Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-09-21
NUMBER 3s.

Bue lOoktu, Al ucl uiufHHto sufpkScc, -
divine picture Of beauty and startled
innocence.
Sangrado raised his pistol. With the
weapon pointed full at her breast, Lu-
pita did not finch or scream, but faced
him, disdainful and defiant. her back
against the wall, her arms held against
her sides like Mexican political pris-
oner stood up before the muskets Of q
firing squad. There was but one way to
save her life, and that way would have
been impossible of execution by one less
resolute and ready than Felix. Two
long, quick steps and his rife barrel
struck down the arm Of Sangrado, whose
revolver, going OF, threw up dust with
Its bullet at the feet Of Lupita. As il
with the same movement, the heavy
rife barrel whirled IN the air down
upon the head Of rho Mexican, who,
staggering back several PAGES, went
down to the ground like dead man.
Reused by the firing. the mules and
horses were running in wild alarm
about the corral Saugrado came 10 his
feet as quickly rs he had fallen. caught
up his pistol which had dropped from
his hand, dashed III among the frighten-
ed, plunging creatures. and, in twin
king, had disappeared from our view.
Out of the dust and trampling two shots
from his revolver came our way, as q
reminder that he was still in existence
and desirous to pay of his indebtedness
to all concerned with prumptness.
Felix sprang TO Carmen. go back
into the housc, senorita," he hurriedly
said This is no safe place for you. "
As she still stood irresolute, perhaps not
disposed TO obey an order given so sum
marily. a third shot from Sangrado's
pistol Clipped the adobe in the house
wall above her head. Felix waited no
longer, but swiftly and gently lifted her
to the doorsill and pushed her back into
the room.
"Your father will be here in min
ute or two" be said, as he closed the
door "Do not, on your life, venture
out until he comes.
As he turned from the doorway we
saw at the farther end Of the corral a
dark form scale the wall and disappear
beyond it. Felix and | both fred nc it
while IL was in view for moment
above the crest Of the wall, but the
chance that such snap shots would find
their mark we knew TO be a small one.
The defeated desperate had made good
his retreat
We looked for Lupita, but she was
gone. Amid the confusion within the
corral after Sangrado had leaped inside,
I had heard outside the wall the re-
ports Of the Kids pistol mingling with
other firing. ty which il was TO be infer
red that after his two shots at the ban
dit leader, he might be transacting some
business with the men Sangrado had
left in reserve. Lupita in passing out at
the corral gate had left it open. There
was no ether sign Of her going, but IL
was reasonable TO believe that she had
disappeared with her desperate lover,
Billy. OF his work there was character
istic evidence in the shape Of man,
with two bullet wounds through his
body, lying dead at the outer corner OF
the corral, with half emptied revolver
on the ground before him.
All these events, since Sangrado had
fired the first shot, had taken place
more rapidly than / have told them.
The sound Of the firing had wakened
every one at the station, and the men
in the building and those camping about
il We're quickly astir. But as every one
had 10 find his weapons and see that
they were all right for service, some lit
tie time elapsed before they appeared
upon the scene Of action. The two herd
ers who slept at the end Of the shed
were the first TO appear. Whether they
were slow in waking or had unusual
difficulty in finding their weapons, they
did not emerge from the darkness until
the firing was over and all parties con-
cerned, except Felix and myself, had dis
appeared from the scene Of action. The
station keeper aud Don Ramon, with
Manuel accompanying, came next round
the corner Of the house, and il was quit
evident that within the tent and down
at the Mis;ourian's wagon and thc
prospectors' camping place the people
were astir.
With the caution that comes from ex.
perience 10 those who have camped
much in the far western country every
man kept out Of sight until he could by
observing and listening gain some idea
of the cause Of the shooting and excite
ment. Before this should be Gscertained
DO man cared to rush into unknown
danger or expose himself in any way to
the chances Of catching stray shot IL
was better to lie low in readiness to
protect his own life and belongings
Don Ramon's first thought was Of
Carmen. With carbine in hand he pass
ed at once round to the door and called
her name Immediately she appeared TO
assure him of her safety. In answer to
his anxious questionings she told him
30 much as she had seen. bat was equal
" in the dark with himself as to what
the disturbance was all about The sta
ton keeper and herders, assisted by
Manuel, were counting up the mules
and horses in the corral meantime, and
they soon reported that none was miss
ing.
Felix and |, of course, were beset
with questions, but we gave little sat
isfaction to the inquirers. We had heard
a noise outside the corral, we said, then
some shots had been fired, and man
had Jumped over the wall into the in
closure. We had exchanged shots with
him and he had disappeared
One clew was found to stimulate the
imagination Of the curious when q
herder picked up Don Gaspars sombre-
no in the corral. Although much trod-
den by the feet of horses and mules, Its
eold braid was intact and il bad the
further ornamentaiion Of bullet hole
through both the brim and crown. In
dicating that the missile that had
caused il had cone dangerously near
where the head of the owner might
be expected to be VIXEN wearing it. Fe'
lix ard recognized the hat, OF course,
II there was no mark Oh il to enable
any one else to discover the identity Of
the owner, and we kept cur knowledg'
| TO ourselves.
l