The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-04-17
THE QUICkSAND.

that rough frontier country. He had
carried off pretty Spanish wife from
the chihuahua region years before had
brought her to the rocky Californian
coast and had purchased a settlers
claim and an old adobe house built by
a Spanish hidalgo half century ago.
He farmed, raised cattle on the IN
used government lands and kept q sort
of rude hotel, for several mountain
trails Joined at that point the broad
highway which led from the county
seat, 20 miles south, To the northern
settlements in the pineries. He had
five daughters, toe, the youngest,
Theresa, known as Tessa, a girl OF Il.
That added 10 the attraction, and al
most every night the dark eyed, half
Spanish girls sang and danced, and
old Stoner managed 10 hear all of
news that was afloat, and somehow
most of the loose coin of the re-
gion ultimately found its way into
his pockets. He was deep one, that
same Ephraim Stoner, quiet, sly and
patient. secret in his methods and dead
ly in his blow.
StoneT's wife and his four elder
daughters were uneducated and in conf
plete subsection to his will, but Tessa
had more brains and energy than all
the others put together and quite as
much beauty, 50 that the old Texan
ranger took a certain pride in her and
had even allowed her 10 attend 4 distant
school for two years.
This midnight, when as | have said,
the story begins, a person ofprying dis
position might have discovered sever
al interesting performance in progress
around the StOner adobe. On the
north side of the house, quite in the
shadow, Tess was leaning from her
window, conversing in low tones with
a blonde fair haired and sturdy young
man on horseback.
TON, you do not know my father.
He is not the careless, warm hearted
man yoa suppose. | must admire his
ability, but that is all. | warn you,
Tom, there never was a more danger
Gus man. He may be where he hears
every word you say, but if he is he will
not speak to you or me about il, but il
he knew that you cared for me he would
be your enemy. He has Others plans
for me He wants me TO masry for
money"
Tom Warren had once been the
school teacher in the mountain district,
miles away, where Tessa had been one
OF his pupils. Thrown upon his own
resources from his childhood, he had
developed strong, earnest character
and was already so popular in the coun-
~ thai he had just been elected sheriff
although the youngest man on the
ticket
While Tessa and her lover were talk
ing a scene of far different nature was
being enacted on the south of the old
adobe, which overlooked deep raviEe
and camp of five or six men in field
below. For several years these men
had spent their summers there, osten-
SHY hunting, fishing and exploring
the country with their dogs and guns.
Every one knew them, and most per-
sons liked them. Tessa did not.
Stoner, though it was midnight, sat
in the moonlight on an old rawhide
chair, outside the door, smoking his
pipe and meditating-a tough, sinewy,
grizzled night owl of man.
That internal knuckle-head AT the
camp ought 10 have reported before
now" he thought to himself as he
smoked.
\ man came out of the bush and
spoke deferenfially
''Cap;'n, good evenin ~
"You're late"
-'Dick was shot"
@'WelI?"
''Just as the driver throwed Off the
box. Shot by passenger in the neck
and shoulder.
''He mustn't stay here to get us into
trouble Take boat ond carry him to
the point and leave him in the cave
shere"
ayes, capita"
@'How much Was shroad?''
-'About s2,0O0 for the Josephine mi
neTs."
''Send it over the cliff before morn
ing. and I'll divide it up soon, but you
be careful That new sheriff is a smart
one.n
"All right. eapt'n,r and the man
Eeni back to the camp.
\ moment laie=, jus; as Stoner was
seing back into the house, there was
the slow thgd of horses boofs and
Tom Warren. the young sheriff rode
down the trail. around the corner of
the old adobe building into the main
country road that lay to the west. He
had at last yielded TO Tessa's entreaties
ia Ego. go this minute, Tom"
Impossible as Stoner was, he felt
little startled by the sight.
''Where in the devil did you come
from, sheriff? Anything up in this
part Of the country"
''Oh, no, not a particle. I've been
visiting my old school ia the noun
ta;ns and took the sboY; trail home,
down CayueOs."
This was plausible enough, for there
was blind trail that entered the cali
-yoE Just east OF the angle of the house.
Stoner se.t a little relieved.
won't you put up and stay with us
all night %
"So, Mr.. StoRer, must go down to
Y .stral 10 see friends there. its only
an hours ride"
THAT settles il, thought Stoner.
'Pienty of stout fellows TO use as sher-
ifr deputies there. He has probably
stumbled on traces and is going for
help" He sat and smoked and Slip
ped his hand back under his coat.
Easy to shoot the fellow" he said to
'Well, good5y, StoneT," said War
ren suddenly. II suppose the beach
road is n good as ever?
Perfectly safe. only when you cross
yoro creek keep on the sand bar. It's