The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-15

the mustang which formed the whole
equine stock Of the SHADES.
The desire OF her heart for the last six
months of her life was 10 ride horse be-
longing 70 the Garrys and having a record
Of one man killed, three broken legs and
fractured skull, which last be had achiev-
ed for his rider by boiling with him
through low barn door Minta longed
fercely TO try her hand on this animal, q
hugo blue gray with white rolling eye,
and In tho end she did ride him and kept
her seat, slipping of only when he crouch
ed TO roll over on her, and swinging her
self up by the pommel of the huge Next
can saddle as he recovered and started 10
run. George Garry, the eldest son Of the
man who had offered TO horsewhip Minta,
stood in the road and applauded.
But mind" he said sharply as she
finally got of, flushed with joy and
thanked him, "don't let this get to my ia
Tiers ears
This, however, is exactly what happened
impossible to say just how. Garry heard
that that Slade girl" had ridden his
horse, squirting him till the blood came.
and he grew wild with rage. After VIC
lent scene with George be went out to vent
his temper on the Mexican hands, for, as
1t CHANGED. his oranges were to be served
with water that evening. lie drank u
glass Of whisky before he left the house
and carried fiat bottle IN his pocket to
counteract the chill of tho water. The men
said afterward that he was half Out of his
senses with drink and anger, and. in fact,
he admitted later that he had been drink
ing through tho day.
As usual, he was Choking for trouble"
nf them said frot hn SHADES When
the water was running full head, and he
had exhausted his vocabulary of abuse up
ON his neighbors, nothing would convince
him that they were not at that moment
stealing but personal inspection Of their
water gate and ditch.
He went stealing along in tho shadow
Of the trees, out of the red, Pickering flare
of the lanterns reflected in the shallow
flood moment later the men whom he
had left behind heard pistol shot, and
hoarse cry from Garry. They dropped their
tools caught up their lanterns and ran.
He was standing by the SHADES water gate,
the smoking pistol In his hand. looking
stupidity into the ditch, where something
Topped about In the few inches of stolen
water
Look here. boys, swear didn't know
IL was anybody down therel" he cried Il
saw the gate was slid up little-durn
em, knew they were up to it-and then
! saw something move, and / thought
maybe it was-well. shot before had
time to think, that's q fact. / never aimed
to hit anybody, swear-only to frighten
em."
Some of the men drew out limp, quiv
ering wet figure and laid it on the bank
In the light of tho lanterns. 1t was Minta,
draggled with mud and breathing hard
through her open mouth. Her right hand
fell at her side and clutohed feebly the
handle Of a knife.
Hey, what's thisf' shouted voice
from over the ditch. The zanohero gave
his horse tho spur and leaped, with q jing-
ling of silver chains. The superb black
brute landed four feet from the body of
Minta and stood, glittering in his silver
mounted housings, while his master put
a series of quick questions.
Don't you be hard on me, senior,
pleaded Garry shakily. I'm goin to give
myself up straight But look there, she'd
broken the zanja and the waters been
running in here-you can see. And then,
look-she had "a knifel Look there, she's
got it in her hand. You know what these
people are.
The Mexicans stood silent, with hardly
a glance at one another. The zanchero,
after short pause, said slowly:
well, OF course, you'n have TO take
your chances. Still, Mr.. Garry, there are
certainly some circmnstances-provoca
tion--which will probably tell in your IA
vor. And, as you say, the girl has knife
-yes, freshly sharpened, too-certainly
murderous looking p'-New York Com
mercial Advertiser.