The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-12-31

had come back from the convent schoo
 a quiet self-possessed young woman
 still with little to say to those abou
 her, and her old friend had felt that sht
 was fit wife for the boss himself
 He had never dreamed of aspiring tC her hand until she herself had assured
 him that she chose rather to be the wife of an Indian than the mistress o.
 a white man. Then they had gone tC
 the priest.
 One month of home and happiness
 was given them before the call for al
 Yaquis to come to the aid of their tribe
 in resisting Mexican oppression had
 come to Isadore Luis had protested
 bitterly. "These people, they drove
 you out; from them you have only : hunger and blows. Why should you leave me to fight their fight? They are
 naught to us." And his employer ex-
 plained in vain that Tsadore owed no
 further allegiance to his tribe, and
 swore hotly at him as "hopeless fool
 to translate mildly. But Isadore an-
 swered to everything: Tt Is my coun-
 try, they are my people-I must go'
 For five months now he had followed
 Baltasar, taking untllnchingly his part | in the guerilla warfare, but his heart
 was not in 1t. His thoughts were all of the work he had left, his home, and
 Luisa. He had heard no word since he
 had left her, but now he should see her,
 know that all was we'll with her. The
 thought pulsed through him as he scanned the wall, fixing every detail,
 every possibility In his mind.
 The ascent must be made in the brief hour between sunset and moonrlse At dusk Isadore began to climb, cautiously
 feeling his way with hand and foot, testing every step, swinging from ledge to crevice and niche with catlike him. bleneSts Once a foothold crumbled, and
 he saved himself from dashing below only by clutch that left his fingers torn and bleeding, Sometimes he must cut his steps in the rock, and at last he reached a granite face on which even the knife could get no hold. He wasted precious moments In groping over it, and then was obliged to retrace his way to ledge along which he crept, upward and outward. A stone rattled down. ward and he heard footsteps above; he fattened himself against the rock and waited, but the steps retreated.
 The moon swung clear of the Old Woman peak as he dragged himself upon the top and lay panting ane nerveless; but he must not stop in that pitiless light, and, lying flat he worked himself across and began to explore the opposite edge for the point where he
 
 heard the pace of the sentry and held his breath while he awaited what should come. But the man had no mind to make himself a target for Ya- qui bullets on that bare ledge, and turned back before he reached it.
 After little search at the foot of the new canon Isadore found the trail described by Baltasar and guided more by instinct than by sight, he followed steadily its obscure but certain leading. Absorbed as he was in keeping to the path that led over rocks and through gulches, lost itself in brush. and leaped up and down mountain sides, he was all the time that Baltasar had chosen him, had trusted him above all the rest, and he must not fail Baltasar. And he always heard Luisa's cry of joy to come; that alone would be worth all the toll and danger.
 When the moon waned he slept; but at daybreak he was on foot again. The day was well on before he left the A wide plain, loosely cov- cred with greasewood, cactus and yac- ,as, and broken by many a dry water l tn tba There was no water, no shade, and the | August sun scorched the very air, but I lie lnd;: II trotted warlly on, keeping to f ta scant shelter ahG he .oN ground, | ,rJ orCe lying be nd the t.,e screen i if mesquite bush while band of the | Mexican patrol swept by in the dis | ance.
 The moons magic was turning the barren, dusty plains into cool fields of | estful beauty as he at last approached . he settlement. Instlnctively he turned irSt to the house where he had left .uisa in the care of country woman, ut time pressed; reluctantly; he ,assed by and went on to a long low .dobe which stood apart. He gave a isnal-knock, and in a moment was tanding inside, while an old man, a oy and three or four women gathered bout. questioning, exclaiming, gestur- ng. They hushed as he spoke.
 Baltasar's band went down into Con- alez's country: he drove us back: he ad many men, we few; he drove us ack and back into La Cajetin. have ome for cartridges. They have tried vice to enter, and twice borne back leir dead butt if they strike again, or
 MunPs band comes to aid us, and we ave not the ammunition. It is the 1d." Then turning to the boy, he call d, GO quickly, Juan, and fetch Luisa tell her one wishes to see her, but do ot speak my name" A pot of steaming coffee had been , laced upon the table. He swallowed , vo cups of the liquid before he noted { le silence in the room and then Juan f Ill remained. "Why stand you here?'' ! ? demanded, angrily: II have haste to { ake, and I must see my wife" :, The old man had dragged a heavy . ,v from underneath bed, and was z king from it little green boxes of 7 Lrtridges. He strengthened himself 7, ,w, and was coming around the table z i'd his hand upon Isadore's arm. You | Lnnot see your wife, son." he said us- !, g the harsh gutturals of his native V alect. ''Is she dead?' cried Isadore, rising. (