The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-31

Juan Gomez. the instigator of the deed
thet led to the tragedy, has just died
from injuries received through riding
over the Precipice, "Diablo Head"
Tres Pinos, a mining camp, was the
scene of these thrilling events.
Inc curtain first rolled up on the TRACE
| dy when Ford l.. Brabant came to Tres
Finos from New York to look up certain
concessions claimed by the Sierra Madre
Mining and Smelling Company, a big
Eastern corporation Brabant was a
| nne-looking man, with charming affable
mnnners that won him friends among
the influential Mexicans to whom he
brought Introductory letters.
The Perez family, who have rich min
ing holdings all over Mexico, go for sew
eral weeks of each year to their COM
PORTABLE Tres Pinos hacienda. 1t was
mere that Ford Brabant spent all his
spare time, and the duennas whispered
that Delfina did not frown upon his
SUIT. There was no doubt that it was
Oeinna, and not her cousin Lola, who
was the attraction for Ford Brabant.
Deltna had another suitor-Juan Gomez
and jealousy watchful, he soon saw
now matters were drifting. He could not
delude himself about Delfna's preference,
put the crafty Gomez concealed his feel
ings and devoted himself to Lola, the
minded as child of ten.
Aroused His Jealousy.
Scarcely a day passed that the Perez
girls did not indulge in the favorite
sport of the Mexicans-horseback riding
On these exhilarating rides over the
surrounding hills and valleys Antonio
Perez. Ford Brabant, and Juan Gomez
usually accompanied the girls. "Chiquita, -
the little black mare ridden by Delfina
was invariably winner in the daily last
half-mlle race to the hacienda gate
Ride as he might, Brabant could never
overtake her in that final gallon, though
he tried every horse in the vicinity. The
bright-eycd Delfna roguishly declared
that 1t was not the best horse, but the
best rider, that won a race. She would
not agree to any one else mounting her
beloved ''Chiquita," but one day laugh
ingly proposed dummy" race
A stuffed figure, the exact weight of
the usual rider, was strapped on each
morse. Delfina led Cbiquita up to the
head of the stretch. patting her and
talking to her the while The four horses
bounded forward at a crack of the whip.
Chiquita in the lead, Half way to the
gate she began to go lame, and finished
a bad fourth.
Delfina promptly challenged Brabant to
Chiquita, could win when properly ridden.
But your horse is lame" said Brabant.
All, senior, I'll quickly mend that"
and she lightly gave Chiquita's fore
foot pat, sprung easily into the saddle,
and the well-trained animal galloped
first over the course.
Brarant helped Delfina from her hourse.
and whispered little message that the
ever-watchful Gomez also caught. He
ctr Iad
to his lips. and, turning his head, caught
an expression in Lola's eyes that revealed
her secret to him. She. too, was in love
with Brarant, and therein the unscrupu-
louS Gomez saw victory for his course
with Delfina.
1t was an easy matter for Gomez to
win the confidence of simple, childlike
Lola; it was still easier to persuade her
that she might yet gain Brabents love
through the agency of a love -Thilter
which, Gomez declared an Indian crone
had concocted for him. So he gave her a
tiny vial containing the extract of that
venomous Mexican weed that robs its
victims of their senses-sometimes tenn
porarily, more often finally.
Wrong Man Drank Poison.
Later on, when Gomez was grooming on
his deathbed, he declared he never in
tended that Brabant should come to dead
ly HARM He cautioned Lola to give him
the smallest possible dose in his claret
so as to slightly cloud his faculties. Co
mez hoped Brabant would then be moved
to his New York home for treatment,
and he would at last have a free field
to try and win Delfina.
But the supplemented Lola, like most
lovesick damsels with an alleged love
philter at hand, determined to apply a
double dose of the drug in order TO
doubly insure it's success. The liquors
for the table were kept on a sideboard
in the dining-room. Brabant had special
brand of claret which he drank when he
came In thirsty from his ride. Lola care
fully dropped a double dose of the drug
into this bottle of claret. Brabant was
expected in an hour from Arippa. whence
he had gone on a special mission con-
nected with the concessions claimed by
his company Antonio Perez and his
sister were both home waiting for him to
join them on the usual afternoon ride.
1t so happened that Antonio himself
went into the dining-room for a drink
and seeing a ready bottle OF Brabant's
favorite claret, he naturally poured out
glass, drank Il off. glanced at the
clock and went out on the veranda to
take siesta till Brabant should arrive
The stableman was passing the gate at
lHo lltHc anu ue OlQclto MN 70 SdOult
the horses and bring them out to the
hitching post so they should be in readi-
ness for the arrival OF the Americana.
Lola. after dosing the claret nervously
watched II. not only distraught lest any
one should remove It, but fearful that
any other than Brabant might taste it.
From her peephole behind the door the
frightened girl saw Antonio drink the
claret and go toward the front of the
house. Her first act was TO turn to the
sideboard and seorete the bottle.
Presently she heard a great Gathering
on the veranda She peeped from a cur
tsined window and beheld Antonio with
a Wild look in his eyes walking excitedly
up and down the veranda wr1nging his
hands and gssticulaung. Chairs, tables
und potted plants he kicked out OF his
way. Then he sprang down the steps
ran to where his roam was tied. vaulted
into the saddle and gailoped madly up q
lane.
Madman's Fierce Ride.
peon. carrying grape cuttings, was
coming down the narrow way. Antonio
galloped frantcally over him, leaving
his bruised body on the ground behind
him. Later on the spirited horse lathered
with foam, was found all tangled up and
viciously cut in the corner OF a barbed-
wire fence. at which. the demented
Antonio had savagely ridden him.
The half-frantic Lola saw Antonio ride
down the peon. When he disappeared
down the lane she ran TO tell Delfina
that something had happened 10 Antor{o