The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-08-29

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with nothing better to shoot than
sblack-tailed deer. We have not had
even a cougar in two years. II the
Mexican fellow is after cattle well
catch him, and IL he wants fght he can
have it. say, chaps, let's 60 out and
shoot Vavara." 3,. 81 .sst
So said they all Of them. A merry
crowd it was, fresh-cheeked and alive
with the Joy OF living
A half hour later rider, with In
structiOns to ride hard, dashed from
the rancho and headed to the north
eastward. His destination was Fort
Clark, twenty miles away. Hills bare,
hills swathed to their tops in tangles
OF mesquite, huisache, catclaw and
cacti, stretches Of level hard prairie,
stretches of deep sand, arroyas with
only blue and brown pebbles on their
dry beds, arEoyas with sparkling water
girth-deep to the horse lay between
him and his goal, yet he was light of
weight, he sat his steed as If they were
one and the same animal, he rode from
the knees up and crouched forward SO
That his pounds should not press upon
the back OF the horse and he knew that
two hours at furthest would see him in
the little frontier town of Bracket,
hard by the fort-Brackett with its
dance-hall, its saloon, it's Mexican
girls and, above all, its monte tables.
AS he rode he swung the quirt which
dangled from his right wrist by
thong and his white teeth cleaned be-
tween parted lips as he carolled his
Mexican roundelay: "Querida! Quer-
ida! Stella de mi vidal"
This rider, in a leathern pouch at
tached to the saddle, bore letter. 1t
was addressed to Captain Robert
Harding, U. S. A., Fort Clark" and
signed "Glynn." 1t said merely:
my Dear Harding-I have informa-
ton in which place reliance that Va
vara will cross the river day after to-
morrow night. He wants cattle. 1
don't know how many men he will
have. The crossing will be made at
newly discovered ford few miles be-
low here. Wouldn't you like to catch
him, wherever he may be? Can you
send some men. or, better still, can you
bring some men here by tomorrow
evening. We will go with you and we
ought to get the Black Fox this time.
If there are any rangers near, you can
exercise your discretion about letting
them know. May count on you?"
When Robert Harding read this note
he smiled. Then he glanced at his
spurs on the table in his quarters and
at his pistols in their holsters on the
wall. Then he turned to the Mexican
messenger and said:
"No monte for you tonight, my son;
no mescal; no aguadiente; no fat Mex
lean gals; no cachuca; no nothing but
sweat and work. Back your cayuse,
Don Juan Antonio Jesus Maria San
Miguel de Bustamente de Palacios
Caramba, and head him southwest
ward. Make him pick up four feet
where he puts down two. Find your
boss; just tell him that you saw me
and he will know no rest"
The Mexican, not a shade of disap-
pointment on his face, turned to re-
mount, then paused and said tenta-
lively: :,
Zone ILL drink?"
Sure" said the captain, much sym
pathy showing in his gray eyes.
Here! Try this!"
He extracted decanter from the
bottom section of pine sideboard,
and handed it to the rider with a COB
let. The goblet was filled two-thirds
full and tossed off without the culver
of an eyelash. Five minutes later
broncho and vaquero had disappeared,
going at the tireless gallop with which
they had come.
(To be continued.)