Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-07-15
THE BANDIT OF
MIRAGE VALLEY
BY J. b BRITTON.

Mirage Valley ad been harrassed for
some time by Mexican bandits who
waylafd lone pedestrians and horsemen,
stampeded cattle and committed MUIR
der now and then when met with re-
sistance. Mirage believed that il the
known l,lder OF these marauders, Jose
Verdugo. could be caught and hanged
the system could be dealt a quietus.
When, therefore. Jose was caught one
day, Mirage was so sure that his death
would follow that il granted him a jury
trial, selecting jurors from its promi-
nent citizens without. be it recorded,
over carefully examining them.
Eleven of these jurors promptly pro-
nounced him guilty but TO every body's
surprise a twelfth stood for acquittal.
More strange still, the obstinate juror,
landowner and influential pioneer OF
the valley. Personally he was a large,
observation-disclosures gentleman of
fifty. his nose was aquiline, his eyes
gray and steady. He wore a dropping
iron-gray mustache and kept his heavy
hair very long to hide a wide white
scar that extended from just below his
right ear to point on his left shoulder
under the collar of his loose red flannel
overshirt He was known as a man of
intelligence, courage and justice, and
town. Being such a man his explana-
ton of the stand he had taken against
the eleven jurors was listened to intent
ly.
Back in 49," he began reminiscent
1y, Il arrivedin Los Angeles from the
east. The population of that city then
was made up pretty much Of adventur-
ers. 1 was one OF these myself and it
was the spirit of adventure that led me
-. 1r~r~- - -.
was being organized for the extermina-
ton of bands of robbers who were
plundering surrounding villages and
ranches. These bandits we're mostly
cut-throats of the worst type, but now
and then there could be found a little
company OF earnest men who foolishly
thought by keeping up a sort of gueril-
la warfare against the 'Gringo' settlers
they could protect the lands which were
rapidly falling from them. Jose Verdu-
go. the same man whom we have on
trial to-day, was the captain OF such a
band.
Jose at this time was a dashing.
handsome Spaniard of good family, and
j sincerely believe, possessed a peace
ful, rather than bloodthirsty disposi-
ton. You know what he Is to-day, for
you have seen him in court-old beyond
his years, haggard and hopeless, but
too proud to ask mercy OF 'Gringoes'
II came to know Jose personally in
a manner in which I might naturally
enough prefer to keep secret had
been hurt in a skirmish with Mexican
robbers and left for dead in an arroyo.
came to ald my groans were heard
by horseman who / afterward learned
was Jose Verdugo He carried me a mile
or more to the casa of Domingo Ra-
mirez. whose daughter Carlotta cared
for me.
II was then young, gentlemen, which
must stand as my only excuse for fall
ing in love with this young lady as
promptly as l did. AS 1 recall her she
was one OF the most beautiful girls I
had seen in California. And her voice
and character seemed to me as queenly
as her beauty.
Il made my wounds the excuse for
prolonging my stay in the Ramirez
household, and after the custom then
prevailing among wealthy Californians
was told to remain as long as / wish
ed. Having reason to believe that Car
lotta was not altogether Indifferent to
me / told her one day my regard for
her She liked and respected me, she
said, and she asked for time before
giving me an answer. told her that
! had communicated with my company
and expected to rejoin them upon their
return in about a week. After some
urging | received her promise to marry
me at the expiration OF the term OF my
enlistment
Il was not perfectly happy, however.
Her hand l had won, but of her heart
was uncertain. A vague jealousy led
me to make inquiries. and l gathered
from different sources that Carlotta
and Jose Verdugo had been engaged to
be married and that she had dismissed
him upon his joining the banditti
One day, the third before that ap-
pointed for the arrival OF my company.
Jose Verdugo came. His followers,
finding that restricted pilfering meant
scanty living, had taken to indiscrimin-
ate outlawry and Jose had deserted
them From the time that Carlotta
knew this l fancied that she became a
trihe distant with me- But I did not
fear her breaking our engagement and
my love for her was so selfish that I
rejoiced in it.
lose came to the Ramirez place and
was greeted cordially by both Domingo
and his daughter. He had learned Of
Carlotta's and my relation, but made NO
comment on it, SO far as | knew.
ION the day after his arrival met
him walking in the woods above the
mouse. | greeted him politely and
would have passed on but he stopped
me. Senior DOugherty. he said, I am
glad that we have met. Though as an
American you have been my bitter
enemy, as the future husband of Sem
orita Ramirez I wish you happiness
Somewhat taken aback by his gem
erosity, l stamm srOd something in re-
ply. Extending by hand returned his
warm manly grin and 90 ora1ad g..
ms frank dark eyeE could not but be,
heve his sincerity.
I'VE met again at the supper tab,a
Jose said that he would start early nm.
on the morrow for his home in Los An.
geles. Carlotta's eyes were downcasi
and as he said this detected q ouiYeI
OF her dark lashes.
"As we ate, q servant entered and
Mhisnared hrinAr Il, n. r,.--l--- -. -