The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-30
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cornered like a rat, had drawn ana fired
not with either aim or idea OF shooting
ms accuser, but In the hope OF so start
ling both officers that In the confusion
he could leap to the back doorway ana
escape. Loring's imperturbable nerve
and practiced hst had defeated that
scneme and laid the deserter low. and
fhssins was now languishing at Yuma
awaiting trial on triple charges. but
blake Tor second or two had felt the
ciasp OF SOFT arms about him. the wild
nutter OF meiden heart. much b<ow his
own. and Blake was human. Somewhere
ne mao met that slender girl before.
twice ne had danced at the bales in Tue
son and once attended a masauerade
where for nearly an hour he had enjoy
ed the partnership OF and had been tan
talized by maid just about the stature
OF this dark eyed daughter OF my broth
err"
Blake knew as well as does the reader
that this is no time for philandering and
had been told but not yet taught the
wisdom OF keeping we'll away from the
oamsels who, like the sirens OF oid,
twanged the vibrating strings and sang
tneir Turing songs Why should she have
nung herself between him and the des-
peradoes at that pertlous moment ana
thrown her arms around him unless-un-
less she was the girl he had been making
love to In broken Spanish during the fies-
Ia at Tucson? He would not have let
Loring knew. where he was going or wny
for good deal. But once away from him
Blake was alone, with no one TO inter
pose objection, and he went.
In three minutes he had made his eau
tous way 10 the westward willows, ana
MS heart began beating In spite OF his
determination TO be guarded and even
suspicious. for there sat the little senorita
alone. That fact in itself should have
opened his eyes and would have done
30 year or two later. but Blake was
sui a good deal of a boy, and I'm an
other moment he stepped quickly to her
side and almost swept the ground with
MS broad brimmed scouting hat as he
bowed low before her. Instantly the song
ceased, the g'Iilar dropped with an
Aeolian whine upon the sand, and as
Blake stopped TO raise IL she sprang 10
her feet. half stified cry upon her nps.
With smiling self assurance he bowed
low again, as II he would restore the IN
strument 10 the little hands that were
half upraised as though TO warn shim
back. but she began coyly retreating
from the bench on which she had been
seated. and he quickly followed murmur-
Ing protest and reinsurance IN such Span
ish as he could command, declaring he
had never yet had opportunity TO thank
her for deed of daring that perhaps
had saved his life Che knew It hadn't
the long legged. nimble tongued repro
bate), and trembling timorous. sweetiy
hesitant she fingered. she even let him
seize her hand. and only family strove 10
draw II away. She began even to listen
to his pleading. She shyly hung her
pretty head and coyly turned away and
furtively peeped across the starlt level
toward the ranch. where two dark forms.
serape shrouded. were lurking at the cor
ner OF the corral. They had come crouch
Ing forward dozen yards when some
thing. some sudden sound. drove them
back to shelter, and In the next moment
Blake heard IL. and the girl too, for,
like frightened fawn. she darted away
and went scurrying to the rear entrance
OF the ranch. leaving him 10 confront and
hail two horsemen. "Gringos" evidently,
who came Looping In on the Yuma trail,
and at his voice the foremost lea sed from
saddle and called:
rs IL Lieutenant Blake? We've come
with dispatches, sir, from Yuma" And
unfastening his saddlebag the trooper
placed packet in the officers hand.
Come this way said Blake briefly
leading toward the light and inwardly
bemoaning an Ill wind that had blown
him far more than he dreamed. A
few strides took him 10 the door OF the
ranch. The dispatches were for the
president OF the late court at Camp
Cooke for Turnbull. sor Loring and for
himself. Sending the courier TO camp
he tore open his order-a brief letter OF
instructions to furnish such escort as
might be deemed sufficient for the safe
conduct OF Lieutenant Colonels Vance
and Turnbull 10 Tucson. Then he wait
ed TO hear from them. With Sancho
eagerly scanning their faces the two
veterans had opened and read their or
ders, then looked up at each other in
evident surprise. Presently they arose
and, begging their host 10 excuse them
moment and beckoning Blake to fol-
low. stepped into the lighted bar be-
yond. Another court had been convened
another officer was TO be tried, and the
two who had offciated as seniors at
Camp Cooke were directed 10 proceed at
once to the old Mexican capital for
similar duty there.
Before sunrise. escorted by a dozen
troopers, Vance and Turnbull were on
their way, their farewell words to Blake
being an Injunction 10 see Loringr and
his precious charges safe to Yuma city
AS long as he lived Gerald Blake was
destined 10 remember the Saturday that
dawned upon them as the little party
rode away southeastward. Even the
men seemed oddly depressed. Neither
TO Turnbull. 10 Loring nor 10 Blake
had this detachment suggested itself as
possible. What with having TO send a
large portion OF his command forward
on the Yuma road 80 as TO provide com
paratively fresh horsemen to accompany
the stage with its relays OF mules
Blake found himself at reveine with
just is men all told. awaiting the COM
ing of that anxiously expected vehicle
lie prayed that Il might bring at least
one or two officers from Grant or Bo-
vic. He vainly sought another peep at
or word with Pancha; but though SAN
cho was everywhere I'm. evidence. grave
courteous. hospitable, imperturbable.
though one or two ranchmen rode In
and out during the morning. and there
was a little gathering, perhaps half a
dozen men and "Mozos" apparently
awaiting the coming of the stage at
noon. the women kept out OF sight. At
II the old lorgnette was brought to bear
on the eastward trail but, 10 the ap-
parent surprise OF the loungers,
o'clock came and no stage. and so did