Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-02-23

heard the tinkle Of that guitar. 1t ceased
abruptly. There was a minute of 81
lence: then trifie louder it began
again, again ceased as though waiting
a reply, and Blake sat up and listened
Once more, not at the westward will
lows, net at the ranch, not on the open
plain, but somewhere close at hand,
close to his side of the bivouac, away
from the guard. away from the occa.
sionally stamping, snorting horses and
equally far from the dark, shadowy
buildings of the stage station, and
Blake slowly, noiselessly got to his feet
and after listening one moment to Lor.
lng's deep, regular breathing buckled
on his revolver belt and stole forth in
to the starlight. Yes, there was the
sound again-a few notes, bar or two
of the song Pancha was singing at the
willows the night before, and close to
the edge of the willows crouched the
musician. With his hand on the butt
of his revolver Blake strobe slowly to-
ward the shrinking form and reckoning
it rose and moved swiftly away. "Halt
where you aren' growled the lieutep-
ant. IF you want me, stay here. -
For answer there came the same soft.
ly played bars and another gesture as
though imploring him to come farther
away from hearing of the ranch or even
of his bivouac, and whipping out his
revolver, the tall trooper sprang for
ward, and a heavy hand came down on
the shawl hidden form, and there, trem-
ping, lmploring-aye, weeping-was
Pancha. Before he could speak one
word she began, and to his amaze began
in English-broken English, to be sure,
disjointed, incoherent, tremulous-and
he listened, at first incredulous, then
half convinced, then utterly absorbed,
too absorbed to note that dark form
went scurrying from the shelter of some
stunted brush straight toward the
ranch, whence presently bright light
shone forth and loud voices harsh
ly shouted the name Of Pancha, Pan
cha = whose wrist he still grasped
-Pancha, who, weeping, had implored
him to hasten with all his men, that
the stage was not three miles away
with officers from Grant aboard, that
wicked men had planned to murder
them to prevent their joining him, and
now i'll terror she sought to break away.
She begged him to release her They
would kill her if they knew
And even as she pleaded, far out on
the dark, eastward plain, there sudden
ly uprose chorus of yells, rafting
fusillade, and Blake darted to the
bivouac, shouting as he ran: "Up with
you, Q troop Mount, menl Mount!'
And then ell was stir and hustle and
excitement. Springing from their
blanket beds the troopers threw their
carbine sings over their shoulders and
flew to their horses. Never mind your
saddles-no time for that!' yelled
Blake, as he slipped the bit between
the teeth of his startled charger, then
threw himself astride the naked back
Up with you and come ont" Then
with dozen ready fellows at his heels
away he darted into the gloom. guided
only by. yells and flashes far out
over the sandy plain. In less than two
minutes every trooper in the little COM
mand had gone squirting i'll pursuit, and
Lieutenant Loring, suddenly aroused
from slumber, revolver in hand, look
ing eagerly about for explanation of
the row, found himself standing guard
over his treasure laden saddlebags-ut
terly alone.
Then came the whish OF RATA
through the pulseless air, the quick
whir-r-r of the horsehair rope through
the loop as it settled down over his
head, snap as it flew taut, sudden
and violent shock as his feet We're jerked
from under him, the crack of his re,
volver, aimless. stunning blow Oh his
PROSTATE -then-oblivion