The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-30

AN ASSASSIN.
or imagined in the darkness, and the
rider drew n steady, patient rein. and
leaned over to speak tenderly as If he
were addressing a frightened woman.
The sky had faded to white over the
mountains and the plain was vast,
pointiess ocean of black.
Suddenly some low houses appeared
squatting amid the bushes. The horse
men rode into hollow until ehouses
rose against the somDre suhuoWn
sky, and then up a small hillock, caus-
ing these habitations to sink like boats
in the sea of shadow.
A beam of red fire-light fell across
the trail. Richardson sat sleepily on
his horse while the servant quarreled
with somcbody--a mere voice in the
gloom-over the price of bed and board.
The houses about him were for tie
most part like tombs in their whiteness
and silense, but there were scudding
black figures that seemed interested in
his arrival.
Jose came at last to the horses heads,
and the American slid stiflly from his
seat. He mnttered greeting. as with
his spurred feet he clicked into the
ndobe house that confronted him. The
brown stolid face of woman shone in
the light of the fire. lie seated him
self on the earthen floor and blinked
drowsily at the blaze. He was aware
that the woman was clinking earthen-
ware, and hieing here and everywhere
IN the maneuyers of the housewife.
From dark corner OF the room there
came the sound of two or three snores
twining together.
The woman handed him bowl OF
tortillas. She was n submissive Great
ure, timid and large-eyed. She gazed at
his enormous silver spurs, his large and
impressive revolver, with the interest
md admiration of the highly privileged
cat OF the adage. When he ate. she
seemed transfxed off there in the gloom,
her white teeth shining.
Jose entered, staggering under two
Mexican saddles. large enough for build
ing sites. Richardson decided to smoke
cigarette, and then changed his mind.
II would be much finer to go TO sleep.
Ills blanket hung over his left shoul-
der. furled into long pipe of cloth, ac-
cording to a Mexican fashion. BY doff-
ing his sombrero, unfastening his spurs
and his revolver belt. he made himself
ready for the slow blissful twist into
the blanket. Like n cautious man he
lay close TO the wall. and all his prop
erty was very near his hnnd.
The mesquite brush burned long.
Jose threw two gigantic wings OF
shadow as he Tapped his blanket about
him--frst across his chest under his
aims, aud then around his neck and
across his chess again--this time over
his arms, with the end tossed on his
right shoulder. AMexican thus snugly
cnveloped can nevertheless free his
fighting arm in beautifully brisk way.
merely Struggling his shoulder as he
grabs for the weapon at his belt. (They
always wear their serapes in this man
ner.)
The freight smothered the rays
which. streaming from a moon as large
81 drum head, were struggling at the
open door. Richardson heard from the
plain the fine. rhythmical trample OF
the hoofs of hurried horses. lie went
20 sleep wondering who rode so fas: and
20 late. And in the deep silence the pale
rays of the moon must have prevailed
against the red spears of the.fre until
the room was slowly flooded 10 its mid
die with rectanglc Of silver light.
Richardson was awakened 10y the
sound Of a guitar. Itwns badly played
LIN this land OF Mexico, from which
the romance Of the instrument asccnds
90 ms like perfume. The guitar was
groaning and whining like badgercd
SOL. A noise of scuffling feet accom-
panied the music. Sometimes laughter
arose. and often the voices Of men saw
ing bitter things 10 each other. hut al
Ways the guitar cried on. the treble
s0unding a. IL some one were beating