The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-03-04


figure caused me 70 dash forward. and
] found the pedestricnne 70 be Mary
Fair.
On coming close saw that she was
very pale and almost sinking with IA
tigue. but he- sweet face bore an ex.
preston Of lofty resolve which. In my
eyes, only heightened itscharm. Spring
ing from my horse. seized her hand
and exclaimed:
'Merciful heaven: Miss Fair. whist
is wrong? You here on foot, and ten
miles from home. Your mother
Ny mother is quite we'll, Mr..
Wood. She replied. flushing rosy red;
but you are in great danger, and-and
came TO warn you
:" To warn me. Miss Fair. and Of
what?' asked is il possible you have
| walked all this distance merely 70 do
/ me q scrvice?'
There was no other way Of reach
ing YOU she said. simply. ! had no
time 10 find trusty messenger; and II
/ you were not intercepted this side Of
II Demonio pass. your life would be
lost
My life lost. Is the danger then
50 serious:' inquired
Yes. yes. she hurricdly answered.
| 'and-you must not think me unwom-
anly-I-my mother thought that one
| OF As should core TO meet you; and you
| l-low could not let her take such a
journey when--when ! am so young
and strong
~..lI. Tell
all about il. Miss Fair said !, leading
the agitated girl TO seat on fallen
tree
".vell. she began. just before dark.
last evening. ! went to the spring for
water. as usual. l had filed the pail
and was turning away. when thought
heard some one on the other side Of
that little mesquite grove-you know
where It is-mention your name This
quite startled me; and. hardly know
ing why. crept silently to the edge of
the bushes and. peeping cautiously
through. saw that four wicked-looking
sambos had carsped down there for the
night The men were talking very low
in spanish patois. but heard ard I'M
derstood every word. and could hardly
keep from screaming. when l heard
them arrange all the details Of a plot
TO waylay. murder and rob you in III
Demonio pass They said that you
would have to 60 through there some
time this forenoon and would have a
great deal of money with you ! was
terribly frightened. but manared "a
| get away without being seen. and then
walked back 10 the house as carelessly
as ! could and told my mother. We
were not at all afraid Of the men for
ourselves. as they knew we had nc
money to steal: but. of course, they
would have killed Us If they had known
their plot was discovered Mother said
we must warn you at all hazards; so
got up long before daylight this morn
, ing. when the sambos were fast asleep
Mother kissed me good-hy. and here
am-'
"-God bless your brave soul. How
ca:l ever repay your exclaimed
But do you know. Miss Fair. how the
ruffians are armed?'
--Only with machetes, think. Al
least did not see any guns. though
. they may have pistols she answered
mot very likely. These fellows
generally gamble away everything ex
cept their machetes.' said
..Yes.' rejoined Miss Fair, but they
are four TO one, and expect to rush
upon you with those horrible knives
and kill you before you have chanct
| 10 shoot
II "Now FL Demonio Tor the Devils
pass is . deep gap in the Negra hills
and is 80 narrow that in many places ;
mounted man cannot turn about in It
No better spot for an ambuscade car
| be imagined. as its walls are very steel
and grown over almost everywhere By
| a dense mass Of rhexia thorns. dwar
palms and stunted mango trees fur
nishing complete cover for any number
Of evil-doerS
The pass was about two roles be
yond the place where Miss Fair me
/ me, and there was no way Of avoiding
| il without making . detour Of ter
times that distance. However, l die
not wish to shirk the passage. rs wa
heavily armed with > sixteen shooter
. rifie-carbine. slung to the saddle, and |
. pair Of navy reviewers in the holsters
! thus giving me command Of twenty
, eight shots enough, thought 4
, rout a whole army Of half-breeds-
, and felt very little dread Of scrim
mage
with much coaxing persuaded
Miss Fair TO mount my horse while
| ! walked by her side. and we wen
, slowly on
ii Before making the last sharp turn
, which would have brought rs in sigh
: Of the gap. hundred yards or y
: ahead. | resumed the saddle. handes
one Of the revolvers to my companion
and asked her to remain where sh'
. was until returned.
oh. Mr.. Wood, let me 60 will
you.' she cried Perhaps when thes'
, | bad .nen see that there are two Of u
, they will run away
III 1.-Two Of us" indeedr ! laughed
: No. no; you might get hurt and the'
, how could face your mother?
, But I'm not bit afraid now, ant
; You know two pairs Of eyes are bette
than one. and we can watch 10th side
. OF the pass q once, pleaded my hero
! inc
lyon must not think Of such thing