Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-10-12

lean himself seemed as bright and fresh rs
when we started from Fort Mofiave.
The contract was that Herman Murietta
should act as a guide as far as 1ehatchcr,ai
pass, where Colonel Greenwood and Mr.
Runk CT our party were then at work
planning, with poor Captain Harry Ho-
bart of Pottstown, Pa, the grand loop
whereby the Southern Pacific railrnad Of
today climbs up from tho Tulare valley to
the head Of the pass and the level Of the
desert stretching away to the cast
Murietta was paid off and we thought
he would return to the Colorado. but when
this was suggested he laughed and said:
II have a dulcinea in the mass. / have
money, and will see her Then l NAV
return to the fort, but quien sabe-wko
knows
think Murietta liked me- know his
rare beauty fascinated me- and yet had
an instructive feeling that the fellow was
utterly unprincipled, entirely heartless
and selfishly cruel, and subsequent events
bore out this estimate of his character.
While in the pass Murietta invited me
to call with him ON his dulcinea. or sweet
heart. Her name was Nina Cabesa. and
She lived with her father and mother both
preternaturaliy old. They had been in the
employ of General Beal at Cajon-Kahoone
pass to the south, hut had started "a little
sheep ranch with a few cattle and horses
on their own account
The Cabesa abode was a log hut in a
beautiful little side valley, with grand
oaks on the slopes above a clear stream
before the door, and through the riffs in
the mountain-snow clad ON the higher
peaks-glorious glimpses of Tulare lake
and the green valley of the same name
could he had
This MINI Cabesa was quite as bcaufj-
Iui In her way as was her lover, Herman
Murietta, but 1t was not cruel, tigerish
beauty. Whether these two were married
Or not 1 cannot pretend to say, hut the
customs and the place legalized their IA
1iiliarity. He seemed to love her. and there
'as no mistaking her feelings for him.
Before left for san Jose and San Fran
cisco Colonel Greenwood went ahead TO
arrange matters with General William j.
Palmer, who was then preparing to 20
east by way of salt Lake
With an orderly and pack mule. Colo
mel Greenwood-he had been an engineer
on Thomas staff-started down to Bakers
Vile, wh!Te he was to take stage on To
Nisalia and san Jose
Herman Murietta overlook Colonel Green
wood. spent Il night with him and then left,
IN the big tree country hear the head OF
Kern river, and not far from the plac.rs.
that Were then sending so, 900 a week to
the agent of Wells, Fargo * Co. at Bakers
Vile
Colonel Greenwood was n Cd brave
but rather Il rough man, proud of being a
Vermont Yankee and never hcsitating To
say what he meant, and witlial hc was mt
heart, rs all his old comrades know as true
as steel and as gentle as well bred worn
an Greenwood never liked the Mexican
indeed, told him at times that he was
harsh-bGt he had the Anglo Saxon con
tempt for Niger and "A grcaser''
II was always strange TO me that Muri-
eta, who certainly WAS. brave in Lis yvny
did not resent Colonel Greenwood's force
full manners. but he only laughed and
showed his glistening white teeth
At this time all the streams in the Tu-
lare valley were swollen, and the Quiet.
the san Joaquin, spread out like q lake
Still the stages pushed through.
Although it was known that every stage
going from Bakersville To Nisalia at this
time carried a great deal of gold dust vet
no extra precautions to guard il We're TAX
en- by the stage or express companies. The
drivers We're good men ard the passengers
were armed, and that was enough
On account Of the floods Colone, Green
wood was detained for two days at Bakers
vile, and because of the floods "a dozen
passengers, all eager to get To Frisco. s.aid
back when the driver announced himself
ready to go ON tn Nisalia.
Colonel Greenwood and his ORDERLY n
young Scotchman named Ross Were the
only passengers, and tho driver George
Hughes. was the only custodian of the out
tit and the only guardian of the Wells
Fargo box containing the dust.
The stage left Bakersyiic at 3 in the
afternoon, intending to make II tavern
known as Colton's Ivy tari,. hut the con-
dition of the roads. although it was antici-
pated. prevented this.
The sun had gone down. and it was so
dark that the form of a man could not be
distinguished yards away when Colonel
Greenwood thought he would go up and
have Il chat with the driver lie was lust
about to signal to Hughes to stop when
the driver reined in with a quick jerk and
loud:
"Who the devil arc ynue'
Colonel Greenwood did not need to make
inquiries. Looking to the front he saw
thrcc drsky figures in tine road. and in
broken English and a voice that sounded
to him familiar he heard the command:
Drop the lines and throw I'D your
hands or Wen fire.
Agents." demanded Hughes as he
obeyed the order.
NO. gentlemen. Come down."
Hughes prudently obcyet.
In the meantime Colonel Greenwood
took In the situation. l now own the two
Smith & Wesson pistols he carried on that
occasion.
Come out, you insiders,' shouted one
of the men.
The colonel opened the stage door, Ross
following close behind, with a pistol in
each hand.
Throw up your handsr' was the next
command.
Colonel Greenwood and the orderly re-
sponded by opening fire on the two men.
| who stood not ten feet away with rifles 10
their shoulders The third man WAS cover.
| ing the driver.
The rifles blazed with the pistols br,