The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-17

terminated when the man and the boy
came slowly down to the spot where the
boat floated mt the rivers edge.
"Hello, stranger" he called across.
"Hello, yourself," returned. "Iwant
to cross the river.
"Can We swimS" he questioned.
"No. Iwant you to ferry me over with
your boat. I'll pay you"
"Whar We bounds"
"North, TO Animas."
"How many of We is theref"
"Only myself; I'm alone"
AIS that straight, strangerf"
"On my honor"
He seemed to hesitate a minute more,
and then he shouted:
awe got rifle with me an n small gun
on both hips. My little boy carries a
colts. We're mighty handy on the
shoot"
Having volunteered this Information,
he stepped on the sc0w with the little boy,
and releasing the boat began to work 1t
across The boy stood in the front end
and watched me like hawk, while no
iticed the old mans rifle was close Mt hand,
so he could drop the heavy sweep and
grasp it instantly.
The shadows had deepened when the
scow touched the shore, and the old man
was forced to bring his face quite close to
mine in order to sean my features closely.
j was rather impatient, and broke into a
short laugh.
"Well. do you notice anything danger
lous about me, sirl'
al reckon you're all right" he deliber-
ately said You're tenderfoot--least-
ways, We amt western born. Never can
- Iux e,h
on an we'll take ye over"
/ led my horse onto the boat, and we
were soon on our way to the other shore,
which was not reached until it was very
dark. In the little cove up the bank
saw n light cleaning from the cabin win
dow.
On my way over. I had made bargain
with the peculiar old man for nights
lodging, and we moved toward the cabin
when the boat had been secured. found
the man very inquisitive and / answered
all his questions as fully and frankly as
possible, which seemed TO give him great
deal of satisfaction.
Having aided me in caring for my horse,
after instructing the boy to tell the old
woman to have supper ready, he led the
way into the cabin. There was but one
room below and ''loft" above, n ladder
leading up to the latter. The woman had
set a table in the middle of the floor, and
she seemed TO be awaiting my appearance
with great deal Of anxiety. At glance,
/ saw she was Mexican, and although
she had been pretty not many years be
fore. she was fast growing wrinkled and
;haglike. Her black gimlet eyes seemed
to cut clean through me.
Al at once began TO feel uncomfort-
able Who and what were these peopleS
why were they SO suspicious of n stranger
lwho was white man9 Why did they
live In that wretched cabin hidden away
down there by the sunken river? | soon
idecided there was n mystery about it all.
While the woman was completing pre-
parations for supper, the man sat on n
stool and continued TO question me. He
seemed eager TO learn all the news from
the outer world, and gratifed him as well
- ] could Amongothe things, he asked:
Ever hear anything bout Jim Fra
fcrfn
Frazer the outlawW
"Yep"
Nothing lately. Tie seems TO be laying
low since he held mp the Southern Pacific
express and killed the engineer two years
ago"
"What do you reckon has become of him,
strangcr2"
Nobody knows Some say he was killed
in III Paso last winter, and some say he is
in hiding"
"Hes n desperit critter."
"You're right"
"Oughter been lynched years ago."
"Tbat's SO"
I 81 s'pore he'd cut a mans throat Jest
for the fun Of doin it,
"l've heard go"
BY this time supper was ready. and we
sat down. The food was coarse enough,
but was ravenously hungry and | never
ate with greater heartiness, although
aware the woman's >beady eyes were ON me
every moment
When the meal was over, we lighted
our pipes. The boy, with eyes like his
mothers, seemed to take TO me, and he
hung on my knee, while pattcd his head
and talked 20 him. lie was an unusually
bright child While l was chatting with
rrtrr1, heard the MIN Hud woman. who
were in "A distant corner. speaking in
Spanish, which they evidently thought I
did not understand
What do you think, Pcpitat" asked the
man
"Iie seems well. T" replied the woman.
ale is not an oflicerp
"No."
"Thcn he shall go on his way un-~
harmed"
Those final words were enough TO bring