The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-18

voices of servants that still fingered until
he should dismiss them for the night.
Turning back, he moved silently down the
passage until he reached the narrow
arched door at the end. This he un
locked and opened with the same
stealthy caution. The rain had
recommended; not daring to risk a return
to his room he took from peg in the re-
cess an old waterproof cloak and "sou'-
wester" of Peyton's. which still hung
there, and passed out into the night. lock-
ing the door behind him. To keep the
knowledge Of his secret patrol from the
stable men he did not attempt to take out
his own horse, but trusted to find some
vaquero's mustang in the corral. By good
luck an old "blue grass" hack of Peyton's,
nearest the stockade as he entered. allowed
itself to be quickly caught. Using its
rope head-stall for bride, Clarence
vaulted on its bare back and paced eau
tiously out into the road. Here he kept
the curve of the long line Of stockade
until he reached the outlying field.
where, half hidden In the withered. sap
less. but still standing stalks of grain, he
slowly began circuit of the casa.
The misty, grey dome above him, which
an invisible moon seemed to have quick
silvered over, alternately lightened and
darkene1 with passing gusts of fine rain.
Nevertheless, he could see the outline of
the broad quadrangle of the house quite
distinctly, except on the west side, where
q fringe of writhing willows beat the
brown adobe walls with their imploring
arms at every gust Elsewhere nothing
moved; the view was uninterrupted to
where the shining, watery sky met the
equally shining, watery plain. He had
already made half circuit of the house
and was still noiselessiy picking his way
along the burrows, muffied with soaked
= Id II 81. ~xrt~
upspringing of the volunteer" growth,
when suddenly, not fifty pards before him.
without sound or warning figure rode
out of the grain upon the open cross
road and deliberately halted with q
listless, distracted, waiting air. Clarence
instantly recognized one of his own
vaqueros-an understood half-breed-but
he as instantly OWNED that he was only
an outpost. or confederate. stationed to
give the alarm. The same precaution had
prevented each hearing the other, and the
lesser height of the yaquero had rendered
him indistinguishable as he preceded Clar-
ence among the grain. As the young man
made no doubt that the real trespasser was
nearer the casa, along the line OF willows,
he wheeled To intercept him without
alarming the sentry. Unfortunately his
horse answered the rope bride clumsiiy
and splashed in striking cut. The
watcher quickly raised his head and Clar-
ence knew that his only chance was now
to suppress him. Determined to do this
at any hazard. with a threatening gesture
he charged boldly down upon him.
But he had not crossed half the distance
between them when the man uttered an
appalling cry, 80 wild and despairing that
it seemed to chill even the hot blood in
Ciarenee's veins, and dashed frenziediy
down the cross read into the interminable
plain! Before Clarence could determine il
that cry was signal or an involuntary
outburst. IL was followed instantly by the
sound of frightened and struggling hoofs
Gathering against the wall of the casa, and
. swaying of the shrubbery near the back
gate of the patio. Here was his real
quarry! Without hesitation he dug his
heels into the TANKS Of his horse and rode
furiously towards it. As he approached,
| the shrubbery with the retreating
sound of horse hoofs. The unseen tres
| passer had evidently taken alarm and
| was fleeing, and Clarence dashed in
| pursuit Following the sound, for the
shruhbery hid the fugitive from view. he
| passed the last wall of the casa, but il soon
became evident that the unknown had the
better horse. The hoof beats grew fainter
and fainter, and at times appeared even 70
| cease until his own approach starred them
| again, eventually 20 fade away liz the dis.
| tance. Ia vain Clarence dug his heels into
| the Hanks ct his heavier steed. and re
| GREETED his own mustang. and when At last
he reached the edge of the thickes. he had
lost both sight aud sound of the fugitive
The descent TO the lower terrace lay bc
fore him empty and desolate. The man
had escaped!
He turned slowly back with baifiet
anger and vindictiveness. However, h,
had prevented something, although b,
knew not what The principal had go
away. but he had identified his confeder
ate, and for the frat time held q clue &
his mysterious visitant. There wss no us,
10 aisrm the houschold--which did no