as we
started.
Let 'em slide, cuss 'em!" said Jake.
"Taint my business to call 'em up and
fetch em hot water and black their
boots. They moved camp away from
us over into the brush by you. Reckon
| they was afeared some on us would be
| goin havles with 'em in the pile they
raked last night Let 'em slide. the durn
| ripperbits! Every man for hisself, say.
They snaked me to the figure of slug
at their cheatin game, and now they
may sleep till they dry and turn to
grasshopper pie for me-"
| Jake cracked his long whip. The
mules sprang forward together. We
started.
gave one more look at the caravan
we had seen winding SO beautifully down
on the plain no longer ago than yester-
day evening. Rosy morning frightened
ON every wagon of the great ellipse. Not
soul was to be seen of all their tenants.
] recognized Mr.. Clitheroe's habitation
at the farther end. That, too, had the
same mysterious, deserted air, as if the
sad pair who dwelt in it had desperately
wandered away into the desert by night.
Brent would not turn. He kept his
haggard face bent eastward toward the
horizon, where an angry sunrise began
to thrust out the quiet hues of dawn.
followed the train, doggedly refus-
ing to think more of those desolate
friends we were leaving. Their helpless
fate made all the beauty of the scene
only crueler bitterness. What right
had dawn to tinge with sweetest violet
and with hopeful rose the shelters of
that camp of delusion and folly!
We rode steadily on through the cool
haze, and then through the warm, sun
ny haze of that October morning. Brent
hardly uttered a word. He left me the
whole task of driving our horses. A
difficult task this morning. Their rest
and feast of yesterday had put Pumps
and Fulano in high spirits. l had my
hands full to keep them in the track.
We had ridden some eighteen miles
when Brent fell back out of the dust of
our march and beckoned me.
"Dick," said he, 81 have had enough
of this"
He grew more like himself as he
spoke.
81 was crushed and cowardly, last
night and this morning." he continued.
For the first time in my life my hope
and judgment fail me together. You
must despise me for giving up and quit
ting Miss Clitheroe."
"My dear boy" said 1, 1--WE were part
ners in our despair"
mime is gone. have made up my
mind. / will not leave her. l will ride
on with you to the South pass. That
will give the caravan a start, so that l
can follow unobserved. Then l will fol-
low, and let her know in some way that
she has friend within call. She must
be saved sooner or later whether she
will or no. Love or no love, such
woman shall not be left to will herself
dead, rather than to fall into the hands
of beast like Sizzum. l have no mis-
sion, you know" and he smiled drearily.
81 make one now. l cannot fight the
good finht nnainst villainv and hr11tish-