Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-10-31

gument was useless, closed the door
and bolted it, standing in the dim
light, secluded and trembling With
hands clasped and head bent, upon the
verge of swooning yet kept up by her
supreme courage. she listened for the
charge Of the cavalrymen. or the single
shot which should tell her that Wes-
ton was no more She did not then
believe that Jocosa had reached the
rancho and the very air seemed tinged
with blood.
Weston was brought from the hut
his arms bound behind him and walking
in the midst of his guards. lie was
grave, but unconcerned Save for one
long look fixed upon the hut with the
closed door behind which. he seemed
to know instinctively, his sweetheart
stood, he apparently took no note OF
anything. A more equable man never
went to death. The party marched to
a point on the far side of the little
prairie and halted. One OF the Next
cans, at sign from Vavara. produced
a scarf and began to bind the condemn
ed mans eyes, but Weston shook his
head impatiently and the chief re-
maj htu Sill NY iStt II W. i4Nl II wv
| prefer that he should see me" The
prisoner contemptuously stepped aside
also when one of the men stopped to
bind his ankles.
What are you afraid off" he asked
Il shall not attempt to escape. | would
not give you the pleasure of thinking
that you frightened me"
The guard fell away from him at
these words, leaving his arms still
bound Vavara advanced and took n
position six feet in his front. holding
a revolver loosely in his right hand
The little mans face was set in an ex-
preston of tigerish cruelty. He SEEM
ed literally to gloat over his victim
Indeed. as with bent knees he appear
ed to crouch, his resemblance to pre-
datory animal was so marked that il
evoked wondering comment from some
of the heavily breathing men. Like n
tiger, too he seemed disposed 10 play
with his quarry.
Are. you ready, Senior Weston" he
asked, cooking the weapon and present
ing it full at the broad chest.
quite ready" The dark gray eyes
did not close. nor was there any blanch
OF cheek. Vavara smiled and lowered
the weapon
Il have to tell you first" he said.
that you are a traitor.
you lie. you dog" The retort was
prompt and clearly delivered but with
no emotion. Vavara flushed and again
raised the pistol.
81 kill you now for that" he said fu-
al ,,l. 1ztI ~ TO-,
moment and lowered It. He let down
the hammer, whired the cylinder
around and said;
Il like not the look OF that cart
ridge 1t would have missed fire and
then the Senior Weston would have
No response Indeed. the prisoner
was looking steadily over his head.
giving him no sort of attention what
ever This time, in raising the weapon
Vayara jammed 1t against Weston g
breast with such force that he stag
gereG slightly and once more the ban
dit permitted It to fall by his side A
mild glance Of inquiry greeted him
from the man he intended to murder
and there were murmurs Of protest
~ bil AllN IiFls b'hlhh lililis
"You-you," he said. the ayowal
wruug from him In spite CT himself,
you are a brave man"
by Cod am a brave man"
The words were simply and quietly
spoken without trace of Boosting
They were merely statement Of fact
The leader CO the eontrabandistas stood
stock stll Plainly he was baffled By
his inability to inspire fear As he
stood irresolutely swinging his pistol to
and fro and endeayoring TO CO.. pre MP
something sufficiently brutal ana biting
10 cause emotion in the bound man be-
fore him, there was a crash in the I'M
derbrush not twenty feet away and
slightly 10 his left AS he glanced up
startled but with no thought more ded-
mite than tnat some one OF the loose
horses had become frightened. Captain
Harding and Allyn sprang out Of the
wall of mesquite and dashed between
him and his prey. Next instant the
barrel OF pistol strongly and sciontl-
fcally swung, crashed down upon his
heavy sombrero and be fell as II srrick-
en- with an axe. In another second, be-
fore one Of the startled Mexicans had
moved a foot toward the aid Of their
leader the space was filed by the
horses and men ~ the Seminole troop
The smuggiers. unarmed. were sur
rounded and stood quietly looking at
their captors Not m exclamation
came from any one OF them
Harding Ieaped to the ground and I'M
tied Weston's hands. saying with n
laugh
we were in plenty Of time. my bold
friend For five minutes we have been
sitting ON our horses looking az the
comedy through fhe leaves II these
raseals had been less intent they must
have heard us. though the horses Of
ny men do not neigh or stamp Permit
me 10 echo the words Of the large gen
tleman, lying there: You are a brave
man. sir
Weston bowed In acknowledgment.
too daz.d and weakened by the long
strain 70 reply audibly Allyn. led by
Joeosa. who had sprung from her seat
behind one Of the troopers. dashed
across the space and threw himself
against the door OF the large jacal
calling excltediy. II was open In an In
slant. He had only time 70 SAL: TITS