The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-17
The Conversion
Of Don Enrique.

of monkeys are to the small boy. In
puzzled amusement he sat staring at
Don Enrique. letting him talk away
until exhausted, and then coolly in
formed him that he had failed TO catch
his meaning.
Don Enrique gasped with despair;
what could he do to arouse this thick
headed American. he wondered. A
happy thought occurred to him: grasp
ing Evans by the arm. he dragged him
to the window. Mira. senor," he
cried. pointing TO the west, where a
number of slender columns Of smoke
were rising. 'Indios. Apaches! Muchos,
nluchos!"
Evans was a frontiersman. and his
mind instantly took in the situation
With II bound he reached his telegraph
instrument and begen calling Chihua-
hua. while Don Enrique drew back
from the devilish machinery as far as
he could. The Chihuahua office was
prompt to respond, and the next mo-
ment an urgent call for soldiers went
leaping along the wire. There was i'm
mediate excitement in Chihuahua: the
fussy switch-engine that was stand
ing for the moment idly beside the
telegraph office awoke with snort,
and darted to the end of the yard,
where Il began hastily sorting out
coaches. In hot haste a messenger
vas dispatched to the barracks:
hreathless he rushed into the office of
the comman,lante, and the next minute
there arose an angry snarling of
drums and a loud. excited calling Of
bugeS. Then came a pattering OF
many snrdaled feet and the rattle aud
,Nc +, acfS of rfll
ard counting of fours. followed by
sharp, quick spoken words of COM
mand, and a column of swarthy. uni
formed rlen emerged from the bar
racks Again sharp command. and
they sprang forward at the double
quick racing to the railroad station.
where a train was now in readiness |
fer them. Having seen the soldiers
safely aboard, the conductor went into
the telegraph office. where he remained
a few moments: when he came out |
again he carried in his hand a crum- !
pied bit Of paper. upon which appeared =
the words. run regardless Hi"
hand shot upward in Il signal to t'
waiting engineer and, with clansG
bell and the hiss of escaping stea,
the train moved out
AnXiously the refugees at Las Deli
cias scanned the western horizon. IN
that direction an almost level plain
stretched away mile upon mile to |
where it met a range of mountainsA
that were velvety and blue with dis
tance. Midway in this plain cloud |
of dust arose. grew larger with every |
moment, and drew rapidly nearer Now |
a dense roll of black smoke appeared, |
and ascended straight upward to lose |
itself in the blue of the sky. and ar |
angry glare of flame leaped upward oe-
meath it. The Apaches We're coming
in a whirlwind of death and destruC- |
ton.
"A Dios, they are but little mo:e |
than three leagues away" groaned |
Don Enrique. What shall we do?"
NO need for worry senor." returned |
Evans. who was sitting with one ear |
over his telegraph Instruments: and |
with eXasperating coolness he struck a
match and lit his pipe.
mo need for worry?" gasped Don
Enrique. Great God, man, thou art |
crazed with fear!"
But Evans did not reply, did not
hear; he was entirely absorbed by
what he telegraph was saying. Present
ly look of satisfaction shOne in his
face. and he made a hasty mental CAL
culation: Indians ten miles away, an
comm ten miles an hour: soldiers SIX
ty miles away. an 'ussin' Jimmy John-
son a-pullin' 'em: result. some Indians
to bury in bout an hour if Jimmy stay
ON tn rails-hot times for us If he
don't"
The cloud of dust kept rolling near
t,,xy n1.c
came into vi0w at it's base-specks
that increased in number with every
moment, and that grew larger, took
form, and became galloping Apaches
Nearer nearer they came, and the
sobbing, praying, hysterical MexicaEs
all hope Of mortal aid; but
not so with Evans. Leaning far out
of his window, he was watching the
track. and, presently, far away where
the two lines of cleaning rails seemed
to unite in one. he caught sight of an
other speck-a speck that was sending
aloft a plume of inky-black smoke.
"F'ireman's workin like tn devil" h,
mused IAN Jimmy's got her wide
open. comm down ne-per-cent,
grade, too. Amt he Il bird?" Now he
looked at the Indians, and a look Of
getting dangerously near. Going to his
desk, he took out and cooked his re-
volver. 1t held six loads, one for each
of the women if the worst should come
far better death for them than CAP
ture by the Apache, he thought. Glanc-
ing at these poor creatures, who We're
budding together in a corner of the
room, he noticed for the first time that
nj a |
he took to be Don Enrique's daughter.
was possessed of more than average
beauty, and he trembled with the
thought that his might be the hand
that must end her life
The ADaches We're within riie-range
of the station, and the rapid pounding
of their horses hoofs was distinctly
heard, when the rails began to vibrale
and hum beneath swiftly turning
wheels. The next minute, with a deaf
ening roar of escaping steam. and with
every wheel sliding and sending show
ers of sparks from the rails, the train
bearing the soldiers swept up to the
station and came to a stop. Stentorian
rang out, followed instantly
by rafting and cracking of locks,
and a thunderous volley crashed from
the car windows.
The surprise of the Apaches was
complete; several of their number
reeled and almost fell from their
ponies. A whoop and wave of their
leaders hand sent them flying back
towards the mountains. and the SOL
ders, quickly pouring from the train,
started In hopeless pursuit Of them.
Don Enrique was as one who sees a
iSin m