The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-12-05
By II. S. CANFIELD

CANFIELD
;. THE GUIDE" THE nERRoN's DANCR" eta
ally Story Publishing Coz
words and the picture they brought
before her, but went on: 1T must be
done. Jocosa, can you leave the camp
and carry a message to the rancho
q message to a man there, who may
bring the soldiers in timer"
II cannot now" was the soft, slow
answer, but l can when DARK comes,
though the evil spirits q the river may
get me-"
There will be no evil spirits, Jocosa,
my brave child. You will be on Gods
errand and the spirits will be harm
less"
Il will &c. meant to say that
would 60"
1t would be dark by six o'clock, there
being no twilight. Jocosa, swift of foot
and t~ireless because Of life in the open
air, might be trusted to reach the
rancho by nine. Allyn should start his
messenger northeastward by half past
nine and he should reach the fort a
little after midnight. 1t would require
reckless riding over q rough country
In the dark, but she felt it would be
done. She felt, too, that this messen-
ger would be Allyn himself and she
half smiled. II Harding came-and
surely his pledge would hold him,
thought fifty International complica-
tons resulted-his troop should BE- in
the saddle by n In the morning. She
knew how swiftly the Selninoles pre-
pared for a scout. This should bring
them to the rancho by four o'clock and
they would have two hours in which
to cover the intervening nine miles.
1t was q desperate chance. The slight
est slip or failure would doom her
lover to death and herself also, she
felt. Precious hours would be wasted
before the night came, but it could not
be helped. Indeed, Jocosa told her
that an attempt to leave the camp in
daytime would be certain to result in
failure. az sentries surrounded 1t COM
pletely.
Il must slip out when dusk settles .
the eirl said. crawling on hands and
knees between the guards. Once on.
the trail I shall fear nothing except
the spirits. I will not fear even
Them" she added stoutly. 1T is the
good Gods message"
In = drawer Of the table in the room
which Vavara called his "ofice" Lois
found some paper. She wrote and
sealed . note to Allyn. detailing her
capture and Weston's peril and beg
ginE him to send or ride for Harding.
He will be shot at SUNRISE" the note
ended. THE girl Jocosa will guide
you. For Gods sake, for the sake of
those dear to you at home, do not fail
me-" It was signed: "Your sister.
Lois" Indeed, she had no shadow of
distrust OF him. Her only fear was
he. with the others, might be scour-
Ing the surrounding country in search
OF her. This note the Mexican girl
put In b bosom of her dress and then
thrice pinned It through the cloth.
Lois explained to her the missive was
to BE- given to Allyn, and falling him
to a Englishman at the ranch sex
cept 2 tall mai with black eyes. named
Maude." Jocosa understood. HE.
tOOs iOvcS you, Sn0 said.
The noon hour having passed. din
ner was prepared. and. strange to say
eaten with reasonable appetite. Then
the two women set themselves to =
task that would have killed, or crazed
= man. That task was to sit idly n
wait for dark They had no fear that
vavara would disturb them. They
knew that he was busily making ready
for the trial. going from man to man
and spreading Weston's certain guilt
before him. He had no intent that
any liking Of sympathy for their
former leader and comrade should in
terfere with his vengeance. He be-
v thoroughly that Weston had
proven false; he did not know which
most angered him. the supposed
treachery or the assertion that he had
been foolishly mistaken in the identity
Of his female captive; and the Unborn
cruelty Of his Spanish blood rose to
domination Of every other passion or
desire In him. The man YVES literally
transformed. brusque, imperious, saw
age. thirsty for the death Of one whom
he had known and trusted.
While the women sat In the semi.
gloom OF their hut. the camp was astir
In excitement. At It's outer edge a
huge pecan tree had fallen in soma
previous storm and this I'D been lon
ped clear Of its branches. At 3 O'Clock
In the afternoon six Mexicans, select
ed by ballot, took their seats on this
log, facing toward the creek. In their
front was an open grassy space twen-
II feet square. They were judges and
jury. Ranged abont the further edge
Of the space were all Of the otner mon
and the women Of the band, except the
guards Of the prisoner, eight in num-
ber. vavara himself hatless,
less and swelling with Importance.
stood q little to one side. He was Wit
ness and prosecutor. There was to be
no attorney or testimony for the de
PENDANT. though the law OF the band
permitted that he speak In his own
behalf. At . signal given by the old
est OF the Jury, the guard emerged
from the faca1 In which VVna<nn 20.