The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-22
CHAPTER I.

valley. and Sancho, the ranchkeeper.
could not make out whether any pas
sengers were on top or not He had
brought a fine binocular TO bear just as
soon as the shrill voice of Pedro, a
swarthy little scamp OF half breed. an
nounced the dust cloud sailing over the
slump of willows below the bend.
Pedro was not the youngsters orig
inal name. and, so far as could be deter
mined by ecclesiastical records. owing
20 the omission OF the customary church
ceremonies he bore none that the chap
lain at old Camp Cooke would admit 20
be Christian. Itinerant prospectors ana
occasional soldiers. however, had sug-
gested change from the orig
inal or aboriginal title or IN
the last degree. TO the much briefer
90 that OF the illustrious head OF the
establishment, and Lieutenant Blake, an
infantry sub with cavalry aspirations
which had led him To seek arduous ou-
ties In this arid land. had comprehensive
ly damned the pretensions OF the place
TO beingfi dinner ranch by declaring
that a shop that held Sancho and Pedro
and didn't have game was unworthy of
patronage.
Sancho had additional reasons for dis
approving of Blake. That fine binoc-
ular. to begin with. bore the brand OF
Uncle Sam. for which reason, It was
never in evidence when an officer or SOL
der happened along. 1t had been abb
etracted from Blake's signal kit when
he was scouting the Dragon mountains
and swapped for the vilest liquor under
the sun at Sancho's, OF course, and, the
value of the glass, not of the wfsky,
was stopped against the long lieuten-
nnttc 1aa iVor i'm he rim fftl "
put It, Short enough at the end OF the
month"
Somebody told Blake he. would md
his binocular at Sancho's, and Blake
instituted inquiries after his own pecul-
iar~ fashion the very next time he hap
pened along that way.
Here, you Castilian castaway,"
said he as he alighted at Sancho's door.
II am told you have stolen property in
Z the shape OF my signal glass! Hand IL
over instanter!'
And Sancho bowling with the grace of
a grandee. of Spain. having assured the
senior teniente that everything within
his gates was at his service. without
money and without price, had promptly
fetched from an adjoining room a bait
tered old double barreled lorgnette that
looked as though IL might have been
dropped In the desert by Kearny or
Fauntleroy or some of the dragons
Gadsden purchase OF 1853 made us pos
SCISSORS Of more desert sand and desolute
range than we have ever known what 20
do with.
This thing came out OF the ark" said
Blake. rightfully wrathful What
want is the signal glass that deserter
sold you for whisky last Christmas"
Whereat Sancho called on all the saints
in the Spanish calendar to bear witness
to his innocence and bade the teniente
search the premises.
Hes got II in that bedroom yonder"
whispered old Sergeant Feeney, "and
know 1t, SIR" and Blake. striding TO the
door in response to the hall challenge.
half invitation. of the gravely courteous
cutthroat owner, stopped short at the
threshold, stared, whipped off his scout
ing hat and, bowing low, said. "I beg
your pardon, sonora, senorita; l iid not
know" and retired in much disorder.
"Why didn't you tell me your fam
lily had come you disreputable old rip"
demanded he two minutes later ''or is
that, too--stolen property?"
"It is the wife of my brother and his
daughter" responded the ranchman,
with unruffied suavity.
Nothing could equal Sapcho's equani-
nifty I'm the presence OF those he desired
to placate, nothing exceed the frenzy or
his wrath when angered by those whom
he could harm without fear OF reprisals
Blake was backed by a troop of horse
and the conviction that Sancho was an
unmitigated rascal; therefore were nfs
palpable illusions to be accepted as
mere pleasantries or deprecated as un-
Elerited injustice.
Blake had blackened the character of
the ranch cuisine. even II he had been
unequal TO the task OF blackening that
OF the owner. Blake had declared San
cho's homestead TO be a den OF thieves
and the repast rendered the stage pas
sengers a Barmecide feast. the purport of
which was duly reported to Sancho. who
allowed" he would ultimately carve his
opinion OF Blake on that officers elong-
ated carcass and until he could find OPP
portunity so TO do II behooved him TO lull
the suspicious of the prospective victim
by elaborate courtesy Of manner. and OF
this is the Spaniard or his Mexican half
brother consumate master.
Blake left without a glimpse of his
glass. but not without another of "the
daughter Of my brother" but recently
arrived and that peep made him desir-
Gus of third. Riding away, he waved
his hand.
"Adios, Sanchol Hasta otra vistaw he
had hailed, but his gaze sought the little
window In the adobe wall where a pair
of dark. languorous eyes peered out from
between the parted curtains and a dusky
face lodged out OF view the instant il
saw II was seen.
What Sancho said I'm answer is not
recorded. but now he was watching the
coming OF the stage from Yuma. Some
one had warned him Lieutenant Blake
would return that way. ordered back to
the old post. 10 the north as witness be-
fore an important court martial
Those we're later termed the DAYS of
the empire" In Arizona. Perhaps 5000
souls we're courted within it's borders at
the time our story opens, not counting
the souless Apaches. Arizona had the
customary territorial equipment OF a
governor and certain other officials.
Nine men ont OF the dozen Americans I'm
the only approach 90 a town IL then
ossessed-Tucson-wou have said
"Damfno" if asked who was the secre-
tary. but all men knew the sheriff. The
grave, cigarro SMOKING serape shrouded
ceballeros who rode at will through the
piaza and oglod dark eyed maidens peep
frg from their barred windows could har-
Dor no interest In the question of who
was president OF the United States, bu.
the name OF the post commander at.
"a n A..