Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-08-30

At that moment Lucia held up her
finger to enjoin silence, and heard the
sound Of horses hoofs coming near-
er and nearer. She ran to open the
door, and Dick sprang to the ground,
safe and sound rs when he went away.
After our tumultuous greeting, Lucia
brought low chair to be near Dick,
and throwing himself back, with a sigh
of satisfaction, in the easy chair, he
began his story.
He had ridden some distance up the
side of the Cumbre, when he and his
guide were suddenly surrounded by a
band OF armed men. He began to be
sorry he had not taken his wife's adj
vice, and the more SO when they In
sisted on bandnging his eyes.
After IN hours ride, they stopped,
the handkerchief was taken from his
eyes, and he was led into an old hut,
standing AMONG thick trees, where he
found man suffering from wound
made by a dagger thrust.
The man gave no account of the
wound, but wanted to know II his life
could be saved.
II made an examination, bound up
the wound, left him some medicine to
allay the fever, and was again escorted
to the foot Of the mountain; and here
I am, little wife," Dick said, softly,
with good gold in my pocket"
Il don't care for the gold, Dick; but
you shall never run such risk again!"
He laughed at her fears, but under
all his merriment saw his cheeks
grow pale.
I When We were alone, the next day,
he told me what he had concealed
from his wife. ~
while was in the hut" he said, his
lips trembling, .'the door opened softly,
and q tiny note was dropped inside.
had only a glimpse of a dark, face,
when 1t was gone; but 1 dropped my
handkerchief over the note, and Sc
cured 1t without being seen. Now
what do you think of 1t, Karl?'
He had put the note in my hands,
and I opened and read 1t. 1t ran some
thing like this:
SURGEON DJTNMORE, married to
my pretty Lucia: Tell her that her
Cousin Marguerite is In the hands Of
the robber- captain. ] would appeal to
you for help tonight, but that 1t would
surely involve us both in destruction.
Come again, a week from tonight, and
l will be alone with the solitary guard,
left always with me--a man equal in
strength to two men. A straight jour-
ney through the Lions Pass will bring
yon to three paths. will tie my hand
kerchief to tree in the right path.
Come armed, and do not come alone. 4
MARC. PIRATA DE GOMEZ" =
1 advised him not to tell Lucia, and
agreed to go with him on the designat-
ed day. ,
The week crept by, and at last the
day came. We were both armed, and
started away Mt daybreak, leaving
Lucia with neighbours family, think
Ing we We're going on business to q
near city.
do you know this Mons Pass? 1t
has rather a ventures6me sound" I
said. G..h
Il know 1t WELL" he replied.
And then we rode cautiously up the
mountain, until we came to the spot
where the path divided, and there we
found a red-bordered handkerchief,
tied In knot to tall palm tree.
"This is the path! More slowly"
Dick whispered.
And, side by side, we crept along I'M
der the shadow of the trees, having
first tied our horses Mt the entrance to
the path. I
A little further on, we came to the
hut, and heard mans voice inside.
Nearer, nearer we crept to the door,
and listened. s,.i-sg
You would have betrayed me, Dom
ma Marguerette! You have knotted
your handkerchief to the palm to point
the way to our retreat. Is 1t not true?
But there was not word In reply
only sob.
II loved you, and would have made
you queen of my robbers!" he cried,
in a passionate voice. II loved you,
yet you IRE traitor! Die like a trail
tor!'
We both leaped to our feet, forced
open the door, and entered; but 1t was
100 late.
Dick sank down beside the dying
girl, and sprang forward in time to
secure her murderer. As her last
breath fled, Dick came to my side.
Bring him out!'' he said.
And, between us, we tied his hands
and feet, and carried him out doors.
The hut was on the brow of preci-
pice, at the foot of which rushed a
rapid river. Near by, a tall, 1.-THE tree
had been bent over for some purpose,
and Its top fastened to the ground.
With lips as pale as death, Dick
bound the robber-captain to the tree,
and cut the fastenings. One mighty
swish through the air, and the tree
stood upright; but the cord snapped,
and Marguerette's murderer was
hurled over the brink Of the precipice
to certain death.
Between us we carried the body Of
Lucia's cousin down the mountain, and
she had n peaceful burial in the little
valley below.
But Dick sold his pretty cottage and
farm. and brought Lucia away 10 our
Northern home.
Years have passed since then, but 1
never think OF. the beautiful Valley OF
the Yumurl without shuddering at the
horrible memory of the mountain trag-
edy.
81 Hoskin's Boy.
Passenger Agent Drake, on his re-
cent trip to Denver. got hold of q yarn
about Arkansas, from n Little Rock
school teacher who was going to Los