Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-04-23
COPYRIGHT, 1897 sY THE AUTHOR,

lTlouuIy pOssAp1A1tAoS. Wd1Ccu dAu
watched, pacing cautiously to and fro,
backward and forward, with muf1ed
tread, until-no-yes-
Enthusiastically the clicking sound Of
an iron latch lifted and dropped. I'm
m~istakably measured heavy footballs,
not stealthy, like his own, simply de-
liberate, and Seth, standing still be-
hind the green curtains Of the madeira
vines, saw three men advancing up the
jasmine bordered walk.
A formidable array 1t looked to the
i'll clad, shoeless, unarmed watcher on
the veranda, their belted jackets
weighted with formidable holsters,
their visored caps cleaning duly from
out the gloom.
The squad halted abruptly at the foot
Of the steps to reconnoiter the barred
and darkened front Of the governors
mansion.
"They must 60 to roost with the
chickens in these diggin's," said the
leader Of the little band. What O'Clock
was it when we left town, corp?"
"Nigh on to ~'leven," the corporal
answered with a yawn, land we've
| been a good hour on the road"
Right you are. Such cussed bad
roads I eve seen. My orders was to
fetch the Teller without botherin the
ladies', but how in the devil are we to
manage it,"
"Old Blackie said he was in the tur-
nip patch this morning"
cts likely we'll find him there now.
Hoein turnips is such fascinatin work
a chap never let's up on it once he gets
at it,"
The feebleness Of the suggestion and
the infinite scorn Of its rejection pro-
duced a ripple Of subdued laughter.
With a display Of finesse scarcely to be
expected Of him Seth advanced boldly
under cover Of this amicable diversion.
Heroically resolved that if it rested
with him the women inside should not
be "pestered," he descended the short
fight Of stairs in his unshod noiseless-
ness, looming darkly before the gaze of
the squad with unheralded abruptness.
"Maybe I'm the Teller you are look
in for, gents" he said in his slow,
gentle drawl.
MAYBE you are if your name hap
pens to be Seth D. Martin"
"That's my name"
"Then maybe you wouldn' t mind rid
in out to Sessumsport with us tonight. )"
"Tonipht?'
"Just So"
"Are you actin under orders to fetch
me?"
"That's just bout the size Of it."
What can anybody want Of me2 l
amt never ever heard a bullet whistle,
I'm sorry to say. I'm too pitifully in.
significant to be with arrestin."
"Our major thinks different, it
seems"
major who?"
"Major of the Fifth. He's in COM
mand out yonder at the river, and it's
him as sent for you. Come, now,
where's your nag? Never mind about
your dress coat, we'll excuse that"
And the squad laughed delightedly
at the wit OF their leader. Seth answer
ed them with slow gentleness:
II reckon you'll have to excuse
more'n a dress coat, gents. I believe
I'd ruther go just as I am than to hus-
tie bout inside and wake the ladies up.
l suppose now," he added, STOPPING to
persuasion, 'if I gave you the word Of
n ~o,,k1oronr that 10 xxyo 1r,orkal ont
to Sessumsport 1 would come of my own
accord early in the morning it wouldn't
induce you to let me stay here till day
breaks?"
"Not by a jugful. Our major is a
martinez. When he gives an order, we
obey it, we don't question it. Our Or
ders are to fetch one Seth D. Martin to
his headquarters, out in the courthouse
at Sessumsport, and if you are inclined
to go peaceably it will be better for you
and the women folks-for everybody
concerned. If your beast is turned out,
you'll have to double up with one Of
the boys"
II would like to leave a note, then,
for my mother"
Perhaps it would be best to go quiet
! ly," he argued mentally. Indeed there
was no room for choice in the matter.
II won't keep you waitin long. I'll
just step into the library and scratch off
4 line"
"You won't try to skipr'
"Skip?"
"Vamoose the ranch?"
"You mean dodge you?"
"That's about the size Of it."
Seth Martin amt got much to be
proud Of, gentlemen" said Seth, lifting
his stopping form with an angry GEES
ture, ''but he amt never yet caught
himself tryin to dodge anything OF any
man."
"Good for Seth Martin. All the
same, Corporal Greenleaf, step inside
with Freshly while he writes that note
to his ma"
There was something In the light,
soothing voice that stung Seth into ST.
lence. He turned away from the men
and walked quickly toward the library,
closely followed by Corporal Greenleaf
On the library table he knew he
would find one Of the soft, tallowy can
dies his mother and the madam were SO
Unfortunately proud Of, stuck in one Of
the tall silver candlesticks that had be-
longed to generations Of Strongs. 1t al
ways stood ready for night emergencies.
Seth lighted 1t, and with a sense of
dissertation resting heavily upon him
seated himself at the governors writing
table to write . comforting note to his
mother.