Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-12
III FILE AN ERICANO.

river to get hides. He's Il great hand ut
roping mustangs and the like. You
might like the experience. It's a man
forsaken country, but there's fine gan,
there.
And Atwood will be home by the
time we get back, " calculated Atwood 5
guest, who had sought the Concho ranch
as n restorative for exhausted energies
"Thanks. I'll make the trip"
The city man of affairs and the mus
tang hunter had Campcd together for II
week without seeing n sign of human
habitation, when one morning they
came across flock of sheep feeding
among the thick lcaved cactus on high
plateau.
In good condition, too, commented
King. "SumC one must reap the benefit
of the wool.
His companions eyes, however, had
noticed something moro interesting than
sheep.
"A grip he exclaimed. and she
isn't n Mexican, either. I'm going tC
talk to her. -
Dismouting and leading his horse he
overlook the young person, who was hur
rying away from them.
Good morningr' he said. eve are
strangers here and would like to speak
TO you. Is the lamb Sick?''--nOt eng
the little creature she held i'll her arms,
whose head she WAS strokiug with one
brown hand.
mo; he isn't sick, but his mother is
dead. I'm going to feed him at home "
is your home far from hore?"
mo. Just under the bluff
She spoke il good English, but with
n slight foreign accent.
'Show US the way, please" said
Holt. 1--WE would like to speak to your
people. We have not exchanged n word
with any ono since we crossed the Di-
vide"
The girl hesitated and flushed Grim
You are welcome" she said, "but
Miguel is cross and doesn't like stran-
gers"
''Is Miguel your brother?""
"Oh, no. never had brother, and
my father is now long dead. Roderigo,
Anita and Miguel are Moxicans.
Let us 60 with you" urged Holt
The abode to which she conducted
them was set so completely in under the
bluff that the trail led down over part
of the roof. A thick clunp of cedars hid
it from the view Of any one across the
river.
When the hunters stopped to tie their
horses, King cautioned his companion
t,,,. q
Il think we can trust to these" re.
Joined Holt, touching his pistol al
mean to find out what this girl is doing
here. l believe there is some mystery
about it,
They walked i'll under tho shade OF
the porch, canOpicd with cedar boughs
supported on upright poles.
On broad bench set against the ont
err wall n man lay asleep with his hat
tilted over his eyes. A middle aged
Mexican woman was speaking excitedly
TO the girl i'll Spanish, but she smiled al
the salutation of the visitors and mo.
toned them to step within. Three sides
Of the living room and the roof wero
formed of the solid rock of the bluff,
but an open door showed another apart
ment, perhaps two others, whose wide
open windows let in light and air.
Hollis exploring eyes caught sight of
several bound volumes on a shelf.
The noise Of their spurs on the stony
ground or their voices reused the sleeper
outside, and as he entered the door he
hunters recognized forbidding looking
Mexican, who had passed them Oh a
narrow trail few days before. This
was evidently Miguel, who was "cross''
today, and who had been imbibing toe
much strong drink. Upon Hollis OK.
planning that their visit was a social
one, and endeavoring to draw him into
conversation, he replied CURLY in tolera.
BILE English and shortly betook himself
again to his bench outside
Get the whisky from the saddlebags
and make things pleasant for him while
i talk to the women, Holt whispered
to King, and from Anita, as sho tended
her pots suspended. over the open fire,
he learned that the little Americano's
father was killed by fall from his
horse many years before; that Roderigo,
her husbands father, who had waited
on the signor for long, had then sent
beyond the Rio for her to take care of
the child. The kindly face looked wor-
ried as she spoke of her charge, and
judging from Migucl's boisterous laugh
ter at Kings jokes that he was being
propitiated Holt intimated that he
would like to speak with the young lady
'Certez, CerteZ," agreed the woman,
smiling. 1.-THE senorita lonely is all re
day" And she pointed through the open
window of the adjoining room.
The girl was fOndling the face Of a
finely formed cream white mare, at
whose side stood colt, tiny copy of
it's mother. "MunCinO always comes
down from the bluff for water every day
at this time" she said, stopping TO I'M
loose the hobble from the fore legs Of
the animal.
"Do you ride her much?" asked Holt,
as the mare moved away.
81 used to, but for long time now
am hardly allowed TO go out of Anita IS
sight. When do ride, Roderigo goes,
too, and he likes not to ride fast"
"If we had known, you might have
ridden with us, said Holt
An eager look shone in her eyes
"Ah, to gallop fast and fart would
be nicem she exclaimed
A sudden impulse seized the man at
her side.
care you happy here?" he asked.
Are they kind to you: Believe Inc,
would serve you if / couldr
ANITA is good. She loves me, " the
girl responded slowly. II am sure Of it,
because one day she put her arms around
me all at once, when she and Miguel