The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1900-12-03
The Devil and the Don
IN Ebisoas of Nexican Ra7uay Lite.

him talk away until exhausted, and then
coolly Informed him tat 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. Grasping Evans by the
arm. he dragged him to the window.
Mira, senor," he cried, pointing to the
west where number Of slender columns
OF smoke were rising, "Indios! Apaches !
Muchos, muchosl'
Evans was frontiersman, and his
mind instantly took In the situation With
bound he reached his telegraph instru-
ment and began calling chihuahua, while
Don Enrique drew back from the devilish
machinery as far as he could The Chi
huahua office was prompt to respond, and
the next moment an urgent call for sol
dlers went leaplng along the wire. There
was immediate excitement in chihuahua;
the fussy switch engine that was standing
Tor the moment idly beside the telegraph
Office awoke with snort. and darted to
the far end of the yard, where II began
hastily sorting out coaches. In hot haste
a messenger was dispatched to the bar
NNfN+-tN|-
flee of the commandant, and the next
minute there arose an angry snarlng Of
drums and a loud, excited calling Of bu-
giles Then came a pattering Of many
sandalled feet ana the rattle and Jingle Of
arms. hasty calling Of rolls and count
Ing Of fours, followed by sharp, quick
spoken words Of command, and a column
Of swarthy, uniformed men emerged from
the barracks. Again sharp command,
and they sprang forward at the double
quick, racing to the railroad station,
where a train was now in readiness for
them. Having seen the soldiers safe
aboard, the conductor went into the tele-
graph office, where he remained a few
moments; whea he came out again he
carried In his hand a crumpled bit of pa
per upon which appeared the words,
Run regardless His hand shot upward
In signal to the waiting engineer, and,
with changing bell and the hiss Of escap-
ing steam, the train moved out.
Anxiously the refugees at Las Delicias
scanned the western horizon. IN that
direction an almost level plain stretched
away mile upon mile 20 where It met a
range of mountains that were velyety
and blue with distance Midway in this
plain cloud of dust arose, grew larger
with every moment and drew rapidly
nearer. Now dense roll of black smoke
appeared and ascended straight upward
to lose itself in the blue Of the sky. and
an aaSry glare of flame leaped upward
beneath it, The Apaches were coming In l
a whirlwind Of death and destruction.
"A Dios, they are but little more than /
three leagues away groaned Don En- |
rique- What shall we dog'
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 1
and lit his pipe
mo need for worry" gasped Don En-
rique. Great God, man, thou art crazed
with fear"
But Evans did not reply, did not hear;
he was entirely absorbed by what the
was saying Presently a look
Of satisfaction shone in his face and he
made a hasty mental calculations. "In-
lians ten miles away. an comm ten
miles an hour; soldiers sixty miles away.
an 'Cussin' Jimmy johnson a-punin'
EN-; result some Indians TO bury IN
bout an hour If Jimmy stays on tn rails
hot times for US If ne don't"
The cloud Of dust kept rolling nearer
and a group Of tiny black speeks ca ne
nto view at its base-specks that in
,reased in number with every moment
md that grew larger. took form and be-
anne galloping Apaehes. Nearer. nearer
hey came and the sobbing. praying. hys-
erical Mexicans relinquished all hone of
Mortal aid, but not so with Evans. Lean
ng lar out Of his window. he was watch
ng the track and presently, far away
Vhere the two lines of CLEANING rails
eemed to unite In one, he caught sight
4 another speck-a speck that was send
ng aioft plume OF inky black smoke.
Fireman's workin Ike tn devil" he
aused. IAN Jimmy's got her wide open.
omin down 1 per cent grade. too
lint he bird?' Now, he looked at the
indians and a look Of concern stole into
IS face They were getting dangerously
ear Going 10 his desk he took out and
oched MS revolver. il held six loads
ne Tor each Of the women If worst
mould eome-far better death for them
IAN capture by the Apaches, he Thought
flancing at these poor creatures. who
'ere huddling together in a corner Of the
pom, he noticed for the first time that
ne OF them, young woman whom he
'ok to be Don Ennque's daughter was
assessed of more than average beauty.
nd he trembled with the thought that
Is might be the hand that must end her
fe. ,
The Apaches were within rife range OF
ie station. and the rapid pounding OF
Ieir horses hoofs was distinctly heard s
nen the rails began to vibrate and hmm {
meath swiftly turning wheels. The {
sxt minute with a deafening roar Of ,s.
ping steam. and with every wheel slid I
3 ana sending showers Of sparks from J
e rails the train bearing the soldiers )
'ept up to the station and came 10 a
op' stentorian commands rang ont FOL. )
wed instantly BY a rattllng ani crack. q
x of locks and a thunderous yollev {
ashed from the car windows
The surprise Of the Apaches was cor,. g
etc; several OF their lumber roeis5 I
ID almost fell from their ponies. A .
hoop and wave OF their leaders han5 y
nt thems flying back toward the noun Z
ms and the soldiers. quickly pouring g
pm the train, started in hopeless nur- q
It Of ,hem s.
Don Enrique was as one who sees a. Wis. e
l-so sudden transition from dumb S
Spair 10 a sense of o., zoe. ..- !, , %