The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-08-03

bis throat and savage eyes met his. A
few muttered words and the butt end
of a heavy revolver came down on the
shaggy little head. ard then to one side
was brutally tossed the senseless heap.
There were three of them crouched un-
der an overhanging ltdge- three sinis-
ter looking bandits, wearing heavy felt
hats and with red blankets drawn
across their mouths They sat still un-
til about the time all travel had ceased
on the highway above. They were plan
ming in low voices the division of the
spoils when Juanito's hard little Indian
head began tc throb consciously. The
first thing he heard to understand was
that Miguel was to turn the coach over
exactly at that spot and that Don Hypo-
lite had the money for the years pulque
from his San Martin hacienda, and
that Dona Ynes had been to baile in
Puebla, and had on her mothers dia-
monds.
eff the fall does not KILL" growled
one, "a tap of the good friend here'-
And Juanito heard him slap his pistol
Juanito heard, and, though sick and
dazed, comprehended He could not
see how he could prevent it. He knew
that when the coachman tipped the car
riage down the barranca Dona Ynes
would be hurt, and, if she were not
hurt enough. they would kill her. Ahi
He would not get his centavo if Dona
Ynes was killed. The thought moved
him-poor, little, dying babyl
49, 30 L. L.-A
effort increased the deadly nausea. A
night wind was blowing and rustled
the leaves Under cover of that noise
he could move freely if he could keep
from crying. And keep from crying he
would, for even his short life had given
him self control and courage. He was
not an American child, who screams
when it is explained kindly that he
cannot have the moon. He began to
move, pulling himself up by inches,
forced cften to rest from sheer anguish,
but never moan was wrung from his
lips by the torture.
Several hours must have passed be-
fore he reached the highway. When
there, he could not tell which way to
go. He had lost his sense of direction,
always extraordinary in Indians. He
thought he heard shout from below,
as though the men had missed him. so,
without further cogitation, he dragged
himself along the road. He was cold
with an awful chill that struck out
from the bones. The blood steadily ran
down his face from the crack in his
skull. He was afraid he was going in
the wrong direction. Before this he
should have heard the clip, clip of the
high stepping black mares. His tongue
was getting too big for his mouth, and
his heart roared like wild thing
Suddenly he heard the umbling of
the carriage, and he fancied he could
beautiful thoroughbreds. He gave a
cry, another and another. They were
driving rapidly-and driving byl
As they swept past for the first time
he burst out crying and sank in the
dust. Dona Ynes, inside the carriage,
was jerking violently at the cord.
"Why does he not stop? Oh, papa,
call Miguel to stopl Some one called
me! Some one is hurt by the road -
Don Hypolite put his head out and
ordered Miguel to drive slowly back.
The guilty scamp did so reluctantly.
The carriage halted by the side of little
sobbing Juan, and Dona Ynes jumped
out. She had dropped her fur coat, for
the night was warm, and her bare arms
shone milky white through the meshes
of lace mantilla. The mantilla was
fastened by gold and turquoise comb
to the high knot of dusky hair, and the
curved edges tapped coquettishly about
her roguish face.
Regardless Of her satin ball gown,
she knelt in the dust by Juanito. After
he had told her and Don Hypolite of
the plan to rob and murder them, she
carried him herself in her round arms
to the carriage, while Don Hypolite,
portly and courtly in evening dress,
with half dozen decorations glittering
on his breast, went back calmly and
pulled Miguel by the coat collar off his
seat. Relieving the rascal of his pistol
and kicking him soundly, Don Hypo-
lite took the reins and drove back to
Puebla, leaving Miguel rubbing his
aches and wondering how it happened.
The motion of the carriage so Jared
the little pain racked frame that Dona
Ynes, thinking that it must be mat
ter of but few moments asked her fa-
ther to stop. Juanito whispered to her
that he could not breathe, that he wished
to be outdoors, where he could see the
stars; so Dcna Ynes, tenderly holding
the child, sat in the grass by the road.
Alas, he could breathe no better un-
der the quiet stars. There was the
croaking of frogs and the song of night
birds, and the soft wind rustling
through the low shrubs. He lifted a
wistful face and with long, laboring
breaths he managed to say:
81 want my centavo."
Dona Ynes, keeping back her sobs
with difficulty, for she did not wish to
distress the patient child, slipped a cent
into his little hand. A smile of great
sweetness and content stole over his
wide mouth, and the tiny, brown fin
gers closed upon the cherished cent.
never to open again. .-Argonaut.
N