The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-04-30
LITTLE AMERICANA.
BY OLIVE GUNBY.

river 10 get hlues. lie - great nanu AT
roping mustangs and the like. You
might like the experience. It's man
forsaken country, but there's fine game
there. "
"And Atwood will be home by the
time we get back, " calculated Atwood's
guest, who had sought the Concho ranch
as restorative for exhausted energies.
"Thanks. I'll make the trip"
The city man of affairs and the mus
tang hunter had camped together for
week without seeing a sign Of human
habitation, when one morning they
came across flock of sheep feeding
among the thick leaved cactus on a high
plateau
"In good condition, too" commented
King. "Some one must reap the benefit
Of the wool. +"
His companions eyes. however. had
noticed something more interesting than
sheep.
"A grill" he exclaimed. "And she
isn't a Mexican, either. I'm going to
talk to her.
Dismounting and leading his horse he
overlook the young person, who was bur-
rying away from them.
Good morning." he said. 1--WE are
strangers here and would like to speak
to you. Is the lamb siek?"-noticing
the little creature she held in her arms,
whose head she was stroking with one
brown hand.
"No; he isn't sick, but his mother is
dead I'm going to feed him ut home. I"
"Is your home far from here?"
"No. Just under the bluff.
She spoke in good English, but with
a slight foreign accent.
"Show us the way, please, said
Holt. "We would like to speak to your
people. We have not exchanged word
with any one since we crossed the Di-
vide "
The girl hesitated and flushed Grim
son.
"You are welcome, she said, "but
Miguel is cross and doesn't like stran'
gers. "
lis Miguel your brother?"
"Oh, no. | never had "A brother, and
nv father is now long dead. Roderigo
Anita and Miguel are Mexicans.
"Let us go with you" urged Holt.
The abode to which she conducted
them was set so completely in under thu
bluff that the trail led down over par
| of the roof. A thick clump Of cedars hi'
| it from the view of any one across tn
| river.
| When the hunters stopped to tie thel
horses, King cautioned his companio
against trusting these Mexicans.
Il think we can trust to these, RI
Joined Holt, touching his pistol. "
mean To find ont what this girl is dom
here. | believe there is some myster
about it, "
They walked in under the shade G
the porch, canopied with cedar bough
supported ON upright poles.
On broad bench set against the out
er wall man lay asleep with his ha
tilted over his eyes. A middle age
Mexican woman was speaking excited
to the girl in Spanish, but she smiled
the saltitation of the visitors and me
toned them to step within. Three side
of the living room and the roof wer
formed of the solid rock OF the bluff
but an open door showed another apart
ment, perhaps two others, whose VIC
open windows let in light and air.
| Hollis exploring eyes caught sight
several bound volumes on shelf.
The noise Of their spurs on the stor
ground or their voices reused the Sleep
outside, and as he entered the door Il
hunters recognized forbidding lookir
Mexican, who had passed them on
narrow trail few days before. III
was evidently Miguel, who was "cross
today, and who had been imbibing q
much strong drink. Upon Hollis Q
planning that their visit was a soci
one, and endeavoring to draw him in
conversation, he replied CURLY in toler
BILE English and shortly betook himst
again to his bench outside.
"Get the whisky from the saddleba
and make things pleasant for him viii
talk to the women, Holt whisper
to King, and from Anita, as she tend
her pots suspended over the open I'll
he learned that the little Americana
father was killed by fall from
horse many years before; that Roderig
her husbands father, who had watt
ON the signor for long, had then sc
|, | beyond the Rio for her to take care
the child. The kindly face looked w
ried as she spoke of her charge, a
, Judging from Miguels boisterous laue
ter at Kings jokes that he was bel
propitiated Holt intimated that
would like TO speak with the young lac
"Certez, certez," agreed the WON'T
d smiling. 1.-The senorita lonely is all
a day." And she pointed through the OF
,, window of the adjoining room.
The girl was fondling the face o
a finely formed cream white mare,
4 whose side stood colt, tiny copy
v its mother. "Muncino always cor
t down from the bluff for water every
h at this time," she said, STOPPING tn
loose the hobble from the fore legs
. tho animal.
= "Do you ride her much! asked H'
2 as the mare moved away.
q 81 used to. but for long time nov
d am hardly allowed to go ont OF AMT
n siaht. When ! do ride, Roderigo &c
II too, and he likes not to ride fast. =
- "If we had known, you might n
). ridden with us, said Holt.
y An eager look shone in her eyes.
= "Ah, to gallop fast and far--it wo
be NIGEL" she exclaimed.
A sudden impulse seized the man
a her side. i.
! Are you happy herey" he ash
"Are they kind 10 your Believe m