The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1897-04-23
same so far, but we shall get back
right. Are Ynu tired2"
mo, not a bit"

'lheH lets walk fast while il is Hghs
aud get rs far towards home as possible
There will he a light in the window at
your house and if we get near enough
20 soc that wa win have no trouble in
Hndiug tbe way, even Il it is dark
They hurried on MS fast as they could.
and before HE night came ON they had
traver-ea several miles Of tine way.
They were hurrying on thus, when just
as the twilight began to fall they heard
Che fall Of q horses feet behind them,
and soon thereafter man on horseback
came c!attering up. They thought he
was going 70 pass without speaking,
but wirn he had got in front of them
he cl"t'ti his horse, and turning in the
saddle SO rs to face them, lifted his hat,
saying:
'EHcuse me, but could you inform me
whether am on the road leading to
Paradise Park?"
"Nou are, replied Paul.
Thanks, can you give me the dis
tance?'
"A matter of dozen miles, I pre-
srr7r "
The stranger asked no more ques-
sidns AMI, evidently having gained all
the information he desired, Paul ex-
pccted him to ride on. Bat he did not
He went along slowly for several yards,
retaining the same position in the
saddle and keeping his eyes fixed on the
couple. LOuise had not dared to look
at him after the first glance she gave
him when he came up, for somehow she
felt that his eyes were fixed on her.
and she felt an undefnable dread OF
him. and louged to be rid of his pres
ence. After awhile the stranger broke
the silence, saying:
"a dozen miles. That is a long ride,
and this is going to be bad night, too.
1t will be terribly dark, and think it
will rain, don't you?'
"It may possibly" Paul replied. "Are
you a stranger in this section?"
Eyes, entirely so. am just out from
the east and came up from the railroad
to-day. You live near, suppose?"
Eyes, quite near"
Then they went on silently again, and
Louise kept wishing that the stranger
would ride away and leave them. His
presence and his voice bored her and
made her nervous. Paul felt that his
company could very well be spared and
he would rather have him go, but he
had no particular objection to his pres
euce. He experienced none of that
aversion for him that Louise felt.
care You acquainted" asked the
stranger, again breaking the pause,
with solomon Scraggs over at Para
disc Park?"
81 am" said Paul, land I suppose
most anyone in this section can tell you
the same. The most of them know him
quite well, and they would perhaps be
n great deal happier if they knew him
less"
$50? Then he is not POPULAR"
"No, nor would any other man be un-
der the circumstances,
"What is that, may ask?"
"Why, loaning money to the settlers at
thieving rates of interest. He just robs
every man who borrows from him"
You don't say? why he must have an
iron heart, to take advantage of people
that way. Catches them in close place,
| suppose, and then bears down on them
TO the last notch?"
'Thats it, exactly" said Paul.
'"Then he is a merciless miscreant,
the other replied. "a heartless wretch,
and | sympathize with those who are so
unfortunate as to fall into his power
Indeed | do Well | must ride on, for
my journey is long one yet"
With that he put the spurs to his horse
and galloped away. Louise listened
until he was out of hearing, then gave
a sigh of relief. Paul heard her and
looked around inquiringly.
I'm glad he's gone" she said.
"Why?' asked Paul.
'Because | don't like him"
"IIe appears to be agentleman, Paul
urged, "and I'm sure he treated us very
respectfully. like the way he talked
about old Scraggs, too"
"Oh, he talked well enough, but |
don't believe he meant it, didn't like
his looks from the first.
"Well didn't notice anything par
tiau0r in his looks He Is Young and
very good looking. What was ther
about him that you didn't like, Louise?
II don't know. just know that
don't like him, and was glad when h
left us. | had sort Of dread and fea
of him. But he's gone now, so let's no
talk about him any more"
Louise's fancy struck Paul as rathe
ridiculous, for he was very matter o
fact in his ideas, and he never counte,
anything on first Impressions III
put every man down for what h,
claimed to be until he knew him wei
enough to understand his character ant
motives. He judged that on account o
her situation Louise was out of humol
with the world and not in frame o
mind to form favorable opinions O
anyone.
They talked but little after that, ant
walked at such speed that Louise soor
became exhausted The night had