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

Spots between us. He gracefully uc-
knowleuged my precedence, momcn-
tary though 1t had been, In the capture
and insisted that the horse should be
mine, while, by way Of evening up the
division as nearly as possible, I voIun-
tarliy surrendered to linn the beautiful
silver mounted saddle, the intrinsic
value Of which far exceeded that OF
the horse. The Mexican bride, how
ever, retained, for engraved upon a
sil"er 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 i'll
treatment in the past. The small Of
his back was literally covered with
saddle gals, while his thin sides were
furrowed 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
hardiho0d, and that he had been high
~ priced as mount by his late owner,
Notwithstanding the marks Of the lat
ter's brutality, was evident from the
pedigree engraved Oh The silver mount
ed headstall.
Six months OF rest and good pastur-
age had worked n miraculous change
In Mescars appearance. From his pre-
vious gaunt condition he had developed
splendid proportion and grace of fig
ure, while the former disAgurements
to his cuticle were entirely eradlcated
by the filling out Of his glossy black
coat.
On the morning following my col
loQuy with the peon I remarked his
absence from his accustomed rendeZ-
vOus 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 n prOposi-
tiOn, written in Spanish, and purport-
ing to come from Il Mexican stOckman
Offering to purchase my saddle horse if
chose to sell him at n reasonable fig
ure. The connection between the com
munication and the Deon palmist was
too palpable 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 Mt 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 q month later I was directed
to report at once to the managing ed
itor Of the paper. AS 1 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-
perfuous 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
enrly tomorrow morning after Garcia
You will go with him."
paused with my hand on the door
knob.
.May take my own saddle horse:"
ventured.
Take whole cabalgada IL 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 mad never existed.
1t was ten miles out to Cahuenga
station. where Mescal was stabbed and
!2 o'clock when I received, the assign
Nent, 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 a palace stock
car that had been coupled on In the
rear for his exclusive accommodation.
1t was late that night when arrived
at Yuma and, having released Bfescal
from his uncongenial quarters, 1 sad
died him and rode away In quest of
Doyle. After brief search located
that individual up in the federal court
room playing poker with his chief and
sole deputy. the district attorney and
Kick-a-Po0 scout, with as much uncon-
cern 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?'
asked the sheriff after the. customary
exchange Of courtesies had taken
place.
why" he explained, 'the coroner
was called out q 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 ut stake
undertook to exterminate 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 IL be around In the course
OF half an hour, and SOIL Judge Muir
ply and the new tax collector. That'l.
make nine, counting yourself, and the
two custom house riders we nick up