El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-24

ceal it. 1t was the result Of slash
with a knife, received at close quarters
in my second year of service, and the
peculiar shape it had assumed. Some
thing like an old fashioned +. and the
length OF it, running as it did from the
inner corner of the right eye well ont
upon the cheek bone, seemed to pre-
clude the possibility of my assuming
any disguise which this remarkable
cicatrix would not render unavailing
with any one who had ever seen me-
At last, however, by a judicious ar
rangement of flesh colored sticking
plaster, Armenian bole and touch of
Mother Earth l SO obliterated the trou-
blesome scar as to induce the belief in
my mind that the plan 1 had formed
was feasible one-a conclusion which
the effect of my disguise upon Foster
and Mr.. Ingram seemed fully to JUS
tify.
For the next fortnight I worked at
odd jobs about the Toomburra home
stead. putting in an occasional daily
and regular nightly appearance at
Magintys and leaving to Foster the
task of accounting for my absence to
any one who might be inquisitive
enough to ask after me. The loafers
dOOuG HSNcI very
were ready enough to fraternize with
me, the more particularly when they
found that 1 was able and willing 70
stand them drinks out of what they
supposed to be an advance of wages
which I had received from the squire
Meantime my disguise worked admira
bly,. I was gaining for myself most
unsavory reputation, and the squire,
acting on my hints, inveighed against
me in round terms and more than once
threatened me with dismissal unless l
altered my habits
Matters were at this pass when one
evening, making my way as usual from
Toomburra to Maginty's. I heard rough
voices on the road behind me. and l
drew behind a thick bush in order to
get good look at the travellers. There
were two The shorter of them was a
slim, wiry, ferret faced fellow, with
not unpleasant expression, but his COM
panion, burly, broad shouidered man
of nearly six feet in height, was low
browed and malevolent looking, while
a thick black beard and long dark
locks, which fell almost to his shoulders.
lent him a somewhat piratical air.
The two were conversing in low but
perfectly audible tones
cts worth the risk. ferret face
was saying. eff you're sure you can
find it. And then California for me.
81 can find it right enough if it's
where it was" answered black beard
sThere was only me and Bill and him
that's gone as knew where it was. You
may cut the country if you want, but
I'll cross over to- The rest of the
sentence I failed to catch.
My idea was to hurry after the men
and join myself to them, but on second
thoughts, as 1 felt sure 1 should find
them at Maginty's later on, 1 sat down
and lit my pipe and began to think the
matter over. Neither of the men was
known to me by sight, nor was there
any particular reason why l should con-
meet them with the surviving members
of Flowers gang. Still, the fragment
of their conversation which l had over
heard left room for this suspicion.
q will make one more effort tonight
to solve the riddle l said to myself
Then, rising, l shook the ashes from
my pipe and rapidly took my way, not
toward Maginty's, but in the direction
of the township.
1t was quite dark by the time I ar
rived there, and | stole to my quarters
and gave preconcerted signal which
brought Foster out to join me. L lost
no time in giving him instructions.
and after touching up my disguise
afresh. especially that telltale scar on
my face, l hurried off to Maginty's
inn, which lay some three miles down
the road. The door was shut when
got there, which struck me as some
thing unusual, and. moreover, in re-
spouse to my knock Maginty's shock
head was thrust forth. and he roughly
demanded who was there.
cts only me, Mac" 1 said as l
passed in through the door. "Wot
are yer so fly about7 Is anything up?'
He made no verbal answer, but
winked toward a corner of the room,
where, to my great satisfaction, l saw
the two men who had passed me on the
bush track.
Now, it is certain that Magnify was
a rascal but he was also very cautious
one. l suspected, however. that he
knew something of the two men l was
after So determined to pump him.
and to this end advanced to the bar.
"Give us a nobbler, Mac. 1 demand
ed, and then, with a glance toward the
two men, Are they on the lay?'
81 'spect So, answered Magnify.
"Don't know what it is, but it must
be somethin big to make Jem Stiles
and Frank Burton try this line.
"Why2'' said l. ''Is it hot round
here2''
"Was awhile ago anyway" replied
the innkeeper, with another knowing
wink
This was quite enough for me. The
only rumpus of any Importance for
some time back had been that with