Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-04-07

uIsiuS tucu1 Ou, Willie n OOS
was keeping them from struggling
THAT'S Pray's greaser now.g said
Breen. Il know him by his having thar
dog with him. We'd better get him
while we have a chance" and he turned
his pOny's head in that direction.
Say. SQUIRE" said Uncle Bill. turn.
ing to bright, intelligent-looking
young man riding near him, who got
his title by being lawyer, "'pears lik.
you'd best go along an see that the
Mex don't escape from the hands O.
justice" ahd sly twinkle came into
his eve. as he added: Seems like
mighty desprit felier. the way he drives
them sheep. an Jake an the other fel-
lers maybe couldn't handle right alone.
I'll take keer o this cavyard."
So the young lawyer and five others
followed Jake Breen in dash over the
prairie 10 capture the Mexican, while
the rest Of the cavalcade rode on to the
ranch.
Pray's jacal. or hut, was q rude af-
fair, constructed as many of them are
in that country, by planting live oak
pickets, ten feet long. in an upri3 ht
position, side by sile, to form the walls.
and making q roof of prairie grass
thatch. The cracks were stopped with
mud. and there was no opening except
the door, which furnished all the light
and ventila ton needed besides thai
which came in through the nuaierOus
crevices in the rude structure. 1t was
situated in "A grove Of trees Oh The
ban of the creek.
When the party rode up they found
the door of the cabin closed, and not a
sign or sound OF life anywhere around
Hello, house, called Uncle Bill.
Thar don't seem to be nobody here"
he added, and then dismountng he
walked up 10 the door and gave it a
push. 1t opened inwardly. scraping on
the dirt floor as IL did SO, for 1t hung
loose on its strap hinges.
We'll, I'll be derned" exclaimed the
old man as his eyes became accus-
toned TO the dim light in the ca bin; .'ef |
ii hain't so, fer fact"'
And then the others crowded up 10 |
look in. and see what Uncle Bill had
seen; the body OF the woman on the |
fioor, near the rear OF the room, with |
her throat cut, and the body of Willie |
Pray near the door, lying Ia a pool of |
blood. which had evidently flowed from !
wound in his side.
Don't crowd that thar door, men | |
want ter see, said the old man, as ne /
caught hold of Pray's hand. That |
gals gone but this here boy seems ter
be kinder warm yit. Give a hand a |
-
leetie fresh air'il do
They took him up gently and bore
him 10 a grassy place in the shade of
some trees. Here they laid him tender
ly down upon bed of blankets and
after moistening the lips with liquor.
they began examining the wound
They had just reached this stage OF
the proceedings when there was a di-
version. Ii came from the party who
had gone off 10 capture the Mexican
They rode along, the unfortunate greas-
er being tied to a lariat attached To the
81 ddie-bow of one of the men. He was
running along utterins protesta tons
his face actually pale with terror
No sabe, senors; no entender, Senior
Ca baEerOs."
Here he is" called Jake Breen, as
the company came to a halt. We've
got the scoundrel."
And then they all crowded up to
where the wounded and appa rently
dead man lay upon the blankets. As
the last party came up they approach
ed the feet of the wounded man. The
Sheriff led the Mexican up, the others
making room for them.
stand back, men. an let us have
air. This yer corpse seems 10 be re
vivin' some" and Uncle Bill pu; his
arm under Pray's shoulders 10 raise
them up.
And just then strange thing hap
pened. The wounded man opened his
eyes and stared round Ia d daZed sort
of way. Then liking his gaze stra ight
before him and raising himself up with
his arm outstretched, pointing his fin
ger toward the trembling Mexican. he
90 id in an almost indiStinct, hesita ting
" hisper:
-you-hiied-h and then he
seemed TO gasp for breath, but he made
another effort and added: Jake
Breen." and then would have dropped
from exhaustion IL the strong arm of
Uncle Bill had not been at hand to ease
him gently down.
When the name was mentioned II as
the men as much as II they
had heard thunder from a clear sky
The ones on the outer edge OF the circle
had not heard rhe name at all. but had
teen the aciicn. and supposed that Pray
ha I
to the burly figure of Breen. which
up behind that unhappy indi-
vidJsal. They, therefore, naturally
rowded up closer, and their scowling
faces BODIED no good for the descendant
VI the AZteC5.
Those who were close enough to hear
he whisper were SO astonisaed for a
moment that they could not grasp the
;itua ton. There were two men who
lid. however, understand what it
meant. and when the one, Uncle Bill, I
ooked I'D to speak the other, Jake
Breen. had allowed himself TO be
,rowded out OF the circle and was al ,
,eady on his horse
He says IL was Jake Breen; stop the
,oyote," called Uncle Bill, and those I
near to him sprang to their feet for
some of them had been down on one
knee, some on both, SO as TO watch the
wounded man. Those who understood
finally got out of the crowd and by
their repea ring, He says it's Jake
Breen," got the others TO understand.
But those few moments of delay
were enough When Breen saw the
tinger pointed toward him he knew too |
what il meant. He had supposed ,
Pray was dead, and now when he faced {
the supposed corpse the eyes were open /
nd the lips moved to speak He had {
a,,n - rs uzm @@@@ @A ,