St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-04-22

before Friday"
The two talked until morning, and by
that time Hall felt quite convinced that
he had done very unwisc thing to harbor
the men and was willing to do almost
anything to rectify his mistake. Halle,
however, thought that it was the very
best thing that could have happened be-
cause otherwise they themselves would
have known nothing about the proposed
act Of the highwaymen.
You will not be afraid to stay?' Hall
asked, as he made his preparation for an
early start. perhaps you had better go
with me-"
mo, I'll stay, so that they may suspect
nothing. They'll hang around until
about Friday before they set off for the
trail"
At daylight Hall saddled Padre, "just
to have day of hunting, he said to Man
uel who was watching him. Halle ner-
vously saw him disappear, but began to
busy herself helping Garcia, so that the
day would not seem so long. Hall would
reach the ranch by noon, and the two
would be back by night; there would be
no danger before that she was sure.
But at noon another man rodeup from
the mountain road and was taken into
the adobe part by the others. Halle
hurried to Phil's room with forebodings.
What she gathered from their talk not
only surprised but terrified her. The
last conner had been a spy upon her
fathers movements. He reported that
they had already left Pueblo-much ear
lier than they had expected-and with the
stop of one night, which they always
made, they would reach the upper canyon
about an hour after midnight.
Halle saw it ALL They always pre-
ferred to travel in the evening when the
weather was warm and there was moon
light. 1t was Aunt GATHERINGS health
which had probably caused the change
of time for return as well as the night
travel in September. What should She
do? If Phil would only come, there
would be time, or perhaps the boys could
see some plan to prevent the men from
leaving. The last idea proved itself i'm
possible, as at noon the three men rode
off upon the upper road.
All the long afternoon she watched
for sign of Phil or Hall, but night
came and neither had reached home
Manuel had noticed her uneasiness and
had carelessly remarked that Hall might
get on the track of the mountain lion,
too. This did not not allay her
fears. 1t only reminded her of
what she had lost sight of-that possibly
Hall might not find Phil, and there was
no telling when the two could get back.
It caused her to reach determination.
Manuel slept in the far end of the adobe
part, and Garcia would hear nothing at
any time. So she set about her prepare
tions.
There is really nothing else to be
DONE" she murmured to herself, as she
put on the short suit that she wore when
hunting with the boys. "Father must
be warned by somebody before those men
meet him.
She knew Just where the attack was
planned to take place-at the bend, after
the party had left the lower canyon. If
she could only reach the canyon before
they crossed and took the long wagon
road to the upper one. She believed she
could. They would leave "Hunts''-
their nights stopping place--at sun
down. She remembered so wildly the
ride, as she had taken it three years be-
fore--when they passed into the lower
canyon and stopped the bronchos to see
the grand sight under the pale light of the
moon which brought out all the beauties
of the place with wierd effect just
midnight, so she remembered.
She was certain that she could reach
it. She had thought of the old trail,
abandoned now that the wagon road had
been made. 1t was steep and rough,
but it cut off full six miles and led off
from the upper canyon SO far that there
was no danger of meeting those men.
She was glad enough to find that Man
uel had left her own broncho out ia
the corral at the left, and on the oppo-
site side of the house from where he
slept She was nervous: but phistcr,
the broncho. was never unwilling to be
caught, SO she was On his back in a short
time and walked him slowly away For
a minute she sat, as she reached the old
trail which turned SO sharply down the
mountain, and looked back.
There was no sign of the boys and she
looked ahead with little CULVER of fear.
Never mind, it's for Papa and Mamma,
and nothing will hurt me. " she treasured
herself, and turned into the gloomy
path.
1t was rough indeed, so rough that even
Phister's well-trained feet found footing
difficult at times; but she chung to his
back and pushed on. She grew fevcrishly
excited though as she advanced. If she
should fail, after all, to intercept them
1t made her almost frantic to think of it,
and Phister was urged to the imminent
danger of both. Still the beast was wise
enough to refuse stubbornly to make I'M
due haste She did not know the time,
and minutes seemed hours. She could
only roughly guess as, at times, the moon
light struggled into the path
Now she was at the spring. 1t was half
choked by gravel and underbrush; but
Phister would stop to drink. AS he drank,
there came to her ears prolonged cry,
low and mournful, at first, but as Phister
uneasily started on, it rose to crescendo
wall. Again and again, at intervals, it
came to her ears, and it seemed to sound
nearer. Phister showed signs of ner-
vousness. too. Suddenly it flashed upon
her that it might be the mountain lion.
Could it be following her she had
heard of such things or was it possibly
upon the other trail? She drew up
Phister sharply. This was an unlooke ed
for terror. For moment she questioned
what she should do. She laid her hand
on the holster with glad remembrance
that she had brought her own revolver.
She had learned to use it quite well, but
could she do anything if she should meet