Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-09-25

TONE, anu the. OOy was on like shot,
Suddenly Blanca remembered the
words with which Juan had parted
from her. Under the stress of the mo-
ment she had forgotten that, she and
Juanwere no longer friends, much less
lovers. @s~H r
"stay, Pedro! Come back!" But
Pedro was gone beyond recall. Blanca
was vexed. She bit her nails and
stamped her foot.
II id not think I would call him so
soon; I wish had not-but no-he
must come. had to call him.
Pedro's step was at the door, his
hand was on the knob; he stood before
her, and alone. His cheeks were
flushed; his eyes blazed.
"Blanca!" he almost ahrieked. HE
says he will not come till he is ready;
perhaps not even then. 1nfame! To
send such message to my sister!" And
he shook his small fist at an imaginary
Juan with an earnestness and audacity
that would have made Blanca smile at
another time.
HE willnot come-then the stranger
may die" She flung herself in tears
upon the couch. A moment of restless
weeping and she rose again. Her hair
was unbound, and the long black
tresses draped over two lustrous eyes
that famed like jet black ornaments
set in cheeks of ruby.
"Then I will 60 and ask him. On my
knees I will plead for him to listen. Let
it*not be said that daughter of Spain
because of her pride, allowed one who
had been her fathers guest to die
without an effort to save him.
Throwing mantilla over her head,
she started; but before the door was
reached it opened to admit Juan. His
heart, too, had triumphed over his
pride. He could not remain away
when she whom he loved had called.
blanca, 1 am here" he said, quietly.
Blanca made no attempt to conceal
her Joy at seeing him, and told in
quick, nervous words what she had
overheard. Juan grasped the situation
instantly.
'Quick, Pedro; call Antonio and Car
los! They are at the corral now with
the horses"
Blanca brushed back her hair and
smiled, and Juan, prompt in love as in
war, would have folded her in his arms,
but with gesture only slightly re-
Pellant she waved him off. He stood an
instant looking into eyes that half
contradicted the motion of the hand,
decided that the present was not time
to be impetuous and sprang through
the door to meet the horsemen.
"Juan!" she called after his retreat
ing form.
Eyes, Blanca
"You will be carefully"
Yes
sand come to me when you return?"
Eyes, Blanca; yes"
The hoofbeats of the horses as they
swept down the hillside kept time to
the beating of Blanca's heart.
Half an hour after Dominguez and
his accomplish stole through the pass
Juan, Antonio and Carlos were riding
rapidly over the same ground. A little
later the traveller was startled to see
three mounted men in front Of him.
The four came together and held a
brief consulta ton, after which single
horseman galloped forward.
Dominguez, lying behind log at the
roadside, heard him coming.
"Celestin, he comes; perform your
part"
Celestin cast himself headlong in the
dust of the road. The galloping horse
came on, saw the body in the road,
snorted and stood still. Celestin Ut
tered a low moan. The horse reared
and attempted to bolt.
"Oh, good stranger, help me-"
"Are you hurt?"
"Oh, much, sir. My horse has
thrown me. Dismount and give as
The rider urged his horse as near
the PROSTATE form as he dared, and
bent forward as if to dismount, at the
same time looking warily around.
The STOPPING form of Dominguez crept
round to the rear, and when the horse
man dismounted on one side he came
up on the other. AS the horseman
bent over the form of the shamming
man he heard the catlike tread of
Dominguez drawing closer. Instantly
he released his hold upon the horses
bride, and it sprang back quickly, re-
vealing the Mexican leaning forward
with uplifted knife. Quick as flash
the heel of the supposed traveller was
on the throat of the PROSTATE sheep
herder, and his left hand grasped the
dagger arm of the astounded Mexican
at the wrist.
Juan de forrest" shrieked the
would-be assassin, trembling as if he
had seen a ghost.
eyes, Demonio; it is I. Surrender"
Dominguez looked into Juan's pistol
barrel for one nerve-withering in
slant; then his knife slipped from his
fingers and he stood with downcast
eyes, a thoroughly cowed man.
Juan discharged his pistol in air.
From somewhere up the road came an
shot and the hurrying
hoofs of horses. y
In the small hours of the morning
the traveller went on his journey I'M
scathed, while Juan rode homeward.
followed by Antonio and Carlos, bring
ing the sullen captives, who knew full
well what justice would be meted out
to them. - :.
Blanca was waiting to greet Juan.
She met him by the clump. Of olive
trees just as dawn was breaking. He
threw his cloak about her and she
took his arm. They strolled back
along the crest of the mesa to a prom
ontory sjutting out oyer the valley. An
ocean of mist lay beneath them. IA