The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-10-17

and containing only rough table and
a bed.
''Will the senior rest?" and then after
moments pause: Il will return
soon" She was gone before he could
prevent it.
Woodhall sat down on the edge of
the bed to think, and as he did so he
felt the weight of the money belt
which he carried about his waist. In
moment all his English caution and
mistrust returned.
1T may be all right" he muttered,
but little search won't hurt any
thing"
The only possible place of conceal
ment was under the bed. Revolver
in hand he dropped on his knees and
peered into the darkness. Nothing.
Slowly he raised himself until his eyes
were on level with the counterpart,
and as he reached this position he no
ticed small lump in its surface. Was
he deceived, or did the lump move?
More from curiosity than any other
motive he grasped corner of the bed
clothes and jerked them back. Great
heaven! There in the very center of
the bed, with its cruel claws working,
lay a full-slzed tarantula, one of the
most poisonous creatures alive. A
slight noise at the door caused him to
turn. There stood the girl, her eyes,
big with fear and horror, fixed on the
deadly spider. Without word Wood
hall raised his arm and pointed an ac-
cusing finger at it. For a moment the
girl tried to speak, but could not. Then
slowly and painfully she whispered:
You thought did it?''
| Woodhall bowed his head in grim as.
sent.
On the instant, before he could stop
her or even realize her purpose, she
had sprung to the bed, grasped the
| bosom OF her dress. As it stung her
she stretched out her arms toward
| Woodhall, uttered a piercing cry, and
| fell across the bed. At the same mo.
ment he became aware of an evil face
at the doorway-the face of Gongorez,
the ranch foreman. In an instant
| Woodhall had him covered and com
manded him to enter, which he did in
a sullen, half-scared way. At last
Woodhall saw the whole plot,
"Gongorez, he said, in a strange,
harsh voice, this is your daughter?'
A nod.
did she bring me here at your com
mand?"
Yes, but it was easy. She had seen
the senior and loved him."
did she know of that-stand back
you houndr for suddenly Gongorez
had seemed galvanized into activity
and had started toward the bed NUT
tering: 'Corpo di Dos, moi ="
Then" said Woodhall, in a voice
that seemed to him hollow and fan
away. I'VE will watch her die together.
And standing there, these two, the
fair one with rev Oliver in one hand
the other clasping the girls, the darl
one crouching like coyote at bay, ye
livid with horror, watched the CIR
until the last spark of life was gone
A moment later a sharp report ranl
through the hut and then Woodnal
galloped away--alone.
Next morning he appeared at break
fast, pale and very quiet.
Fellows" he said finally, I've beef
thinking it over, and I'm afraid l'n no
/ suited to this sort of life. don't hhinl
that l could ever be contented here an,
in short, I'm going to start foV Cal
fornia this afternoon"
, And he did, in spite of all they coul
say or do
r The last thing he said to McQuse
: as the train pulled out was: You ha
/ better get another foreman, Mac, for
+ don't think Gongorez is coming back.
Z Detroit Free Press.