Evening star., 1897-04-10

Aodas WttuOHl HOfQ from me ne closed up
alongside. with his hand on the lock Of his
rifle. And hadn't the heart to praise him
or laugh 1t off,
Nevertheless they we're both silent as the
object OF their criticism bounded down the
trail toward them. He had seen the fu-
neral pyre. 1t was awfully sad; it was aw-
Iully lovely, but there was something grand
In It. Who could have thought Stacy could
something else that was mighty pretty.
What was it? said Demorest.
Well, said Barker, don't laugh But
you know that Jack Hamlin? Well, boys,
tang, keeping US and that pack mule In
sight, ever since we left. Sometimes he's
on side trail off to the right, sometimes
on TO the left, but always at the same dis
lance. L didn't like to tell you, boys, for
thought you'd laugh at me; but 1 think.
you know, he's taken a sort of shine to us
since he dropped in last night. And 1
fancy, you see, he's sort of hanging round
to see that we get along all right I'd have
pointed him out before only reckoned you
and Stacy would say he was making up to
us for our money"
And we'd have been wrong, Barker,
boy, said Stacy, with a heartiness that
surprised Demorest, "for 1 reckon your in
stincts the right one
There he is now." said the gratified
Barker, Just abreast of US on the cutoff.
He started just after we did, and he's got
horse that could have brought him into
Boomville hours ago. It's just his kind
ness"
He pointed to a distant fringe of buckeye.
from which Jack Hamlin had just emerged.
Although evidently holding In a powerful
mustang, nothing could be more uncon-
scious and gracefully ndolent than his at
titude. He did not seem to know of the
proximity of any other traveller and to
care less. His handsome head was lightly
thrown back as if he was caroling after his
usual fashion, but the distance was too
great to make his melody audible to them,
ia n
reach him. Suddenly he lowered his tight
ened rein, the mustang sprang forward
and with a fash of silver spurs and bride
fripperfes he had disappeared. But as the
trail he was pursuing crossed theirs mile
beyond, it seemed quite possible that they
should again meet him.
They were now fairly into the Boomville
valley, and were entering a narrow arroyo
bordered with dusty willows, which effec-
tually excluded the view on either side. 1t
was the bed of mountain torrent that in
winter descended the hillside over the trail
by which they had Just come, but was now
sunk into the thirsty plain between banks
that varied from two to five feet In height.
The mu!eteer had advanced into the mar
row channel when he suddenly cast hur-
ried glance behind him. uttered Madre
de Dios!' and backed his mule and his
precious freight against the bank. The
sound of hoofs on the trail In their rear
had caught his quicker ear, and as the
three partners turned they beheld three
horsemen laundering down the hill toward
them. They were apparently Mexican
vaqueros of the usual common, swarthy
type, their faces made still darker by the
black silk handkerchief tied round their
heads under their stiff sombreros.
Either they were unable or unwilling to
restrain their horses in their headlong
speed, and collision in that narrow pas
sage was imminent, but suddenly before
reaching it's entrance they diverged, with
volley of oaths. and, dashing along the left
bank Of the arroyo. disappeared in the in
tervening willows Divided between relief
a their escape and Indignation at what
seemed to be 4 drunken feast day freak of
these registering vaqueros, the little party
re eormed, when cry from Barker arrested
them. He had just perceived horseman,
motionless, in the arroyo, who. although
unnoticed by them. had evidently been
seen by the Mexicans. He had apparently
leaped into it from the bank. and had
halted as if to witness this singular Incl
dent. AS the clatter of the vaqueros' hoors
died away, he lightly leaped the bank
again and disappeared. But in that single
glimpse of him they recognized Jack Ham
lin. When they reached the spot where he
had halted they could see that he must
have approached 1t from the trail where
they had previously seen him, but which
they now found crossed 1t at right angles.
Barker was right, He had really kept
them at easy distance the whole length of
the journey.
But they are now reaching its end. When
they issued at last from the arroyo they
CdHle upon the OulSklFtS OF tS0OmVilie ana
The great stage road. Indeed the six
horses of the Pioneer coach were just
painting along the last half mile of the
steep upgrade as they appeared. They
halted mechanically as the heavy vehicle
swayed and creaked by them In their or
dinary working dress, sunburnt with ex-
posure, covered with dust, and carrying
their rifles still in their hands, they, per-
haps, presented a sufficiently characteristic
appearance to draw few faces-some Of
them pretty and intelligent-to the win
dows of the coach as it passed. The sensi-
tive Barker was quickest to feel that re-
sentiment with which the pioneer usually
met the wide-eyed criticism of the eastern
tourist. or ''greenhorn." and Redeemed un-
der the bold scrutiny of pair Of black In
quisitive eyes behind an eyeglass That
annoyance was communicated, though in
lesser degree, even to the bearded Demor-
est and Stacy. 1t was unexpected con-
tact with that great world In which they
We're so soon to enter. They felt ashamed
OF their appearance, and yet ashamed of
that feeling. They felt a secret satisfac-
ton when Barker said: They'd open their
eyes wider If they knew what was in that
pack saddle and yet they corrected him
Tor what they We're pleased to call his
snobbishness." They hurried little faster
as the road became more frequentel. as if
ca ger to shorten their distance to clean
clothes and civilization.
Only Demorest began to inger in the
rear. This contact with the stage coach
had again brought him face to face with
his buried past He felt his old dream re-
vive, and occasionally turned to look back
upon the outlines Of Black Spur, under
whose shadow it had returned 50 often,
and wondered if he had left 1t there for
ever, and it were now slowly exhaling with
the thinned and drying smoke Of their
burning cabin.
His companions, knowing his silent moods,
had preceded him at some distance when
he heard the soft sound of ambling hoofs
on the thick dust. and suddenly the light
touch of Jack Hamlin's gauntlet on his
shoulder. The mustang Jack bestrode was
reeking with CRIME and sweat but Jack
himself WAS immaculate and fresh as
ever. With a delightful affectation Of en-
barraSsment and timidity he began flickins
the side buttons of his velvet yaouero
trousers with the thong of his RATA II
reckon to sling word along with you be-
fore you went" he said, looking down
but I'm so shy that I couldn't do 1t in
company. So l thought I'd get it off on
you while you we're alone"
We've seen you once or twice before this
morning." said Demorest pleasantly, and
we were sorry you didn't join u.s."
Il reckon l might have" said Jack gaily.
'if my horse had only made up his mind
whether he was bird or a squirrel, ard
hadn't been SO various and promiscuous
about whether he wanted to climb a tree or
fly. He's not a bad horse for Mexican
plug, only when he thinks there Is any
devilment around. he wants to wade in and
take a ba 7