The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-07-26

"Mescal. CALCULATED the sncrin IN
crcdulously. Going after Garcia with
his own horse? Well-rll-bc- He'll
sure like that"
The full moon was hanging low over
the ragged crest Of the A1anzanita
range as our little cayalcade drew rein
at the edge of the dense chaparral thai
covered its sides after brisk ritlc over
the intervening alkali desert.
we'll wait here" announced Doyle.
until Pie Grande." indicating the
kick-a-PoO scout. who had dismountcd
and was just vanishing in the thickct.
''goes ahead and takes a look ut the
camp. 1t was Pie" lie explained aside
to me, "who located the outfit, and he
knows just how to reach it,
Half an hour later the Indian return
ed with the information that the out
laws were still encamped where he had
previously found them, which was in
small valley distant about Il mile
ahead. Upon receiving this intelli
gence the sheriff commanded his party
to fall in, single file, behind the guide.
then gave the order to advance.
Thus we proceeded, with the utmost
caution, up the narrow trail, through
the tangled brushwood. until at length
silent signal, passed from one to an
other down the line, warned us of our
approach to the bandit stronghold. AT
almost the same instant shot from
one Of their sentinelS told that we had
been discovered, and throwing aside
all caution we dashed forward to the
attack. Though taken completely by
surprise, the outlaws appeared to keep
their heads, and rs many as could
reach their horses Sprang upon their
bare backs and desperately essayed to
repulse u.s. In another moment we
were in their midst, firing rapidly but
carefully, for no shots could be wasted
in the face of such superior numbers.
at the height of the confusion l sud
denly perceived q tall Mexican, wear
ing silver embroidered jacket, the
description Of which had many times
before seen in print, forcing his horse
toward me- 1t was Joaquin Garcia.
Instantly levcled my revolver at his
head and pulled the trigger. There
was no report l had fired the last
charge from my brace Of Colts. Be-
fore could even attempt to reload the
bandit chief would lave got me to n
certainty, but as he was in the very
act of covering me a revolver SHOT
rang out close to my ear, and reellng
in his saddle my antagonist fell to the
ground. The next moment my deliv-
erer's horse dashed by me-and his
rider was Sheriff Doyle Of Yuma.
Hardly had he vanished, however, be-
fore another bareback h0rseman bore
down upon me. can see the gleam
of that long stiletto even yet as its
owners barred arm brandished it aloft
in the moonlight. Then as the blade
descended, my horse reared back on
his launches and the blow that was
intended for me struck the animal
glancing blow in the side Of the head.
In the same instant, with frenZled
scream, Mescal plunged forward ana.
catching the Mexican's leg in his teeth,
tore him from his horse. Then as the
outlaws body struck the ground the
infuriated animal sprang upon him,
striking him again and again with his
powerful fore feet, before could urge
him to leave the spot and join the bal
ance Of our party. From this on the
odds were wholly in our favor, and one
by one the surviving bandits gave up
the contest and appealed for quarter.
At length, with the exception OF a
few who had escaped under cover Of
the darkness into the mountains, the
entire band were either prisoners or
numbered among the slain. Retracing
our steps to the scene OF the tiercest
stage Of the fight, we dismounted for
the purpose Of examining the bodies
Of the fallen bandits. Observing one
that lay face downward in the sand, |
bent over him to find that the entire
back Of his head had been crushed in.
From this I knew at once 1t was the
outlaw who had fallen n victim to Mes
calls vengeance. Taking hold Of his
arm turned the body over. AS did
so started back in amazement, for
the pale moonlight shining full upon
his upturned face revealed to me the
unmistakable features Of the palmist
Of the Cahuenga highway.
And Mescal? The stiletto had infict-.
cd deep slash directly across his
right eye which rendered him partially
blind: He was thus permanently ruin.
ed as saddle horse, and to insure him
against the possible fate Of draft ami.
NAL I took him back to Los Angeles
where had a leathern collar made for
him, attaching thereto the silver plate
taken from his headstall and another
on which I engraved the single word
Exempt" Then set him free among
the green pasture lands of the San Fer
nando ranch, where he will continue to
roam, pcnsioncd for the remainder of
his dayS.-Jose De Oliyarcs in st
Louis Globe-Democrat
Modern Slave Mart.
The hiring fair" which takes place