Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-10-31

the most brutal crimes. They are
not superlatively courageous, as a
rule; but. having a good deal of
devil may care recklessness about
them and being perfectly well aware
of the fear they inspire in the Mexi-
can breast. they are a terrible scourge
TO the poor half breeds.
But ! remembered now the stories
which my partner lad told me of
freaks of vacheros' in liquor.
thought of the bright eyed little
senorita, and words came to my lips
which l will not repeat. What
fool had been to stand gaping here!
There was only one thing to do, and
now hadn't left myself time to do
that. | ran TO the house and ca led
Sonora, MIC pistola, quick !"
There was a hustle inside The rusty
hinges of the big door squeaked A
little face, pale and haggard with
apprehension and looking at me
with great. appealing eyes, peered
out, and in another minute my re-
volver and knife were in their right
places. As ] fastened the buckle and
hitched the belt into position heard
the loud voices of the cowboys thick
in utterance hailing Jose. l was just
in time, after all. The men had
stopped TO speak to the Mexican and
listen to polite expression of re-
greet that his family were from home,
in reply to which they vouchsafed a
volley of oaths and tipsy laughter.
Now came the jingle of spur and
bride as the vacheros approached
the house with the intention of see
ing for themselves.
My time had come. Iset my teeth,
Ioosened my revolver in its sheath,
stepped around the corner of the
house and came face TO face with
the visitors.
AT the sight of white man they
gave an exclamation of surprise and
pulled up sharply. Then there was
a profound silence.
The position was delicate one
for all parties. The fingers of my
right hand rested upon the hilt of
my revolver, and my eyes We're fixed
with great steadfastness upon the
center button of the foremost cow
boys coat 1t was therefore patent
that ] meant business. On the other
hand, had two men against me
more heavily armed than myself,
probably better shots and excited
with whisky, so that l was not hap
py or confident at all and not in the
least inclined to begin.
At least the man nearest to me
observed in an off hand but sober
voice:
Located here, captain?"
Eyes.
For the night"
Eyes.
"Taken your own quarters?"
mo. Come by invitation.
"Alone?"
Eyes. =
So? Well, Well, then ! guess l.
get down. Eth, Jos?"
He made "a movement toward slip
ping from his horse, but his eye
never swerved from my right hand.
which now trembled visibly
/ bent forward slightly, and draw.
ing my revolver few inches from
its sheath land my left hand upon
the handle of my knife.
There's very decent camping
place two miles farther on, said
slowly
The cowboy hesitated and turned
TO his companion. A few words pass
ed between them which ! could not
hear. Then my friend remarked in
a mild and patronizing tone without
dismounting
Are you buster, young MANI
Not as q rule. But there's not
room for more than one white man
in thePonil tonight.
I'VE guess there is, though
Then it'll be your own funeral. =
Another pause. / began TO find
breathing a laborious business and
made the unpleasant discovery that
both my hands were quivering in a
peculiar and distressing way
Ilonged for the struggle to begin,
if it was TO come at all, yet ] knew
that my only chance lay in keeping
strictly on the defensive
Again the cowboy turned to his
companion, and some communica-
ton passed between them which
could not hear Then he settled
himself in his saddle with a grunt,
and turning his horse with tran
quill Good night paced away, fol
lowed by his friend, as carelessiy as
if such had been his intention from
the beginning.
Tho moment <nat tha datnart11,.a ~