The San Francisco call., 1895-05-19

a guard and made him promise not to 90
far into the wilds. Alas! the trouble came
in an unexpected shape, and here where
he was almost at home. But he'll be
avenged! I feel that I'll some time get the
clew [ need"
sMr. Brooks" said the prospector,
"as sure as I am living man,
the image that the lightning showed me
photographed on the rock was a pic
ture Of your brothers murderer. Ii you
ever happen to see greaser with the vii
famous face and the marks I have men,
toned shoot him on sight and you'll have
the right man."
81 believe you are right" said Brooks,
"and I've now got that face, scar, missing
finger and all photographed upon my
brain as distinctly as you saw the fellow
pictured on the rock.
"You'll never see him, said the doubter.
All had again seated themselves after
examining the half of the silver quarter
carried by Brooks, and the landlord was
relating the experience of some of his
neighbors who had encountered the
"Biaek Dog of the Bend" when on
sudden the front door OF the barroom was
flung wide open and man sprang inside
lust as there came a vivid flash Of light
ming and a loud peal of thunder. At the
same moment a big black dog thrust his
head in at the door and uttered savage
growl.
"The dogl There is the dog!" cried all
in the room.
The newcomer, who stood holding the
door in dazed way as though blinded by
the lightning, peered out, and uttering a
cry of alarm, closed the door with ire
mendous bang. He then fumbled at the
| latch for time as though trying to find
bolt or other fastening. When he
faced about and advanced into the room in
the direction of the bar, all present saw the
yillainous, scar-faced Greaser that the pros
pector had described few minutes before.
| Had the devil himself appeared, the occu-
pants of the barroom would not have been
more astonished and dumfounded than
they were at sight OF the Mexican.
"The man! Here's the man!' was whis-
pered.
AS the Mexican neared the bar the land
lord for the first time caught sight of his
face. He stared with goggling eyes, turned
as white as sheet and blurted out: 1.-The
dog, too! The dog was at the door!"
Something of horror was visible in the
ugly face of the Mexican. "Yes, de dogap
he cried. 'De doga he come. Give me
brandy. Oh, dat devil dogal"
Ibid he bite your asked the landlord
as he set out the brandy bottle.
"He come at me troat all time" said
the Mexican, s'but I no feel him bite. One
devil dogar' and so saying he with shak-
ing hand poured out and swallowed half a
tum bier of brandy.
Meanwhile Brooks had glided to the side
of the prospector and whispered: 'There
is the man you described.
Eyes, that is the man. Shall you go for
him at once?'
"Most assuredly-at once. The devil is
done with him and has sent him to me at
lastn
'No, the dog drove him to you."
"Well, be that as it may, he is here.
| Can count on you to back me?'
Eyes, and all others here" said the
prospector. Then he whispered: "Boys,
stand by to come in when we hold the fell
low up"
| All present nodded assent.
| The Mexican was facing the bar talking
! to the landlord when Brooks and the pros
pector stepped up behind him with cooked
and leveled revolvers.
ga word with you, hombre, said Brooks.
The Mexican turned and found two six
shooters looking him in the face. Hold
UP your handsp ~ cried Brooks.
The Mexican was so taken by surprise
that he seemed hardly to understand the
order He turned as though to appeal to
the landlord, and found third revolver
leveled at his head. Then up went his
hands.
While the landlord and the prospector
covered the fellow with their pistols,
Brooks disarmed him, taking from him a
| six-shooter, pair of Gerringers and a
murderous looking knife. Now take off
your coat" said Brooksss The fellow hesi-
tated and asked why he @as usedsin such 9
| way. you'll soon find out," cried
Brooks. s'Off with your coatP'
The Mexican threw a glance around and
| finding himself hemmed in on all sides by
armed men he took off the heavy coat he
was wearing.
Brooks at once searched the fellows
pockets, piling upon the counter we'll
1nl 81, al
For moment the mans face bright
ened. Brooks noticed the look of relief
and renewed the search. Unbuttoning
the fellows vest and thrusting his hand
into an inside pocket he drew out gold
watch to the chain of which was attached
the half of the silver quarter of which be
had spoken. "Ah!" cried he as he held il
aloft, "at lastn'
"Aha! Ohol' echoed the men crowded
about.
"The half of any coin struck since the
first of this century would begin with 1S, >
remarked the doubter.
'If this was my brothers watch it is
numbered 29,692," said Brooks, handing
the watch to the landlord.
THAT is the number" said the landlord
when he had examined the watch
Brooks then took off his own watch and
placing the two halves of the coin together
held them before the eyes of the Mexican
ana Sald, NOW you KNOW why we wan
you"
s'Me no do it! Meme no kill de man.
stammered the Mexican. trembling in
every joint.
''Don't ie!" cried Brooks. "Who said 9
man was killed?"
The cowed Greaser made no reply, but
cast an uneasy look toward the door a!
though contemplating break.
What shall we do with him ?" asked the
prospector.
"Tie him up and guard him till morn
ing. Then take him down to Murphy's,'
said Brooks. 81 don't want to shoot him
in cold blood"
"That's right. I'll geta rope" said the
landlord. '7I want no killing in my
house,
In moment the landlord brought from
another room long RATA.
''Tie his legs first said Brooks, "ther
we'll use up the remainder of the rope or
his hands and arms"
The landlord laid his pistol down on the
counter, and STOPPING, began tying the
Mexican's legs.
"By the Lord, boys" cried a big team.
ster, "suppose we take him down to the
bend, where the man was killed, tie him
up there at the rock and let the big black
1<Sfv n