Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-09-20

rOtting in the icy CLEFT through Whlch
tho Saline rum to the Rhono
Another thing. I had got from Gene
,a q pair Of excellent handcuffs. You
car guess for whom.
This timo 1 spent the night in a diff
ferent hotel. / did not care to run the
slight risk Of being detected IN my dis
guise. 1t might have been awkward,
you see.
And so the following morning 1 set
u again as 1 had set out before.
Now, gentlemen, you will not think
mo q very soft sort OF coon, / hope,
when l say the nearer l got to the little
village with che small white church in
the midst-the village to which Cate
rina's fathers chalet belouged-the less
resentment / felt for the old mans past
murderous attempt upon my life. l car
ried a scar OF two as the result Of that
knock and that horrible tip over the
clih, but l was moro affected by the
thought Of seeing Caterina again. And,
suro enough, l soon saw her.
The man was toying with an AK upon
O pine log in front of tho house. / saw
his toeth CLEAN at inc while / was yet
some little distance AWAY. You see, I
had made myself into a middle aged
person Of great responsibility and APP
parent wealth, a German botanist or
geologist or something Of that kind. 1
fatte-ed myself l should prove an ire
sistiblo bait.
And so / did.
my friend, " 1 inquired Of him bo-
foro no had the chance to speak. ''is
there not a short cut to Eorisal from
hore?''
Eyes, sir, " he replied promptly. IT
shall take the liberty of showing 1t TO
you"
l had changed my voice as well as
my appearance. It seemed to me un-
likely in the extreme that Caterina
could recognize me, and yet ere the man
could get his coat and take his stick. a
villainous sort Of club, who should look
out but Caterina herself.
1 tell you, gentlemen, / was near Civ
ing up my little plan Of revenge at sight
of her or at Toast of compromising it
then and there. She was tho same Ca
terina, with a diferenco-thero was
more sadness in her than before. And
when she cried, Father, do not go, -
this time also it exacted all my self
control to help me to dissemble.
We began our climb. When we
reached the old mule track, l declined
to 20 first. Wo had a little wrestle in
politoness, as it appeared, but l won the
day.
My gentleman stopped nearly at the
very spot which had seen my m~isGdven-
lure and turned upon me, with a plea
OF fatigue. 1t was just here, too, that
designed giving him his punishment.
Eyes, we viii rest, " / said. And
hen in my natural voice. as l covered
him with a revolver and held out with
the other hand the bracelets I had bought
for tho purpose, ! babe him slip his
wrists into the things.
I could have enjoyed the r~ascal's dis
comforture if he had been any ones ia
ther except Caterina's. AS it was,
had to keep my wits about mo. When
he had got over the first shock at the
sight Of me land it was a genuine shock
to himl, he was clearly bent on trying
to get mo over the precipice a second
time.
But 1 did not allow him the smallest
opening on that score. / had him hand
cuffed and then set him to return before
mo to the chalet. His cloak gave him
cover for his shame in case we should
meet any other travellers.
There was some fine drama in the
scene that ensued when 1 had thus
brought him back to his domestic hearth.
Look, girli' he cried to his daugh-
ter, raising his manacled hands when
we were inside the house.
AS for me, 1 could only add, "It i,
I" and / blushed as l spoke.
Caterina seemed for a moment thun,
derstruck. 1 might, if 1 had not beer
in love, have expected a joint attack,
in which 1 should assuredly have beer
annihilated. But l had net misread hel
interest in me. There was moro joy il
her face eventually at the realization
that l lived than there was sorrow a
her fathers prediclment.
Watching her, 1 forgot her father an(
cared nothing for the vengeance l haC
craved. l was, as I had believed, pas
sionately in love.
We'll, gentlemen. it only remains TO
me to tell you that 1 married this vii
lain's daughter, and that l have neve
regretted it. II criminal instincts ar
hereditary, MS our wise men nowaday
tell us they nre, there must be exoep
tions. Ny vito has been a success, AM
my children do not promise to be ex
traordinarily bad in character.
= . =
The young listeners to this story seom
ed surprised at its issue.
"But, sir, " said one Of them, "wha
in goodness did you do with your ia
ther-in- law?''
II arranged for his emigration t
America.
mot North America, / do hope"
"Oh, dear, no-South. Million.