Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-09-10

fore the week was over started for La
Huerta with strict injunctions to interview
both hospital superintendent and sheriff.
In charge of the ranch were myself, Bill
likins and the Hon. Anne. Uneventfully
passed the first few days, but on Monday
from the veranda espied band of men,
who leaving the county road, came slowly
up the drive.
Anne, perceiving them, grew white to
the lips, and, bearing Billikins, precipi-
lately fled.
GOOD evening"" the leader began as he
lifted his sombrero. "We're kinder
rough sight for lady. You see, we're a
posse over from Tulare trying to find a
man named Smith. His tracks they
seemed to pint this way. Amt seen any
stranger round here latelyp"
"No, indeed
No wood chopper nor nothing?"
NO, none. What has this man done?
What does he look likeP"
Real nice and young and kind. Not
more'n a boy. Murdered man over there.
Here's his description, and he handed me
coarsely printed "Reward." "Well,
boys, get move on. We're ON our way to
La Huerta," he added, "to borrow Waite s
dogs. Well, good day, ma'am. Better not
harbor any strangers.
A moment more and left alone, l thought
over the situation. Cedric gone, no neigh.
Dor near, and murderer at large whose
steps "p'inted this way" Suddenly ii
was borne in upon me that Anne was the
fugitive
A firm believer in woman's intuitions,
yet hoping desperately that mine were at
fault, unfolded the paper the sheriff gave
me. It Tailed well. Moroseness, agita-
ton, all were explained.
Did Anne guess that her identity was
known, my life, I feared, would pay the
through the night if possible and trust to
some one turning up in the morning was
all that could be done.
Milking time brought fresh terrors.
How guard ones self with both hands en-
gagged letting down floods of warm, inno-
cent milk! Dinner was eaten hurriedly
with the same feeling of uneasiness. Bill
likins tucked in his crib, Anne retired
early, and, every sense on the alert, was
left alone to watch the nursery door.
1t fascinated me. Who would open itg
Anne, to hide among the canyons till tho
posse had returned to it's Tulare home?
Or Henry Smith, to make an end of mo
and flee? Truly, the ranch monotony was
broken at last. Solemnly the clock licked,
slowly the hands went round. An hour
passed. A movement in the adjoining
room, and literally my blood ran cold.
That had hitherto seemed mere figure of
speech. The sound ceased, and still I
watched the nursery door. At last, when
my brain would have turned with more, I
heard sound which, faint at first, grew
louder and louder.
ooh, heaven" I cried. "The blood
hounds' Then I fell senseless to the
ground.
Slowly returned to consciousness, my
gaze fell on Cedric, the La Huerta sheriff
and Anne-Anne anxiously applying re-.
storatiyes.
"Take him away" gasped. "He will
murder us.
"You are ravingn' cried Cedric. "That
Is Anne"
"No-Smith, the murderer! The blood.
hounds tracked him to the very door,"
Here Hiram Waite thought fit to inter-
pose.
"Guess ! can straighten out this kink,
Mrs. Allandale. You did hear the hounds
They're up at the barn now. Your hus-
band, he heard at La Huerta we was beat.
in up this part of the country. So he lit
out for home, thinkin you'd be scared
We caught our man hidin by the 'Dobe
hill, and the Tulare boys took him back
to town. Your husband and me was tired.
So we made tracks for here. Sorry bout
the dogs. Might ha' known they'd scare
you"
The Honorable Anne next day gave
warning. eff you please, ma am, you and
Mr.. Allandale have been very kind, and
love Mr.. Billikins like my own, but can't
stay where I've been so misjudged."
More candor on your part would have
prevented your being misjudged."
She blushed. ~ often wanted to tell
you, ma am, what first said wasn't true.
came from England when was baby.
I haven tany brother, and never went to
La Huerta.''
"Ahp'
"The kinder you was, ma'am, the
meaner felt, and was afraid Mr.. Allan
dale would go to the hospital, and, worst
of all, my heart stood still when he spoke
Of Mr.. Waite for he and my stepfather are
cousins, and was afraid he would guess
who I was"
"Your stepfatherp"
eyes, ma'am, mother married Jim
Waite the second time, and it was him
that came with the posse and frightened
me. He was such bad, cruel man that
l couldn't stand 1t. So ! ran away
"How did you happen to reach Vaquero
Waterf''
with some friends In one of those big
wagons they call prairie schooners.' Tu-
lare folks go to the coast every year, but
they don't go there straight. It's too much
change. They always stop at the Iron
Spring to cool off first.
To cool off at 80 in the shade! "Soon
as we came to the spring heard about
you, and thought I'd try for the place.
"But how much better to have told me
the truth. =
II knew Mr.. Allandale was English,
ma am, and they are that particular was
afraid he'd send me home.'
"Surely the story of Lady Emily Brown
was unnecessary.
Anne's eyes flashed. cts every word
true, ma am. Not that / ever saw her.
she was by fathers first marriage, but it's
true. Why, they lived In beautiful house
in St. Johns Wood, and the night before
they went to Paris the Prince of Wales
dined with Them"
And do you believe 1t, my dears" asked
Cedric on hearing the latest version.
"She believes In the family traditions,
hut aha will care less ahout ruch uorconco