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


mine. while. by way of evening up the
division rs nearly as possible, volun-
tarily surrendered to him the beautiful
silver mounted saddle, the intrinsic
value of which far exceeded that Of
the horse. The Mexican bride, how
ever, I retained, for engraved upon q
silver plate attached to It's headstall
was the legend, ''Mescal-Propriedad
de JOAQUIN Garcia together with
some additional data, briefly expressed
in Spanish, relative to the horses an
tecedents. The general appearance Of
the animal indicated the grossest ill
treatment in the past. The small of
his back was literally covered with
saddle gals, while his thin sides were
furr0wed with deep, calloused ridges.
where the cruel rowels Of a merciless
rider had plowed their way. But, true
to the nature Of the western broncho,
abuse had not in the least diminished
either his fiery spirit or his sterling
hardihood, and that he had been high
IL priced as mount by his late owner,
Notwithstanding the marks Of the lat
ters brutality, was evident from the
pedigree engraved on the silver mount
ed headstall.
Six months Of rest and good pastur
age had worked q miraculous change
in Mescal's appearance. From his pre-
vious gaunt condition he had developed
splendid proportion and grace Of fig
ure, while the former disigurements
to his cuticle were entirely eradicated
by the filing out Of his glossy black
coat.
On the morning following my col
loquy with the peon remarked his
absence from his accustomed rendez-
yous in the pass, but upon arriving at
my Office in the city found among my
mail letter which Immediately recall
ed him to my mind. 1t was q PROPOSE
tion, written in Spanish, and purport-
ing to come from a Mexican stockman
offering to purchase my saddle horse if
chose to sell him at a reasonable fig
ure. The connection between the COM
munication and the peon palmist was
too palpaDle to escape detection, and
the only cognizance accorded it was
in the purchase Of an extra lock for
my stable door before setting out for
home that evening. Nothing further
developed Of the circumstance. how
ever, nor did the palmist ever again
put in an appearance at the stone wa
tering trough on the San Fernando
road. In fact, the entire matter had
quite passed from my mind, when one
day about a month later was directed
to report at once to the managing ed
itor Of the paper. AS l entered the
sanctum Of the dignitary in question he
was industriously occupied with the
preparation of his editorials. Being
naturally Of taciturn disposition, he
was not accustomed to waste any Su-
perluous utterances on the subordinate
members Of his staff, and, upon noting
my presence, without pausing in or
glancing up from his work. delivered
the following laconical order:
"Doyle leaves Yuma with Il posse
early tomorrow morning after Garcia.
You will go with him"
I paused with my hand on the door
knob.
.sMay take my own saddle horsc:'
I ventured.
.sTake whole cabalgada if you
choose get out of town on that
2:3O special" and, having thus dis
posed Of the matter. the editor in chief
proceeded with his paragraphs as
though I had never existed.
1t was ten miles out to Cahuenga
station, where Mescal was stabbed and
~ o'clock when / received the assign
ment, but two and half hours later
found me pulling out Of Los Angeles
aboard the Southern Pacific special.
with my horse trying his uttermost to
kick both ends out Of palace stock
car that had been coupled on in the
rear for his exclusive accommodation.
It was late that night when I arrived
at Yuma and, having released Mescal
from his uncongenial quarters, l sad
died him and rode away In quest OF
Doyle. After a brief search I located
that individual up in the federal court
room playing poker with his chief and
sole deputy, the district attorney and
Kick-a-Poo scout. with as much uncon-
Germ as though Garcia and his band
were already safely within the walls
Of the territorial bastile on the hill.
"Where's the rest Of your posse:' l
asked the sheriff after the customary
exchange Of courtesies had taken
place.
"Why," he explained, "the coroner
was called out few minutes ago to
hold an inquest on the .leavings Of
half breed desperate who got wind
that the boys was getting together, and
fearing, reckon, that some Of his own
personal interests might be at stake
undertook to exterminatc the members
before they got down to work. He
started in on the wrong party, how
ever, who happened to be Cal jenkins
the county clerk, who was too swift
for him-which is how the coroner hap
pened to be called out temporary. But
him and Cal I'll be around In the course
Of half an hour, and soil Judge Muir
ply and the new tax collector. That'E
make nine, counting yourself, ana the
two custom house riders we pick up
down near the border will be II.
which'll be plenty, seeing as G:lrcia's
gang has thinned out somewhat here
of late. Reckon there amt morc'n 90
Lee Il