The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-12-11
AWOman's
Revenge ~

HE stage coach from San Diego
to Fort Yuma stopped at Cas-
tro's ranch to change horses and per-
init such passengers as dared take
the chances to eat of the MeXican's
food or imbibe his vile liquors. 1t
was simply a road house of the most
Wretched type, with dirt and squalor
on every hand, and Castro had an
evil reputation. 1t was whispered
that he bought quartermaster stores
stolen from the fort, harbored out
laws, and went upon raids with them.
He was a man of so, misshapen in
body, with the face of a wolf, and
how he could have won the hand of
the young and fair looking woman
who called him husband no one could
make out. Little was seen of her by
guests, and Castro was man no
one liked to question.
To the east of the ranch was the
road running down to the Arizona
line, and now and then, when the
road agents and cattle stealers be-
came too bold, patrol was sent out
from the fort to cover 20 miles of it.
1t was while in charge of this pa
troll that young Lieut.. Forbush first
met CastrO's wife. Castro was off on
one of his raids, and the woman in
charge of the place. Forbush was
hardly more than boy, he had just
been assigned from West Point, and
knew nothing of the country or the
ways of its inhabitants. He made his
headquarters at Castro's, and there
were reasons why the young wife
smiled on him and babe him very
welcome.
Castro knew that he was suspected
by the military authorities, and it
was his plan to hoodwink them by
great show of servility and friend
ship. He smiled in the faces of the
officers while he cursed them under
his breath. He begged them to honor
him with their presence, but would
have rather stuck a knife into their
backs. His wife smiled and f1irted
with the boy officer and played love
airs to him on her guitar, while old
sergt. BriX was growing and cursing
for almost 20 years. He knew the
lodges of the outlaws and the tricks
of the half-breeds. He saw and
heard enough to know that the wom-
an with the big black eyes was
working some sort of a game for the
benefit of her husband, but it was not
until freighter had been, robbed
of his outfit and left for dead on
the road which the patrol should
have made safe that he summoned
up courage enough to cross the gulf
existing between man and officer.
When he did decide to talk, he de-
cided to talk plainly:
Lieut.. Forbush, you may order me
under arrest and court martial me
if you WILL he began, but I'm bound
to tell you that female is wanting
to make a fool of you. She's work
ing under the orders of old Castro,
and his game is to keep us from do
ing our duty while his band of cut
Threats are picking up plumber"
Sergeant, do you know what you
are saying!" sternly replied the Off
Ger.
Il do, sir, and it may mean dis
grace for me, but I've got to speak
up. That woman is trying to be-
witch you for purpose. We are not
carrying out our orders, and it is all
owing to her devilment. If you'd
been out here couple of years, you'd
know what her smiles and music
mean to an honest soldier. 1t will
not be for me or any other man of
this patrol to say word at the
fort, no matter what happens, but I'm
telling you as a man, that the sonora
will lead you 20 hell if you foller
her"
The young officer, with the mill