The Bemidji pioneer., 1902-09-11
Down by the
... Rio Grande.
By H. S. CANFIELD.
CHAPTER TX.
CHAPTER TX.
Mr.. John Britton Weston, Citizen-at-
.&a Large. .

MT. JO1n BTlCIOu w eSIOu, SlllLCh-os
......sg Large. aa
The captive was conscious but ola
not speak. He looked from one to an
other in the gloom as he lay upon the
ground, which was soaked under him.
The left side of his shirt and canvas
jacket showed dark with blood, the
bullet having torn it's way through the
shoulder
'Now you've got this rascal asked
Maude, little impatiently, "what are
you going to do with him?"
Harding did not answer. but spoke
to four Of his men, directing them 10
make litter and attach it to two OF
the horses.
What are you going to do with
him?" Maude repeated.
The Captain wheeled to face him, MS
right hand raised half threateningly
"Do?" he said angrily. "Why, put
him up at ten PAGES, wounded anu
bound, for you to murder over again.
What else should l do with him.?
Maude said nothing further, but re-
mounted and sat motionless, with MS
English cavalry seat, staring out over
the river. During the colloquy the
prisoner, still upon his back, had
shifted his head and looked at the
Englishman steadily. He still looked
at him for while when the two lit
ter-horses were put at the head or the
column with trooper on foot leading
them Then he shifted his regard to
Harding, but only for moment. The
motion was rough, but no moan came
from him. Before a mile had been
traversed Inconsistencies came to him
mercifully. The troop, riding at
walk reached the ranche-house just at
sunrise.
Naturally enough the ranche-house
was plunged into turmoil by the ar"
rival of the troops with wounded
prisoner-a bandit, smuggler, cat
tle-lifter, possibly brigand, de-
lightfully romantic, mysterious GRIM
inal from the neighboring republic.
The maid-servants gathered about, ex-
citedly peering and whispering as the
captive was lifted from the litter and
borne, still unconscious, into a room
prepared for him under Glynn's short
directions. The Mexican cow-hands
looked on alphabetically. They were
we'll used to seeing men injured in one
way or another, and conspicuously
among them was the dark, quiet face
of Juan Cara, the decoy. This fellow
had slipped into the cactus the moment
the alarm had been sounded at the
ford and made his way directly to the
rancho where he awaited the return OF
the soldiers. He argued that he had
done his work and it was no part OF
his duty to remain to fight and, pos
sibly. be killed-an unlearned, but SEN
sible man was Garza For the first
morning in many mornings the LADY OF
the rancho was aroused from torpor.
She glided about in becoming wrap
per, not helping any one and much in
the way, but genuinely busy. Lois,
aroused by the bustle had dressed has
tily and, having been told the cause
of the stir in a few words by Allyn,
at once volunteered her services.
"I once thought to be professionl
nurse" she said simply, land 7 un-
derstand good deal about the treat
ment of hurts. My place, Of course,
will be in the sickroom."
But" interjected the Hon. Clay
brough, "the chaps a ruffian, don't
you know?"
1T doesn't make any difference" she
responded shortly. Hes wounded
ruffian, isn't he, and past doing harm?'
She turned to assume direction of
the maids who were carrying hot
water, soap, towels bandages, lini-
ments and so forth into the prisoners
room. Meanwhile a conference was in
progress between Robert Harding and
the ranchman.
"You can't take him with you" the
latter was saying. "The fellow would
die if subjected to a litter-haul from
here to Fort Clark in this sun. Leave
him with me. III be responsible for
him and when he gets well we'll try
him and put him in the penitentiary.
1 should say that he's English or
American, and we can't let him die
like dog. Probably he is the lieuten
ant of the Vavara forces, of whom we
have heard rumors. They say that the
smuggler owes much of his success to
his skill and daring"
Undoubtedly" the Captain replied
nonchalantly. Hes the same man.
I'll leave him here willingly, more by
token that can't carry him and have
no relish for riding the twenty miles
to the fort at walk. I'll see if can
get Thompson, the post surgeon, to
come out this afternoon. guess he's
fit Owing to a brandy bath taken, he
said. to relieve rheumatism. he put