The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-14

sank into heavy sleep. and few mo-
ments later burst into a cold sweat.
'.She will wake no more" said one of
the old crones. who still swarmed about
the sick bed, like so many turkey buzzards.
1T is the death sweat"
The two brothers exchanged e glance,
then without a word left the hut together
An hour later they were founderipg
through the Sandy canyon on their mus
tangs and leading another. When they
reached the hut Gaspar descended and
flung open the door with his fist. The old
woman lifted her head eagerly, then cow
cred as she saw his face.
"She is not better?" she asked.
"She is dead; and you have killed her."
SAY, dos! Why did you not listen? You
gave it to her all at once. and it made her
mad, but she will be better; she will be
better. / swear it"
"She is Dead" repeated Gaspar. monot-
onously. Will you come with me quietly,
or do we carry your?
81 never go with you, never-never! Ay!
yir'
Gaspar caught her up in his arms, and
though she struggled and kicked and even
bit him, he carried her out and bound her
on the extra horse with little more effort
than if she had been quiescent She tried
to scream but her voice was feeble, and
there was no one but the two young men,
frantic with grief and lust for vengeance,
to hear.
They rode. the long length of the canyon.
leaving it half way down the bend where
the walls sloped gently up to a road lead
ing to the town. But they did not go to
the town-they spurred their mustangs and
rode rapidly for the mesa. Once Francisco
gave a sharp exclamation, and pointed to
road far on the other side of the can
yon. and near the coast; it was the road
that led to La Paz. Three people were
riding rapidly in the direction Of San Ma
teo two men and woman, the latter In
nuns attire. Gaspar pulled in his horse
and narrowed his eyes. He was very far
sighted.
YES" he cried in moment. 1T is
Pope, the doctor. and the nurse. They
come to a death-bed. Ay, dos! dios!" and
the young men rode on furiously.
Finally they paused and looked about
them. Nothing could be seen on four sides
but the great level mesa, the harmony OF
| it's surface broken only by rocks, cacti,
| palms, and cocoa trees. The silence was
absolute. In the dark blue sky hung the
golden sun
Gaspar and Francisco dismounted,
| tethered their horses. then united Brigida
and stood her on the ground. She fell i'm
| heap, wringing her hands, and muttering
| her prayers. So merciless was the glare
| of the sun that she closed her eyes tightly,
| and it was some moments before she knew
her fate. Gaspar took long piece CT rope
| from his saddlebag. tied it about her
waist, then fastened the other end secure
cisco meanwhile testing the rope all along
its length. Finally both stood aside, and
| faced each other.
at will hold" said Gaspar, grimIy.
He lifted his whip high above his head
| with both hands, then brought ir down on
| the mustangs tanks with all the strengtn
| of his arms. The beast, who was nbbling
quietly, leaped in the air, with a neigh Of
| terror and rage, then bolted madly across
the mesa. Brigida, bounding after, gave
shrek which might have been torn from
the roots of the earth, then uttered no
| further sound. Perhaps she was killed at
| once,- although her arms kept shooting
wildly into the air, as she bounded along
the rocky desert. flung against the spiked
surface of the cactus. and whirled against
shan .,er stones and fallen trees. The mus
tang. having worked off his wrath, re-
turned In an hour to the brothers, who had
| smoked necessarily without uttering a
word. AS they looked down upon The mass
of bones and frayed muscles they shrugged
| their shoulders.
"Ysabel is avenged" they said
| And at the same moment ISABEL was
smiling family but reassuriugly into the
| anxious eyes of Peter Frost.