Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-01-31
foot and ankle, and I, agile though I was,

could hardly keep up with her.
Painting with exertion, at last we reached
the top of the plateau which overlooked
the town, and my guide gracefully waved
her hand toward a light, like "A star in the
distance, and murmured:
"Ahi esta la casa" (Yonder is the house,.
AT that moment the moo sank behind
q mass of black clouds and~cverything be-
came dark about us. But my guide, press
ing her little palm into mine, advanced
steadily toward the light Everything was
as still as the dead, and II damp and chilly
mist penetrated my very marrow.
As the moon shone out in radiant beau
ty my blood for a moment seemed to freeze
in my veins, for there before ne. cleaning
brightly in the moonlight and winding
like a serpent among the doddcring crosses
and moldering graves of the Pantheon,
was the path that led to our destination.
The low lying wall of the Pantheon lay
directly in front of me, and my guide
quickly tripped up the steps which led
over it, reckoning for me to follow.
Though loath to go farther, yet the Won
drous beauty Of the girl held me as in a
spell, and step by step l advanced until |
stood upon the top Of the wall.
AS l looked downward I thought l saw
the CLEAN of steel beneath the steps and
the shadow Of q mans form crouching
there.
halted and called out to the girl:
"Espera!" (WaitD
At that moment the moon was again
obscured, and in the seinidarkness, for
there was no street lamp there, and now
all my senses were on the alert, l felt,
rather than saw, her form as she mounted
tho steps, and reaching forward took my
hand, saying "Porquep" (WhyD
"Porque no me voy" because l shall
not go). l answered sternly.
As l spoke her fingers clutched mine
and with incredible strength she stroye to
drag me forward, but ignoring her efforts
I cast a final look downward, and this
time I saw distinctly, for the cloud had
passed from the moon, a man coming
swiftly and silently toward the foot OF the
steps.
With one glance at the girl, whose face
was now transformed by fury into that of
u demon, l hurled her aside, rushed down
the steps, every nerve strung to its high
est tension and ran at my utmost speed
toward the city.
/ heard a mans hoarse shout behind me
and had reached the steps which led down
into the city in safety when suddenly
caught my foot, stumbled and half fell to
the ground. Just as l fell forward some
thing grazed my cheek, soaring it like a
redhot iron, and fell with ringing sound
on the steps far below Inc.
Terror now lent additional wings to my
speed, and l never paused until | fell OK
haustel through the portales of Hcnder-
sons home. Managing to crawl up the
steps, ] staggered into the dining room,
awaiting me, and sank breathless INTO a
chair.
Their looks of establishment were sue
ceeded by those of horror rs Jack ex-
claimed:
My God, Henderson, look at the blood"
Putting my hand up to my face with
drew il wet with blood, and Henderson,
who busted himself in washing it away,
disclosed "a cut two inches long whore the
knife had just touched me.
Explanations followed, and as l ate the
meal waiting for me I told the strange
adventure to my willing listeners. As
finished Henderson, who had listened
quietly, as was his wont, burst out excit-
eddy:
"This explains it all, boys. It's no lon
ger a mystery!"
Pressing him for his reasons, he went on
to say that for the last two years foreign
ers had frequently been found stabbed In
outlying and solitary parts of the city.
The victims were invariably well dressed,
but as no money or papers were ever found
upon them investigation had been of no
avail.
"But here's a olew which can be fol-
row morning we'n consult the chief OF
police"
Bright and early next morning, for we
got but little sleep that night, we repaired
to the chief Of police, and to him l told
my tale, Henderson acting as interpreter.
The chief was very much surprised and
pleased by my information, and after eau
tioning us to keep silent dismissed us by
saying we'd hear from him in a few days.
Two days later the foreign element of
the city was thrilled by another atrocious
murder. This time it was a rich young
Englishman named Burton, who had
come down from Lima to visit some
friends, and who, after spending the even
ing with them, left about II o'clock for
his hotel, which was only two blocks away.
Next morning his body, robbed of all his
valuables and papers, was found floating
i'll the bay with a gaping dagger wound in
the neck.
Burton7s friends, who were rich and in
fluential, backed by the British consul,
made a vigorous attack upon the supine
methods of the police, and at last aroused
the authorities to something like activity.
Following up the clew received from me,
the "jefe" took a personal interest in the
matter, and within a few weeks succeeded
in capturing the gang, which consisted OF
five pelsons-the girl, who was used as a
decoy, and four men. 1t was estimated
that moro than twoscore foreigners had
been murdered by this gang during the Is
months Of their sinister operations. At
the trial Burton's wallet and passport,
found in tho robbers rendezvous, convict
ed the men, and my Identification of the
girl completed the case. The men were
sentenced, and, according to the methods
of that country, were shot three days after
tho trial. The girl, owing to her youth
and beauty, was sent to finish her days in
the penal colony ut San Carlos.
The years have rolled away since then
years Of danger and adventure. Many a
time during the war of the rebellion have
4 looked death in the face, and yet my
blood thrills when / think Of that nights
adventure in Chile. -Philadelphia Times.
Alabama.
Governor Johnston Of Alabama speaks
enthusiastically Of the prospects Of his
state. s'We are now making steel" he