The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-18
PART III.

come. The man would be hanged in
the morning. Drawn by natural at
traction, tAese groups moved gradually
toward the saloons, and Chiquita was
left alone where she had thrown her.
self on the sod near the fire.
Chiquita's mind was clear enough
now, and her brain was working rapid
Nv. She must do something TO help
Manuel--but what? Escape was clear
iy impossible, surrounded as he was by
guards, and even il IL were not impos-
sible, it would not be the Nsst course to
pursue. for he surely would be retallen,
ind If he was, why then nothing could
save him. A hundred schemes flashed
through her head, only to he rejected,
one after another. She heard the Sem
ora call her name from the door of the
adobe house, but she gave no heed to it.
Then footsteps approached, the FOOT
steps OF two men, who were speaking
together in Spanish. They drew nearer
and nearer.
''He went toward Phoenix" Chiquita
heard one of them say to the other.
HE will return in the morning. 1t was
necessary that he should go in that di-
rection, otherwise he would have had to
pass the ranches along the ella. In
that direction, too, the country is bet
ter suited 10 his purpose. AS the herd
will be missing, he will be present TO ="
Shiquita raised her head from the
ground and strained her ears TO catch
forot ,f ...ks ks,l
she fire had been made was burned to a
bed of glowing Goals. She was lying
outside their circle of dull, red light,
and as the men passed within the circle
~hiquita recognized them both. They
were cousins to each other and to Pablo.
Chiquita saw the whole plot now.
She was convinced of that beyond the
possibility of doubt. Pablo Grounded
up the Crossbow herd and had driven it
away to some place of hiding, so that 10
might not appear to attest TO Manuel's
innocence. In the morning he would
give the testimony THAT would finish the
work. What a coward he was! He didj
not dare TO fight, MS Christian should,
10 he resorted to such means as this!
How Chiquita loathed him! But he'
should not succeed. Chiquita would at
tend To that--she would see Don Ramon
--now--herself.
She sprang to her feet and ran across;
she plaza She had no idea of where
Don Ramon could be found. All the
more reason, therefore, for making
haste. One slipper was lost; she,
clicked OF the other and ran blindly oni
m the general direction of the village.
Suddenly she was stopped, for in her
needless fight she had run into man
Nho caught her in his arms. Chiquita;
was too breathless to cry out and could
snly struggle family.
rs it you, child?" said her fathers
voice. 'Where have you been? Every
where have i been searching for you. ]
The Sonora is much alarmed"
Chiquita clung TO him and gasped out
her story. She had been yonder by the
are, she said, and as she had lain there
wo men had told her that Pablo had
lriven away Manuel's cattle 80 that
they might not be found. Her father
Interrupted her.
"Told you that young Vellos had done
this thing? Who told you?"
1T was not / whom they told"
.ried Chiquita, piteously. "rhey were
talking TO each other, and heard. The
cattle have been driven away and
hidden in the desert toward Phoe-
nix. Find them-it may be too late, if
you stay. And in the morning Pablo
will be here to tell lies. oh, do make
haste"
ClEquitas father caught her by the
shoulders and set her with her face
toward the house where the Sonora was
Staying. go 10 the Sonora 60 at once.
DO not fear for the rest. If they are
above ground the cattle will be found,
Many are out already, and now I will
go myself and send others as we'll" He
gave Chiquita a little push 10 start her
IN the right direction and hurried away.
Chiquita walked slowly on, thinking
hard as she went. She was somewhat
believed by what her father had said.
She knew that he could succeed in his
search IL anyone could. Still. suppose
he did not. No one could tell where
Pablo bad driven the cattle. To be OF |
any use they must he on hand in the
morning. aud that was not likely. |
Pablo must not come. either: that wa.
The only way out OF IL that she could
see. Doubtless even now he was on his
return journey. If he could only be
found and stopped-if Chiquita herself
could only find him. How she would
stop him in case she did meet him on
the road. Chiquita had not the most
distant idea. Clearly the first thing TO
do was TO fnd him; the rest could he
determined afterward. She stopped in
her journey toward the house. A wa
terry crescent moon had risen over the
mountain. fItering a faint gray light
over the village and plain. T1s side OF
the mountain iisels rae still, dark, and
the open portals OF the saloon glowed
like great eyes set in the darkness.
Prom one ~ these doors she saw her
father quickly come and enter another.
Evidently he was gathering his men.
Near the saloos Chiquita knew that
f,o>o ~ m a oor~Ul n small corro1 ,s.boro