The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-23
JOE's STRATAGEM.

ped thousands of tons of ore.
In delirium Mr.. Rogers talked constant
" Of pay day and the bank ct Santa Fe -
Not one white man could be spared from
the Office to make the journey, for clerks
and assayer were burdened with work
during Mr.. Rogers illness. None but the
superintendent himself had ever brought
the gold and silver into camp from the
bank. He was often warned Of treacher-
GUS Mexieans and Indians, but felt no
fear in his light wagon, with swift horses
and great sums of money snugly slowed
away in valise or box, sometimes marked
boldly dynamite" But now, the bank
90 miles away, only Joe, his son jos, IA
years old, whom he could trust. Twenty
wild, dreary, perikgls miles, winding in
and out of the foothills, passing Indian
and Mexican villages, across the valley in
TO Santa Fe.
Mother, must goi I'm not one bit
afraid. Sam Ia splendid and such good
driverP'
but, my son, your father would never
consent What can you dor Such lad
and through such country. can't let
you gor'
We've got to have corn and grain, aGd
a lot OF things from the city this week.
Mother, now is just the time TO bring the
money"
There were no telephones or telegraphs
from the valley camp of Santa Fe, only
the weekly mail wagon or special messen-
gers brought on horseback.
When the sunshine was golden over the
hills and the snowcapped Sandals sparkled
in the distance, the boys set out from
camp. Sam, a oolored boy of 90, Mr..
Rogers faithful servant. drove the 6ne
horses.
''Goodby, motherP' shouted Joe as he
stood up beside Sam in the wagon.
Don't worry, mother. Wen bring ev-
erything safe by tomorrow night.
In one hour puffs of dust blew across
their faces, the sun went down under
clouds and q sudden storm, SO common in
Mexico, swept down the valley. The wind
whirIed over the tops Of the mountains,
and snow came suddenly from the gray
sky.
The wind increased and shrieked
through the narrow mountain roads. Icy
cold and pitiless, 1t drove the boys to their
faces on the bottom of the wagon. The
horses, blind and shivering, stood still. In
half an hour not one footprint or wagon
track was visible.
How long the storm lasted the boys
never knew. By some instinct the horses
began plodding along. The sky cleared,
the wind grew less, but only white, track
less country lay before them. The boys
got out and walked ahead The land
marks were but snowdrifts.
l.
Father never goes that way. It's a sa-
loon, and place for Mexioans to stop
Oh, it's awfull'
Sam opened his eyes IN horror, but
quietly replied: ''That's no matter. No
danger to boys, and We is goin the wrong
way for big money.
1.-THE horses must be put up for the
night, and we must get warm somewhere,
Sam"
The horses were put up The Mexicans,
playing cards around their bottles on
dirty table, gave the boys place by the
small fireplace. In poor Spanish and
poorer English they made known to each
other their wants.
Antoine and Juan looked keenly at the
handsome lad, recognizing him as from
the big mining camp.
boy play? Boy drink? 81, 81, buena."
"Too cold, - shiversd Joe as he lay down
close to the fire. The night passed slow
~. The boys went out often to look after
the horses and consult together.
"Joe," whispered Sam, "Juan asked
how much dinero (silver) boy had, and
they are going to look. What shall we do?"
Sam, they II soon be dead sleepy drunk.
We must hurry off. -
But don't shoot, Joe, IL you can help
It. They'd kill US su-ah."
''Boy play? Boy drink?' the half drunk
en- Mexicans insisted, but Joe pleaded
sleep and cold From under his blanket
he could see Sam by the door. Antoine
crawIed over to him and cautiously went
through his pockets; but, finding moth
ing, went back to his cards. Their eyes
were now turned toward himself. With
mods and winks they whispered in Span
ish: PLENTY money. Buy much. Kill
him-no, kill two-no, get money first. -
Joe's heart choked him. His hand
olutched the pistol. Should he feign Sleep
NJ hza
across his confused, terrified small brain.
He threw off the blankets, yawned and
yawned. ''Too cold to sleep on floor" he
said carelessly. He sat down at the table
and laughed as a boy would, looked fear
lessly and Familiarity into Antone's ugly
face and asked: ''Men come YETI Storm
over?"
- what men?''
''Americana's guard; wagons with
much ore to city"
The Mexicans looked at the boy with
flashing eyes, then at each other, with low
mutterings.
"How manyP''
Joe sprang to his feet. held up his hands
and counted his fingers twice over, tossed
up his head, and with his small figure
erect marched up and down before them
with the airs and tramp of regiment.
Come in the night9''
Yes" drawled Joe. ''Now-many
men; guard to city
The Mexicans hesitated, looked out of
the door. 1t was dark but for the white
snow piled in drifts about the cabin. They
took another bottle. played another game
and by daylight had fallen into drunken
sleep. The two boys slipped away to San
Ia Fe. The banker sent them safely back
to camp with an escort, and 300 men re-
oeived their full pay. The superintendent
was honored and the camp saved a
strike
Joe is now 26. He wears a naval uni
form. A silver anchor is in the center Of
his shoulder strap, and the regulation half
inch braid on his blue sleeve marks him