Gardnerville record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1898-1902, 1901-08-23
x5o ocNo cCOo oCoo oCoo oo0o oo{
! OLD STONER'S GIRL}
How She Became. a
Happy Woman. {
Nv HOWARD, SHERIN.
BY HOWARD. sHERIN.
30 oooo oooo occo oooo oooo os

The story properly begins at mid
night ON the San Luis Obispo coast,
California. 20 years ago. when the Sep
tember moonlight shone down upon
Stoner's cattle ranch. near the Pacific
ocean, In the rugged Santa Lucia
mountains.
Stoner had been Texas ranger and
could hold his own extremely well in
that rough frontier community. He
had carried off a pretty Spanish wife
from the Chihuahua region years be-
fore, had brought her TO the rocky
California coast and had purchased
settlers claim and an old adobe
house built by Spanish hidalgo half
century ago.
Here he farmed, raised cattle on the
unused government lands and kept a
sort of hotel, for several mountain
trails Joined at that point the broad
highway which led from the county
seat. 20 miles south. to the northern
settlements In the pinerles. He had
five daughters. too. the youngest. Ther-
esa known as 'fessa. girl of II. That
added TO the attraction. aud almost
every night the dark eyed half Span
Ish girls sang and danced. and old
Stoner managed TO hear all the news
that was aiioat. and somehow most of
the loose coin Of the region ultimately
found its way into his pockets. He
was deep one. that same Ephraim
Stoner. quiet. sly aud patient. secret
In his methods and deadly in his blow.
Stoner's wife aud his four eldest
daughters were uneducated and in
complete subjectlon TO his will But
Tessa had more brains and energy than
al the rest put together and quite as
much beauty. and so the old Texan
ranger took Il certain pride in her and
had even allowed her 10 attend dis
trict school for two years.
This midnight when. as haye said,
the story begins person Of a prying
disposition might have discovered sew
eral Interesting performances in prog
ress around the Stoner abode. On the
north side of the house Tessa was lean
Ing from her window converslng In low
tones with a blond. fair haired and
sturdy young man on horseback.
Tom. do you know my father? He
is not the careless. warm hearted man
you may suppose. | must admire his
ability. but that Is all. | warn you,
Tom. there never was more danger
Gus man. He may be where he hears
every word you say though II he is he
will not speak 10 you or me about IT,
But II he knew you cared for me he
would be your enemy. He has other
plans for me. He wants me 10 marry
for money"
Tom Warren had once been the
schoolteacher In The mountain district
miles away. where Tessa had been one
OF his pupils. Thrown upon his own
resources from his childhood. he had
and was already so popular in the
county that he had just been elected
sheriff. though the youngest man on
the ticket
While Tessa aud her lover were talk
Ing a scene of different nature was
being enacted on the south side of the
old adobe, which overlooked a deep ra-
vine and camp of i've or six men in
field below. For several years these
men had spent their summers there.
osienslhly hunting. fishing and explor-
Ing the country with their dogs and
guns. Every one knew them. and most
persons liked them. Tessa did not.
nj .f.rl.4
In the moonlight on an old rawhlde
chair outside the door smoking his pipe
and medltatlng-a tough. sinewy, griz-
zled night owl OF man.
THAT Internal knucklehead ut the
camp ought TO have reported before
now" he thought to himself as he
smoked.
A man came ont OF the brush and
spoke deferentially.
'Capn, good evening"
You're late"
"Dick was shot"
"WellY
Just as the driver tbrowed Off the
box. Shot by passenger In the neck
and shoulder"
He mustn't stay here TO get us into
trouble. Take boat and carry him to
the point ana leave him In the cave
there"
Yes. eap'n."
"How much aboard?'
"About s.. 900 for the Josephine min.
crs."
"Send 1t over the clifr before morn
Ing, aud III divide 1t up soon. But
you he extra careful-that new sheriff
is smart one"
"All right. cap'n. And the man went
back TO camp.
A moment later. Just as Stoner was
going into the house, there was
low thud OF horses hoofs, and Tom
Warren, the young sheriff rode down
la.a tx.n