The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-03

DfMMfS0 TRAIL IN THE FA9h'"" W NV
ASSASSIN.
strange lxedness OF gaze. not fearful;
not dauntless, not anything that could
be Interpreted He simply stared.
The fat Mexican must have been DIS
concerted. for he continued TO pose as q
Crnndee, with more and more subllrh-
Ity. until II would have been easy Lor
him to have fallen over backward. his
companions were swaying IN very
drunken manner. They still bllnKcd
their little beady eyes at Richardson.
All. well, sirs, here was a mystery. AL
the approach of their mennclng COM
pany, why did not this American cry
ont and turn pale, or run, or pray them
mercy? The animal merely sat stu.
and stared, and waited for them TO be-
gin. Well. evidently, he was an ldioI
indeed, this was an embarrassing SIT
uatlon, for who was going Forward 10
discover whether he was great fighter
or an idiot.
To Richardson, whose nerves were
tlnGlinG and tw!tchinE like i've wires
and whose heart joltcd inside MIN, inns
pause was long horror; and Tor these
men who could 20 frightcn him there
began to swell In him fierce hntred-a
hatred that made him long to be cnpa-
lie OF lighting alt OF them, n hatred that
made him capable OF fighting all OF
them, A 44-cnlIbre- revolver can make
n hole large enough for little boys TO
shoot marbles through, md there was
n certain fat Mexican with n mustache
IKE n snake who came extremely near
10 have eaten his last tomato merely be-
cause he frightened n man too much.
Jose had slept the first part OF the
night in his fashion, his body hunehed
into n heap his legs crooked MS mead
touching his knees. Shadows mad ob-
secured him from the sight OF the IN
yaders. At this point he arose, and be.
gan TO prowl QuAklngly over toward
Richardson, US II he meant TO hide be-
OF sudden, the fat Mexican gave
howl OF glee. Jose had come within the
torch's circle of light. With roars OF
singular ferocity the whole group OF
Mcxicans pounced upon the Americans
servant.
He shrank. shudderlng away from
them, boseechirg, by every device OF
word and gesture. They pushed him
this way and that. They beat him
with their fists. They sturg him with
their curses. as he Groveled on his
knees. the fat Mexican took him by the
throat and said: u mn going to Kill
youi" And continually they turned
their eyes to see II they were to sue
coed in causing the initial demonstra-
ton by the American.
Richardson looked on imnasSivcly.
Under the blanket, however. his fingers
were clinched as rigidly us iron upon
the handle OF his revolver.
Here suddenly two brilliant clashing
chords from the guitar were heard,
and womnn's voice, full OF laughter,
and confidence. cried from without;
Hello. hello. Where are you?"
The lurching company OF MeNicnns
instantly paused end looked Mt the
ground. One said. as he stood with his
legs wide apart In order to balance him
self: ut Is the girls. They have come"
He screamed In answer to the question
OF the woman: "Herel" And without
whiting he started on pilgrimage to-
ward the blanket covered door. One
could now hear number OF female
voices gigGlIng and chattcring.
Two other MexIcans said: Yes, It Is
the girls! Yes!" They also started
quietly away. Even the fat Mexichn's
ferOcIty seemed to be affected. He
looked uncertainty Mt the still-immov-
able American. Two q his friends
are here. Comet" lie cast another
glover at Richardson, But this he
began. Laughing, his comrades hustled
him toward the door, On It's threshold
and holding back the blanket with one
hand, he turned his yellow face with n
last challenging glare toward the Amer
icnn. Jose. bcwnllnG his state In little
Robs OF utter despair and woe. crept to
Richardson and huddled near his knee.
Then the cries OF the MeNicnns meeting
the girls were heard. and the guitar
bHrst out In Joyous hpmming.
Tho moon cloudcd, and but faint
square Of light fell through the open
main door OF the house, The Goals OF
the fire Mrrc Rllcnt anVc for tho OCCn-