Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-07-12

with which to kindle fire."
Jack obeyed without question,
and before long had brisk fire of
pine boughs burning upon hehearth |
in the larger room, while admins
tered to the needs of the sick wom-
an as well as | could under the cir
cumstances.
She was apparently about fifty
years old, and must once have been
beautiful; her long, black hair and
dark skin proclaimed her to belong
to that mixed Spanish and Indian
race so often met in the far South,
and her utter restitution told us as
plainly that she must be nearly or
quite friendless.
Jack told me that she had once
been a follower of Black Donald's
gang, and it was reported in the re-
gion that he had cast her off when
she lost her youth and beauty.
"How she lives | don't know"
said Jack. "She is sometimes seen
in the woods and around the streams,
always muttering to herself, or
singing wild, strange songs, so that
she has got the name of being crazy.
Her name is Pepita, but she is new
err called anything but Crazy Pep
nowadays. Think she'll die, Doc?"
"She is in danger, unless she has
good care for the next few days,
Jack. | think we had better stay
here, and look after her a little. |
don't like the idea of leaving hu-
man creature in this fix. You can
shoot game and catch fish for us to
live on, while ! doctor her up Bit"
Jack shrugged his shoulders, and
presently said:
"Yes, and when she gets up, just
as like as not, she'll put Black Dom
aid onto the fact that you might
be pretty rich game"
III risk that, Jack"
''All right. It's your lookout,
Doc. Just as you say, of course"
! could see that Jack was not
very particular about staying, but
he submitted to my Judgment with
a pretty good grace, and we remain
ed at the old cabin for three or four
days.
| was in that region under the in
structions and in the service of
scientific society, wishing to discov-
err certain mineral and medicinal re-
sources which we had reason to
believe might be richly developed,
and was pretty well supplied with
funds. | had engaged Jack as a |
sort of guide and travelling compan-
ion, because he was perfectly at
home in that part of the country,
and knew all it's possibilities and
probabilities.
My time was somewhat at my |
own disposal, and | was not obliged
to be at any certain point, by any
certain time. So wronged nobody |
by staying with poor Pepita until
she could begin to take care of
herself once more.
We left her fairly supplied with
food, and Jack piled corner of her
howell full Of pine knots and boughs
for firewood, and then, followed by |
her grateful thanks, we took our de-
parture.
From the first, she persisted in
calling me captain" and no repeti-
tions from Jack of the fact that |
was doctor, and not captain,
seemed to make any impression OH
her mind.
Captain" she said to me, Just
before we babe her farewell, "poor
Pep has no gold to give you. But
if the dark days ever come to you,
and the black danger threatens,
then Pep will be there to help your
| did not pay much attention to
the words when they were spoken,
but after ! was on the road and rid
ing through the almost tropical
woods, ! remembered them again,
and they seemed to have more mean
ing.
Jack" said |, to my faithful
comrade, ''you limited once that Pep
might betray us to Black Donald
and his gang. Now | think il they
were in the neighborhood, she
would serve as our protector from
them instead Of our betrayer."
Lucky you feel that way, Doc"
replied Jack. I'VE may chance to