The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-28
PART I.

Powers was hot and dry and hungry.
No food. however. was - be had until
the 60 -ps should have come up. and
though the men we're working toward
the long red and white pole that Pow
ers had stuck into the summit of the
hill. as men do work when their over
due dinner is at the end Of their labors.
some time must elapse before they could
reach the knoll This made Powers
cross, rs well. To the north and south,
MS far as the eye could reach. and a
thousand miles farther, stretched the
yellow desert of southern Arizona,
split into halves by the green valley OF
the Gila. The engineer looked wearily
over the dismal view. lie turned 10 a
cottonwood tree to which his horse
was tied, leisurely slackened the saddle
girths, and then sat down in the shade.
He could hear that the sounds OF the
working men. which drifted family
through the hot. still air, grew palmer
as the party nearcd him. Once they
stopped for a minute, and Powers heard
the sharp report of n pistol that reused
in Kim. for an instant, languid inter-
est. IL was not repeated. Probably it
was only one of the boys shooting at "A
iack-rnbbit, or n coyote, or something.
Soon, followed by on aSman, Car
ter. the big head chairman, toled up
the steep little rise. the chain clanking
behind him, as he dragged it over the
stone of the hillside.
lake off the plus, will you?" he
shouted TO his mate on the other end of
the chain.
Three four seven plus five seven
point six." came in a monotonous drawl
from whore the rear chairman was con
cealsd in the scrub.
Three four seven plus five seven
point six." repeated Carter. Got it?"
The engineer nodded as he entered the
figures iii his note book. Say" Car
ter went on, you know that horsc-thief
what swipcd them bronch's of Unc'
George Marrier II. tion't your Him that
the boys is ont chasin'."
Haven't the pleasure" murmured
Powers, wcarily.
Il don't mean that way-Lord. mol"
cried the literal Carter. but you
know there was thief"
II know that Marden lost some
horses. or said he did. There hasn't
been anything else talked about in the
amp since they we're missed. I'm sick
of It,"
Hes more sick of il when they ketch
him, them" responded Carter. What
IN sayin' is" he interrupted himself
N order to pull out the rod from where
stuck IN fhe ground. Then he marked
4 stake to drive in its place.
"iou were about TO say-?' suggest
ID Powers, mildly.
Yes. What I'm sayin' is that I |
houldn't wonder If that THIEF wasn't
,amped 'roun' here somcw'ers. ] come
along o. two horses back there ways.
inc had croaked for sure, and the other
vas just about maxim up his min ter
lut. SO / helped him out. Likely you
icard me shoot"
Il did. But what makes you think
hat the thicfs camped about hcre?"
Them horses. They was picketed;
hat mai es il sure that somebody's here,
there nobody wouldn't haye no call to
e. IL thcr business was on the dead,
n them be-n no killed up makes il
sem profile that here comes the
rub"
The big six horse wagon crashed
1rcugh the chapparal. bearing the
ransit party and the food. a Mexican
rush-cuttcr, his muchete sheathcd by
Is side. and several laxmcn followed il.
he seven horses were quickly un-
riLlcd end Throughout the place
lerc was a pleasant stir OF prepara-
ca. Carter went TO the wagon and
ftcd cut the two big boxes of food, I
ith three five gallon can;eens piled on
~ Of them. Powers watched him adj 1
iTincly. Though neither small nor {
eak. he could not have begun 20 do .
lat. Then the stir settled to silence. q
the men devoted themselves to the Z
cd before them. /
IL seen Red Willis an Cappy Lee 6
rly this forenoon" said the back nag- .
an. at last, speaking with his mouth =
IL. They was shown fer keeps t
ross the lower ford. hot foot after I
at ther hawse thief The rest or the "
sse is comm down from above. an a
ey think they've got him ketched d
tween EN-. Can't Le much good in a
5 business. stayin' right around here. =,
mt seem 10 have no savvy, some ?,
wv" q
What am ! .tellin' you?" asked d
rter. triumphantly. Of the engineer.
les camped roun' here an hc stays Z.
re. Them dead hosscs was his: so lac j
ipes them what belongs 20 Unc' o.
orge 10 make up his team. What's q
? matter with us takin' hand. after
,ner an'--Good Lord. what's thatg" ~
On the edge Of the wecly thicket IN ,t
mt OF him. there stood two children.
e elder, n girl Of seven or eight years. a.
ID the hand of boy. just old enough u,
walk alone. The men stared in h,
uuine ana1ement. turning around II
they sat. or dodginy forward. in a.,
Ter 10 get view unobstructed by tho -,
IDS of their neighhors. For no n,
M. eceirr the eeDcation cau.e1 by o.,