The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-30

or smaller numbsr OF fresh riders he
could push on for Yuma, sending all
the others back TO join Blake, who mean
time, with what little force he had, would
scout eastward for news OF the stage.
But that plan was destiped never TO
he carried out. The long aay came ~
s1rdy pam and distant mountain. Inc
silence OF midnight reigned over the
lonely elronnc and tno sompsT lshSr.
cry man must remain close TO the horses
throughout the evening adventurous
spirits from the troop could surely W., hayo s,S
the corral and marked the stealtny gnu
ings 20 and fro. AZ . o,clock ,hs Ia
nous roar was cautiously lei l?rth ,lJarn lroih
shadow OF the wall. and not until wei
beyond earshot OF the willows was ne
mounted and headed eastward. =,
At ~ Loring was sleeping s1undly IN
preparation for the nigat vide before
him, ard Blake. nervously putting al
his ripe. was listening TO me mw' murs murs
gathered about their watch Ire, when
soft timid Turing; swest; '.,;ar again i, sea sns
lence; then a trihe louder IL pegdn
again, again ceased as though waiting
a reply. and Blake sat up and listened. ,,..i.
lows lows. not not at the ranch, not on the open
plain. but somewhere ciose at hand,
from the grsrd away from the coca; etosa,;
slonally stamping. snoring horses ana
equally far from the dark, shadow
buildings Of s, .hG stage gSt 70 s'hho hIs feet smd
after listening one moment to Ioring
deep, regular breathing buekled on
his belt tbsTs snd a see ene sound again
Pancha was singing at the willows. lhe
might before and c,Sse tSs TO 3ecan 1se with
his hand on the butt OF his revolver Blake Stake
strode slowly toward the shrinking form sriIl
and beck4ning rose ynM ana are meyed srowiea Tw
the lieutenant. IF you want me- stay
For answer there came the same soft
y plaved bars and another gesture as
though imploring him 90 come iattner
away from hearing OF ths ranch or even hsn
OF his eiySSsaG sna frooSer %erpPlps sprang Su for
ward and n heavy hand came do%n on
the shawl hidden form. and there. trem-
Pl,Ts paDba Psfc9e he could PPsak one
in Engish-broken English. to De sure,
sstqned ineohfTsR rst incrednoSs thea
half convinced, then utterly absorbed;
too absorbed to note that a dark form
went scurrying from the shelter tnsrS 9f some fhe
ranch. whence presently bright light
shone forth and loud voices earsn-
ly shouted the name OF fdncnai. az
cha whose wrist he still grasped-Pan-
cha. who. weeping. had implored hun 10
hasten with all his men, that the sthge
was not three miles away win oHleers
from Grant aboard, that wicked men hau
planned 10 murder them TO prevent their
Joining him. and now IN terror she sousn. @ s.a
10 break away. she pesgeu MIN 70 nv
lease her. They would XIII her IL 'hey
knew -.
And even as she pleaded, far out on
the dark, eastward plain. there sud1Sn-
ly uprose a chorus OF yells. a rattnhhg ihg
bivouac, shouting as he ran; Up WIN
you. G troopl Mount, men! MONT.
And then an was stir and hustle ana
excitement springing from their osahhsee or,,see
slings over their shoulders and flew 10
their horses Never mind your saddles
mo- time for thatr yelled Blake. as ne
slipped the bit between the teeth OF MS
startled charger, then threw himself as,
tfide the naked back; Up with you snu enc
lows AT his heels away he darted nt9
the gloom guided only by the yels anu
flashes far out over the sandy plaln IN
less than two minutes every .i uouieI a., ~
pursuit. and Lieut.. Loring, sudneny
aroused from slumber, revolver In nara,
looking eagerly about for explanation oi
the row found himself stanuins guaIu
over his treasure laden saddlepass-u'-
TRcn came the whish OF rata
through the pulseloss air, the Vul,
whir-r-r of the horsehair rope through
I've loop as IL settled down over his heau,
a snap as IL few taut a suIuen s.,oeI ,,,,,, o,.
under him the crack OF his revolver, am
less n stunning blow on his prosuatc
head--then--oblivlon.
(To BE Contlnued)