The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-31
Stories of an Inland State.

hicle and emitting his morning kiss. aver;
ed his eyes from his wife and said:
Let me kiss the infant
He kissed the prattling baby girl an
took his place again at the head, and tn
procession moved on.
Tejada, the giant, was some distance Il
the rear revolving mighty matters in hi
mind. The desert was about gone. The.
| were approaching a wilderness of fores
and prairie. Starvation sooner or later wa
inevits BILE.
| Tejada had been in charge of the stable
| of the governors palace. He was NAL
of unusual heighth in Mexico. very strong
very brown, with fierce dropping nous
taches.
| AS he slowly revolved his desires in hi.
mind, the supple form OF the beautiful
! Christina glimmered in his mind and ther
again the sparkle of the silver coin.
Presently he passed from driver to driver
| saying:
| "Ah! You are slowly starving to death.
can see that. Do you not see how they
keep the white bread for themselves and
give us the black crusts? And you submit
| Why? You are craven"
One after another the men assented, part
ly because the men felt their perfect i'm.
punity and in freedom were becoming ty-
rannous and partly because they feared
the giant Tejada and dared not dissent.
At noon the caravan halted and when the
two, Miguel and Tejada, were little way
from the camp, Tejada who had not during
the morning spoken to Miguel, now ad-
dressed him:
"Ah Miguel. You sought TO rob US. What
have you to say for yourself?''
Miguel trembled and was silent.
Let me say the word and you'll be shot,
said Tejada coolly.
That know, beloved Tejada," said the
craven Miguel
And IL 1 tell, Miguel?"
But you will not tell, beloved Tejada."
Tell whom?" asked Tejada with curl
Gus smile.
"Pedraza," answered Miguel curiously.
1.-The plague take the Pedraza." whisper
ed Tejada. II was not defending their
taxes
Miguel stared.
DO you not know that the money Is
ours-if We take it. But we shall take it
together, not as you would have done. We
shall divide tia part to every man."
Miguel looked upon his comrade in aston
ishment.
II was defending my own" said Tejada
with a smile. 1.-The money is ours. We shall
diminish the party, Miguel, little and
then we will divide among u.s.
Miguel smiled wofully by way of as
sent
And listen, Miguel, Christina goes to
mew
Miguel crossed himself fervently and
turned his eyes to heaven.
Listen, Miguel" Tejada went on. Go
to the men and stir them up. They are
not fed well. They are hungry. They are
walking to death. They walk. The others
ride. If you are a coward, the party will
be still more diminished. Do you under
stand?'
Miguel bent his head and walked back
to the camp All that afternoon, he turned
the villiany of Tejada over in his mind.
Should he tell Guerrero. Guerrero and the
old governor would be killed at any rate
and he would go with them. He cast his
lot with Tejada and passed among the
men-there were eight-and added fuel to
their discomfort.
At night the caravan halted near little
pool and a small clump of oaks.
the old governor, Pedraza, went to his son
Guerrero and said:
my son, where is Canalizo?'
HE has gone to find trail, father"
But he was to rejoin u.s.
He will be with us again by morning,
father"
'I have no fears myself replied the old
man. 1T was Christina who bade me ask"
oil
fists.
AS on the preceding night, the old gov
ernor went to sleep in the vehicle with
Christina at his side and Guerrero lay on
the carthnear the wheel The drivers stretch
ed on the ground at the feet of their graz
ing beasts. Shortly after midnight Tejada
arose and clapping his hand over the
mouth of each man pinched them and
woke them. When they were all awake
they went out on the prairie and sat upon
the ground.
Then Tejada spoke to them:
ut is time for action now. The great
coins are In the wicker We must do away
With the Pedrazas. Then the wealth is our
cwn. We shall divide 1t equally. We shall
travel on and come TO a city somewhere
where we shall be rich. We shall travel on
he beasts backs and eat white bread. And
mark you. Christina is to be mine. Now
we must act. must be obeyed. IF they
are towards here they must answer to me. |
Cowards shall not eat even the black !
trusts I
To emphasize this declaration, Tejada ran |
his forefinger along the snout of his pistol. |
Then he continued: Miguel, take three |
and seize the old Pedraza. and the others |
Kill faEe Cuerrero COrner"
But Miguel and all the rest sat mute.
Come" cried Tejada. do you not see !
he coins in the wicker and the white bread. |
Miguel
Miguel reluctantly arose and babe the !
,thers rise.
Tejada placed himself at their head and |
started towards the camp wnen Miguel |
topped and said:
Let US wait till dawn. The night I'M
nerves me. And 20 divide the coin we must
lave hight"
"Fooi.' cried Tejada.
But the others murmured and sided with
figuel And the eight sat down again and
together, watching the east.
Four hours they sat thus and then when
he east began to turn grey. Tejada arose
nd the others arose with him.
They crept near the carriage and Miguel
BOXED upon the old mans face and turned
ack. Tejada grabbed another driver by
he arm and pushed him forward saying
Morelos'' and pulled Miguel back
And Morelos pulled out a long scarf and !
lappei il down over old Pedraza's mouth |
nd lifting up his head ted il securely be
ind. Then he lifted the old man out and !
he others grouped around him At the |
anne moment Tejsda had bound Guerrero
imilariy. They walked the staring men
D two trees some feet apart ard tied them
here.
The Spaniards looked upon the rogues