The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-01-02
Pablo HarIscaI.
BY WM. MURRAY GRAYDON.

~ dlrty, 1aoeu solnprero, WIFI Ine
trail of bullet torn diamctrically
through the crown, hanging on the
wall over my friends desk. Not a
very attractive object in itself, but
from it's peculiar location, felt that
some interesting tale was connected
with it, and curiosity led me to ask
the question.
eyes," said Sydney Heller, as he
lifted it from it's hook and handed it
to me to examine, "thcre is story
connected with that head-piece. 1t
recalls the most stirring episode Of my
adventurous life. That sombrero once
belonged to the celebrated outlaw,
Pablo Mariscal, and the bullet that
tore through the crown came from my
trusty Winchester. Ten years ago, as
you may remember, I was residing in
southern Arizona, and my brief resi-
dencc in that part of the country re-
suited in my being elected sheriff.
high tribute to my popularity, l con-
fess, but by no means an honor that
I desired. Why that Office was an
unenviable one you shall see farther
on.
"Pablo Mariscal was at that time
the terror of the neighborhood. He
was treacherous, passionate Mezi-
can, who thought no more Of destroy
ing human life than you or would of
shooting rabbit. If a traveller was
found murdered on the plains under
mysterious circumstances, people shook
their heads and whispered: Pablo
Mariscal.'
"Yet the scamp was a wary fellow,
and took good care to permit no crime
to be traced home to him. Fresh out
RACES kept cropping up continually to
keep his name before the public, but
they never happened to come under
my Jurisdiction, and to tell the truth
I was glad of it. I had no desire to
run against Pablo Mariscal.
"During that summer, business call
ed me away to a distant town, and on
my return, in order to avoid the in
tense heat, and the sand winds that
blow in the daytime, I travelled very
early in the morning and late at night
much later in fact than [ should
have done. On the third night, I
stopped at small settlement twenty
miles from house, and started away
again very early in the morning, hop
ing to end my journey before the heat
of the day came on. At sunrise l was
riding over vast mesa or plain. The
sandy soil was studded with thorny
cactus plants, and the only living
creatures in sight we're big lizards that
slipped from under my horses feet.
1 was so deeply interested in the sun
glow that was lighting up the distant
peaks Of mountain range, that rode
to the top of a slight crest, without
observing what was before me. Then
I lowered ms eyes to encounter strik-
ing scene.
"Twcnty yards distant lay a dead
| horse, and beside him on the sand
was stretched the body of man, evil
IDENTIFY dead. Half dozen yards be-
yond was one Of those gullies or wash
outs that are so common in Arizona,
| and on the bank of this was another
man, bending over with his back
toward me. What he was about I
could not see.
"My approach through the soft sand
had not made the slightest noise, but
now my horse gave a slight whinny,
and the stranger wheeled instantly,
revealing the swarthy features Of
Pablo Mariscal. The rascal's own
rife was lying beside the dead stran-
ger, and his horse was picketed some
yards off. With sharp cry, partly
of surprise, partly Of anger, he snatch
ed 4 revolver from his belt and levclcd
it at me before I could unstrap my
Winchester. My sudden appearance
had unncrvcd him. Bang! bang One
bullet whizzed by my ear, the other
grazcd my horses flank, and plunging
frantically, the beast dashed for the
gully. The Mexican fired another
shot at close quarters. The horse had
saved me. With bullet through his
brain, the poor brute wheeled forward
and went into the gully head foremost.
I sprang from his back and landed
feet first, just as the horse crushed
down beside me. | kept my wits
about me, though, and catching fleet
ing glimpse of Mariscal i'll the act Of
firing. / drew a hasty bead Oh him and
pulled the trigger. He fired at the
same instant; but both shots apparent
ly missed, and as I dropped behind
the horse saw the Mexican dart under
the shelter of big bowlder that stood
in the very center of the gully, feet
away from my position.
';The situation was now critical
one. The chances were fairly even,
but it startled nc to think that one
must succumb to the other. My brief
touch Of nervousness passed away,
however, and I became cool and col