Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-09-28
FELIX NARCHAN7.
By CLARENCE PuLLEI.

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By oLAREHoB PULLEI.
tCopy right, lsos. by the Authos.i
CHAPTER K.
L was not until after the station
stock and other property had been ao-
counted for. and the fact fairly well
demonstrated that the invaders Of the
corral, whoever they might be. were
gone. that any one approached tho man
lying dead at the outer corner Of the
wall, for the purpose Of finding ont who
he was. After carefully reconnoitering
around and beyond the corral the station
keeper stopped nt the corner, lighted .
match and, STOPPING. inspected the face
Of the dead man. Around him. as he
did 30, the other men gathered to look
over his shoulder. The man was to all
appearance Mexican, his swarthy face
whitened in the pallor of death. His
revolver. lying on the ground beside
him, contained three loaded and three
empty cartridge shells, and IL was ut
full cock, indicating that he had fallen
while in the act Of firing. His clothes,
while not fine Of make and texture,
were Of a quality superior to those or
dinarily worn by shepherds and freight
era His whole appearance and equip
ment, as well as the place and manner
Of his death, were evidence sufficient in
the minds of all who looked that he
was no peaccable citizen. II confirmed
tho theory. which Felix and I were dc.
sirous should prevail, that the disturb
ance Mt the corral was caused by an at
tempt Of robbers 10 enter and steal the
stock inclosed therein. Under such cir
cumstances as these there was little dis.
position to spend much time investigat-
ing the matter. The station keeper
voiced the general opinion rs to the sit
| uation when he said:
| He was one Of q gang tryin to
break into the stage company's corral
10 steal its property. and here met his
death at the hands Of parties unknown.
They can stay unknown for all I care,
except that I'd like to move them 20 a
vote Of thanks for doin their work &C
thoroughly. This man we will leave
here until mornin, subject to tho in
spection Of anybody who chooses TO ex-
anime him for purpose Of, identified.
| ton.
after reasonable time, say until 0
o'clock u m, II nobody knows or
claims him, we'll plant him and call
the whole proccedin's closed. Gentle
men, do You agree with this verdict:
Very well. as you do, will two Of you
lend hand to help me lay the body
out? Over this way, please. where 1t
will rest in the shade, out of the moon
beams and rot 30 near the gate th;,s ey-
cry horse and mule will go into tho air
aud stampede at sight Of 1t when II
Is led out through the gateway. That's
well. IL throw this bit Of wagon cover
over h;i. md well call the inquest ad-
journed w.tEput Gay"
Now IT,, things had quieted down
ami it had becomc pretty evident that
the disturbance ut the corral. whatever
had caused IL, was over, some Of the
mcn camped near the station began TO
aprsar one By onc to see what the firing
had all been about. The Missourian,
with long rifle on shoulder. strobe first
MP to the station. and following him
came one Of tho nrospec'ois, whose
"pGrd" remained behind to guard their
jcint effects But the show figure In
the gath, ing was the r:-Ss..o, who,
when satisfied that his own belongings
were safe and that no attack ON his
tent was meditated. emerged from his
retirement with pistols at belt and In
his hand the sword with which, by his
account Of the previous evening, he had,
In the days when he was matadore,
slain the valorous bulls of Bashan and
Torreon.
But Of all that came none identified
the dead robbcr, who, without guard OF
watcher, was left lying alone under the
corral fence, beneath the stained and
dingy piece Of canvas which the station
keeper had spread above him.
"Only one dead man more, remark.
ed the prospector as he turned indiffer.
emily away. Its q great year for kill.
ings in Arizona.
During the excitement it seemed that
no one present. except Felix md my
self, was aware Of the absence Of Do
lores. ! was recalled to the thought Of
her By Felix's remark 70 me, delivered
in low tone:
II wonder what's become Of the lit
tie Indian girl? She hasn't turned uI
In all this rumpus. and I'm afraid she
won't"
Carried off or left ON the prairie
most likely" answered. suddenly re
membering her existence and the part
she had unwittingly taken in admitting
the bandit leader to the corral. There's
big chance that her lover has acted or
his chief kind permission TO dispose oi
her in his own way"
"They seem not to have found out
her absence rs yet, said Felix. "Wher
they do, thefe'll be no end Of surInist
and guessing as to her fate. +"
| Don Ramon was still standing at tht
door. talking with his daughter. u
Carmen had any knowledge or suspi
cions rs to the cause of the midnight In
vasion Of the station, or II her fathel
had, it did Lot appear in the converse
ton that Felix aud ! had with them
when, q little later. Don Ramon polite
ly called US to the door and asked us {
few guarded questions concerning TIN
matter. Beyond giving him fair de-
0ription Of SargradO's appearance w
did not tell him any more Of what w
knew than we had let out to the others
Knowing the whole matter as we did
It was not difficult to infer from tn
tenor Of his inquiries, cautious though
they were, that he vaguely suspected
Sangrado's connection with the mates
and the true purport Of his viit
A sudden thought seemed TO hav
i struck the senior, who asked abruptly o
his daughter:
"Where Is Doloresi ! haven't seel
hes anywhere about" .
"why, where indeedi She was wit
mo when fell asleep She must hav
eot frightened and run ont Of the hous
before woke. Yes, that must be %
for, now that think of It, ! found th
door unbolted when went to look ont.
/ Felix touched my elbow with biz
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