The National tribune., 1896-08-06

curtained window. His greedy eyes took in
every detail of the interior, and the smell
of food, crazed though he was with hatred,
turned him faint. He clung to the wall for
support, and listened with abnormally keen
ears to the talk within. Maria and Jose
still fingered at the table, the latter grown
talkative and boastful with much wine. AS
Jackson listened, he heard his own name
spoken, sneeringly.
"CarramLa! Yes" said Jose, shifting the
table with his fist, have news of Jackson.
The Alcalde will hold him no longer. He is
to be set free tomorrow"
Maria uttered an exclamation Of alarm.
" Dios mio!' Jose," she cried. What shall
we do? He will come here at once, and he
will kill thee, my jose"
The man at the window smiled grimly;
the man at the table gave hoarse laugh.
He who starts for home does not always
reach it," said Jose, with emphasis. Fear
nothing, pobrecita Thy Jose will die Of old
age before the americana shall slay him. Dost
thou think l have no friends? The man
will never reach Tia Juana. The rurales are
to take him out of Ensenada and turn him
loose in the hills AS they RETURN my
friend, the teniente, will lose his revolver
from the holster and ride back to find it.
well! they will not be too curious but Senor
Jackson will be seen no more"
There was long silence. The man at the
window could hear the ticking of the clock
and the clink of glass as Jose filled and
drank.
Then came the woman's voice, thin and
quavering with horror: He will not do it.
He must not do it, Jose. Surely there is
some other way. Let us 60 away from here,
let us"-
"It's too late, thou fool" cried Jose. " 1t
will be over by daylight. Beside, the At-
calde wishes it. Some one is asking ugly
questions about the americana who has lain
so long in Jail. Thy Gringo is dead man,
Maria"
The woman fell to weeping, and at last
Jose rose with an OATH.
Howl for your Gringo lover, you She
coyote" he cried, dropping the more affec-
tionate "thOu" 81 have an errand at the
village, and l LOOK for smiles when / come
home If not, know where they may be
found"
"How long wilt thou be gomez" asked
Maria, timidly. r
1.-TWO hours, at least" he answered, and,
throwing open the door, he passed out SO
quickly that the man at the window had
scant time to drop into the shadow of great
geranium and crouch there in the dust
Jackson waited until the sound of Jose's
footsteps died away, then crept toward the
door. 1t was ajar, and he could see Maria
sitting at the table, with her head bowed
upon her outstretched arms. He sought
to enter noselessly, but the door creaked
and Maria raised her head. She did not
start nor cry out, but her face grew ashen
and her eyes stared in terror. Jackson
crossed the room, and; taking his rifle from
the wall, saw that it was loaded then he
went to the table and sat down in Jose's
place.
81 have come home, Maria.p he said,
simply, and helped himself to the food before
him.
He was calm nOw-calm as Fate. The
game was in his hands, and he would play
it calmly TO the end. He ate raveuously,
| like famished dog, and, until he had salts
| fed his hunger, said not word to the
| trembling woman opposite. Thrice she
! essayed to speak, but his upraised hand
| commanded silence When at last he spoke,
his voice had hard monotony devoid of all
| emotion. His deadly earnestness was in
| tensified, rather than made less, by the
rugged simplicity of his language.
| Il don't guess you was lOokin' fer me,
| Maria" he said. "But come because had
work to do. don't guess there's very much
/ ter be said You've wrecked my life-you
| an Jose-but ye done it with yer eyes open,
am took the chances. The games gone agin
| ye; it's my play, an hold trumps Jose
seen his chance and took it. / made mine,
AL by the etarnal God, Tll use it WE'LL"
| The woman attempted justification.
But our marriage" she faltered. There
was no priest"
| There was not even scorn in Jackson IS
reply. Il reckon it's bindin' enough ter
justify what Pm a-goin' ter do" he said,
slowly.
"What will you do ?" she asked, hoarsely.
"Pm a-goin' ter kill him, Maria. Pm
a-goin' ter shoot him down like the cur he
is, here in this home, where he dishOnOred
me-"
"And me?" she asked hardly above a
whisper.
"You," he said, wearily. "Pm a-goin "
then he stopped. His eyes, which had
been staring duly, grew bright. and his
gaze became fixed on something behind the
woman's head
"Hush,n he said as she repeated her last
question.
Maria believed him mad, and sat watching
4
pose some warning of impending danger.
Surely, his worn brain was graphing
with some wild fancy. Slowly he arose,
and, passing behind Maria, who kept
her eyes upon him constantly, turning
her head that she might watch his slightest
move, he took somethsng from the shell
that held the lamp As he returned to the
table Maria watched ham with the fascina-
tion of fear. STOPPING, he drew the wine-jug
from beneath the table, and poured out two
glasses of the drink. VI Then he drew from
his pocket that whdch he had taken from the
shelf. 1t was a small, square phial with
POISON" printed in large, black letters or
the label. Maria knew it well. 1t was
strychnine, used to- exterminate coyotes
Into one of the glasses Of wine he poured &
portion of the deadly mixture.
maria" he said e. I've changed my mind
/ amt a-goin' ter waste no lead on that coy
ote. Pm a-goin' ter pizen him, or, rather
you be"
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