Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-05-31

rlulng erect ana elastic, MS 1ace-0
stone, and his eyes-ice.
Presently the sun dropped abrupt
ly over the far edge of the sand
bank, and there succeeded a brief
twilight of the blanched grayness of
death. The Mexican swung himself
lightly from the saddle and with a
gesture TO his companion to do like
wise began to loosen the "bellyband"
from his sweating mustang. This
new move was viewed by the Ameri-
can with suspicion and alarm; but,
seeing that no immediate danger was
imminent he alighted slowly on the
further side of his fellow traveller,
and cautiously unsaddled the animal.
The Mexican, in the meantime had
staked out his horse with his RATA,
and was now busying himself with
the preparation of some coffee over
a small spirit-lamp. When this was
done he spread n blanket upon the
sand, and, motioning the other to be
seated opposite, they ate slender
meal of crackers and canned corned
beef, washed down with the steam
ing coffee, and topped off with spar
ing drink from the water-bottles.
Dinner over, the Mexican stretched
himself at ease upon the blanket, with
. a brown paper cigarette between his
slender fingers; fixing the American,
between the smoke wreaths, with a
sustained, impersonal regard under
I which the latter soon found his eyelids
dropping with irritating persistency.
The significance of this over-mastering
TNr-sNx - i 4 i
til, in moment when he had wrenched
his gaze from that impenetrable, idol
mask Of a face opposite, with the Gig
arctic smoke curling above it like
streamers of incense, his eyes fell upon
the others tin coffee cup. It was full.
In the act of rising to shake off the
/ deadly lethargy which was overcoming
him, he swayed unsteadily for a mo-
ment, and then fell heavily back upon
the blanket.
When the American next opened his
eyes, his gaze rested on a strange
sight. Far down near the horizons
rim, cold, glittering moon was fash
ing pale radiance over frozen white
sea. At least this was the first i'm
preston on his confused senses, from
which the numbing effects of the drug
he had swallowed had not yet disap-
peared. The weird appearance of the
desert was further heightened to him
by the fact that his eyes were nearly
on level with the sandy surface; and
he had much the feeling that swim
mer in heavy sea, and out of sight
of land, might experience.
His gaze roamed DULY over the
bleak expanse, and finally rested on a
dark blotch few yards in front of
him.
He watched 1t in a puzzled way, his
logged mind struggling vaguely to
shake itself clear of the mist-weight
that lay upon IL. Suddenly the blotch
stirred, and the marble face of the
Mexican CLEANED like white cameo
In the moonlight. Recollection and
physical sensation returned to the
American in bound. His muscles
tautened in their preliminary TO at
tempt movement, but his frame re-
fused TO respond. His glance dart
, ed downward and encountered-sand
He was buried TO his neck.
In an ecstacy of madness and fren,
zied terror he strained every muscle,
nerve and fiber of his imprisoned body
until the blood literally burst from
, his nose and mouth. 1t was useless
He was as immovably fixed as If he had
been In bed of cement. Then he
raised his bloodshot eyes In mute ques-
tioning to the silent figure seated in
the moonlight. The response came
| quickly.
The Mexican rose deliberately, and
releasing the re-saddled horses from
their tether, he led them in front of
the helpless captive and stood for q
moment looking coldly and specula-
| lively down upon him. Then his face
| seemed to break up as a mirror is
starred in breaking, and he smiled n
frosty, devilishly malignant smile
Still smiling, he drew from his saddle
bag paper-wrapped parcel. Care.
fullyunrolling this, he disclosed an open
book which he deposited face down.
ward upon the sand Immediately be.
meath the Americans eyes. The print
ed space was heavily blackened over
with ink, all but one line, and this
| stood out, easily readable in the daz-
zllng light from the desert moon.
Theli ran: "ocho por ocho, O'Dente
por dente." Can eye for an eye, and
| tooth for a tooth.l
The unhappy American was quick to
| grasp it all.
He ran his glance to the top of the
page: del Neuva Testamento."
The Mexican mounted his horse and
grasped the reins of the companion
animal. His smile had broadened and
there was cool amusement in his eve
What you call-ah-some Screen.
ture-No?" he said gayly. Then, lead
ing the Americans mustang, and with
out one backward glance he rode placid
| ~ back in the direction from which
they had come.-Overland Monthly.
Mixed on HIS YnVreIa