The Portland daily press., 1893-11-01
IN THE QUARRY.

that good soup she promised ne and my
meat9 Hello, if it isn't Josefa herself com
ing down the waikiki
The men turned to watch young girl
coming carefully toward them, holding her
tin bucket. ''Whewp said Tim Blakeslee.
'Where'd she come from? 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, her
pretty childlike mouth, her shy yet not
awkward ways, held a positive fascination.
She seemed intent on the soup, which she
handed to Ben Hough. sly aunt said you
must take it at once" she said in her bro
ken English. AS she turned away, hel
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 moment
the giant was hers.
You see," Ben exclaimed, "Josefy's pa
was Becky's brother, an when he went
down to Mexico mimi he saw one of them
Spanish women, an it seems that he lost
his head-an l used to say John had sense
too. Well, he married her an he had the
worst luck-nearly starved. An when 10
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
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
to 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
little scream. Steve and several of the men
looked up. and there, peering over the high
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 it gave one a creeping sort
of feeling to see. A moment more and it
was gone. Josefa's face was full Of ter
ror, which all Steve's assurances failed to
Danish. He seemed to want to walk home
with her, but she put out her hands as if
she would keep him off. and with her soft
adios she bounded up the bank and was
gone.
That night he went to see Josefa, who
appeared i'll at ease and finally burst int
tears. The man in the sombrero was hei
Mexican lover. She feared and hated him
as far as SO gentle 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 1xr1,o+
do,'' sobbcd the frightened girl. HE say
he kill anybody who likes me, an now he
see me with yo1 an hedo what he say. Oh,
go, Steve, go-I 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 if
they could have heard him-his voice so
quiet and kindly. Look at me-" he said
as he babe her good night, am / not a
match for this Juan Lopez? Inever knew
fear yet, Josefa, an I shan't begin now"
1T would be all safe in a fair fight" 10
sefa said, looking proudly at her lover,
"but," shuddering, Juan is SO sly, SO Sc
cret."
1t was late, and the night was dark as
Steve Olderf went whistling home. In
spite of himself Josefa's words gave him
an uncanny feeling. The only thing that
baff1ed him ever was undetermined, 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 go long, roundabout way. He
went down into the dark abyss with a
strange foreboding 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 agonizipg pain. He
wheeled, freed his hands and grasped the
1.-the, slender form of his opponent, who
dexterousiy 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 flashing dirk, but it
missed its aim. Then Steve, learning prll-
dence, drew back unexpectedly just as the
other threw himself forward
In a moment the giants powerful arms
held him. They struggled madly. and
Steve could see the evil eyes Of the Mexi-
can cleaning through the darkness. Now
Juan's slender hand was free, holding the
dirk, which struck Steve in the shoulder.
Then it was gone as Steves strong arm
clutched it, and by turn from the other
lost it. Down on the stony ground they
rolled and struggled. The Mexican by a
sudden twist freed one arm and his fingers
clutched Steve's throat and held on like a
wise. Steve felt that he was being stran-
gled and made q last desperate effort.
Gathering his strength. now fast ebbing
from his wounds, he wrenched himself
free, grasped the Mexican's throat and held
him close to the ground. There was a gasp,
and the Mexican lay still. Steve had not
intended killing him, and now faint and
horror stricken he looked at his dead foe.
He-jovial, warm hearted Steve Oldorf-
would henceforth carry the mark of Cain
upon him! This thought was uppermost
in Steve's confused brain, and then he
knew no more.
When the men came early in the morn
ing to work, never before or since had their
eyes rested on such sight. Two still bod
les, a knife, dirk and club, and blood spat-
tered over the gray stone. No restoratives
could bring life to the man in the SOM
brero, but Steve opened his eyes and gasped
forth his confession. But although there