The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-12-26
ABSOLUTELY PURE

Maria.
Then, in the thirteenth month Of his !
the door Of his cell opened
and man was thrust iD--a Mexican
and "A murderer, who crouched all day
long in the cell corner, smoking ciSa-
rettes. He was little better than brute, |
and his manner repelled Jackson, who |
said little to the newcomer. But two
men cannot live together thus. They
must speak to each other or fall upon
each others threats. 1t was jackson
who made the first advance, and the
other soon proved loquacious enough.
He had news of the outer world, too,
and he came from Tia Juana. Then
jackson questioned him eagerly, fierce
". His tale was soon told. and it meant
death to Jose Ruiz. Hate is often
stronger than love. Within three days
Jackson had cut his way out and started
across country for his home, 80 miles
away.
And at last he stood upon the verge
III the mesa and saw, as III dream, the
low wall, rambling, adobe house, the
grove of pepper trees, the little garden
Then, Oh sudden, as it seemed to him,
his foot was on the step, and he crept
cautiously across the veranda and peered
through the open, uncurtained 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. lie clung to the wall
for support ard listened with abnor-
mally keen cars to the talk within.
Maria and Jose still fingered mt the ia
bic, the latter grown talkatlye ana
boastful with much wine. As Jackson
listened he heard his own nalae spoken
sneeringly.
"Carramba Yes" said Jose. shifting
the table with his list. u have news OF
Jackson. The alcalde will hold HIM nc
longer. He is to be set free tomorrow.
Maria uttered an exclamation OF
alarm. "Dios milo! Jose, " she cried
"What shall we do? lie will come here
at once, and lie will kill thee, my jose. '
The man at the window smiled grim
": the man at the table gave hoars
laugh.
"He who starts for home does not al
ways reach it, said Jose, with empha
! sis. "Fear nothing, pobrecita. Thy Jos
will die of old age before the American
shall slay him. Dost thou think hav
no friends? The man will never reac
Tia Juana The rurales are to take hir
3 out of Ensenada and turn him loose
{ the hills. As they return my friend tn
e teniente will lose his revolver from tn
holster and ride back to find It, Shout
0 the others hear distant shot-ah, wei
@ they will not be too curious. but Sent
g jackson will be seen no more. -
G There was long silence. The man
e the. window could hear the ticking
= the clock and the clink of "a glass
/, Jose filled and drank.
!. Then came the woman's voice, tn
}, and quavering with horror: HE WI
>. not do it, He must not do 1t, Jos
e Surely there is some other way. Let
II 90 away from here; let u.s.
l. "It is too late, thou foolP' crl'
,e Jose. ct will be over by daylight. Is
le sides, the alcalde wishes it. Some o.
d is asking ugly questions about {
u Americana who has lain so long III Ja
Thy 'Gringo' is dead man, Maria. y
re The woman fell to weeping, and
nc last Jose rose with al oath.
o. "Howl for your 'Gringo' lover, y
" she coyote!" he cried, dropping t
in more affectionate ''thou. Il have
IA errand at the village, and / look
be- smiles when / come home. 1t not
tn know where they may be found. !"
IN "How long wilt thou be gomez" ask
or Maria timidly.
of "Two hours at least" he answers
ed and throwing open the door he pass
nd out SO quickly that the man at the W
v. dow had scant time to drop into
ed shadow Of great geranium and crou
in there-in the dust.
ed Jackson waited until the sound
no Jose's footsteps died away, then Gre
MT toward the door. 1t was ajar. and
I'M could see Maria sitting at the tab
with her head bowed upon her o
k. stretched arms. He sought to en-
ID. noiselessly, but the door creaked
iii Maria raised her head. She did ]
he start or cry out, but her face grew asl
no. and her ewes stared in terror. jack
- crossed the room, and, taking his r
NO from the wall, saw that it was load'
ad Then he went to the table and sat 40
en- in Jose's place.
Sc 81 have come home, Maria" he S
he simply and helped himself to the Il
,sy before him.
a He was calm now--calm as rate !
m game was in his hands, and he wol
his play it calmly to the end. he ate r
onously, like furnished dog, and,
W. til he had satisfied his hunger, said
TO word to the trembling woman op
re- site. Thrice she essayed to speak,
~ his appraised hand commanded silen
tie When at last he spoke, his voice hat
-ed hard monotony devoid of all emoti
ow His deadly earnestness was intenslh
me rather than made less, by the rug
he simplicity of his language.
in "Idon't guess you was lookin fer ]
,ep Maria" he said. "'But / come beca
10 had work ter do. I don't guess thel
set very much ter be said. You've wrec
in. nv life-you an Jose--but you done