Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-10-11
IN THE QUARRY.

"Tm hungry" declared Ben Hough. "as
hungry as bear. Why don't Becky bring
that good soup she promised me and my
meat, Hello, IL IL isn't Josefa herself com
ing down the walkp
Tho men turned 10 watch young girl
coming carefully toward them, holding heI
tin bucket "Whewr said Tim Blakeslee
"Whered she come fromi She don't be
long here, that's sure"
The girl was close TO them. Tall, slen
der. singularly graceful, was Josefa Jose
Her dark skin and large dark eyes, hei
pretty childlike mouth, her shy yet not
awkward ways, held positive fascination
She seemed intent on the soup, which she
handed to Bv4 Hough. yMy aunt said you
must take IL at once" she said In her bro
ken English. AS she turned away, hei
eyes met those OF the giant, Steve Oldorf
the most powerful man In the quarry She
looked away at once, confused, but the
mischief was done. From that momen,
the giant was hers
you see,' Ben exclaimed, "Josefys pa
was Becky's brother, an when he went
down To Mexico minin he saw one of them
Spanish women, an IL seems that he lost
his head-an used TO say John had sens,
WV wen, ht DtF All ne nH1 tIlt
worst luck-nearly starved. An when Jo
sefy was bout 10 year, her ma an a boy
died, an John KEEP single an brung up the
girl the best he could. Then month gone,
John died, an told Beck to send for the
girl, an she did, AN here she is. She amt
much for pritty, but she's a gentle, nice
little thing. She amt little, either, but
she seems SO, somehow. An Beck sets a
heap on her, she's so lovin an grateful"
One day when she came with Ben's dinner
her face was troubled, and when she talked
70 Steve, off by the big ledge of rock, she
gesticulated rapidly and talked most eager
ly, and the more anxious she seemed the
more Steve laughed. Suddenly she gave a
little scream. Steve and several OF the men
looked up, and there, peering over the hi gh
wall on the north side, was the strangest
face, surmounted by big. soft, gray felt
hat The face WAS dark. like Josefa's, and
handsome but the eyes were evil and shone
with light IL gave one "A creeping sort
OF feeling TO see A moment more and IL
was gone. Josefa's face was full Of ter
ror, which all Steve's assurances failed 10
Danish. He seemed TO want to walk home
with her, but she put out her hands "a II
she would keep him off. and with her soft
adios she bounded up the bank and was
gone
That night he went 10 see Josefa, who
appeared i'll at ease and finally burst into
tears. The man in the sombrero was hen
Mexican lover. She feared and hated him
as far AS so gentle a creature could hate
and determined, after getting her Aunt
Becky's letter, TO start away and be free
from his threatening shadow OF her other.
wise happy life. "He always said he'd fol.
low me an marry me. whatever / say on
do" sobbed the frightened girl. "He say
he kill anybody who likes me, an now he
see me with you, an he do what he say. oh,
go, Steve, go-l never shall happy be again.
hoped he never find me SO far away"
Steve laughed in his hearty voice and
petted the little trembling figure In way
that would have made the men stare II
they could have heard him-his voice SC
quiet and kindly. Look at me-" he said
as he bade her good night, "am not q
match for this Juan Lopezi never knew
fear yet, Josefa, an / shan't begin now"
1T would be all safe in fair fight" 10
sefa said, looking proudly at her lover,
but" shuddering, Juan is so sly, 80 Sc.
cret"
1t was late, and the night was dark as
Steve Oldorf went whistling home. In
spite of himself Josefa's words gave him
an uncanny feeling. The only thing that
baffled him ever was underhanded sneak.
ing ways, he often said, and he knew that
evil faced Mexican meant business. He
laughed at himself, but he stopped In a
grove and cut himself big club He had
to pass the quarry to get home, unless he
would 20 long, roundabout way. He
went down into the dark abyss with a
strange forebodng of evil.
AS his foot touched the bottom he was
seized from behind, and he felt quick,
sharp stab in the back with something
sharp, which gave him agonzing pain. He
wheeled, freed his hands and grasped the
1.-THE, slender form of his opponent, who
dexterously eluded him. Again Steve
struck out, this time with his club, which
had dropped TO the ground. Again the
quick movement of his enemy to one side
evaded the blow, and at the same time he
struck at him with a flashing dirk, but it
MISSED its aim. Then Steve. learning nru.