The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-11-13


A S The shadows ~deepened across
II the twisting trail which Marsoen
followed n no sign OF human haDita-
ton had yet appeared, he began to
realize that he had been a trine too
1mpetuous in setting out alone over
strange roads, when the day was al
ready far advanced.
This is what l get for knowing
more than anybody else" he reflected,
philosophically, peering into the
tangled vegetation ahead of him for
some token that the end of his jour
ney was near, but finding only more
shadows, and an increasingly difficult
path. 81 believe these hills and val
ieys We're especially designed for I'M
suspecting strangers to get lost in.
Now | may have the pleasure of camp
ing out in this tropical wilderness all
night, on IN empty stomach, a1ld catci1-
ing the deuce knows how many fevers,
providing that mythical hrigand
doesn't catch me. II he comes / shall
try to make it pleasant for him"
The bushes at the side of sthe path
rustled ominously, and, as his horse
SHE'D, Marsden's revolver flashed up
and cleaned darkiy out of The shad-
ows, but there was another sound over
his shoulder, the swish of something
driving swiftly through the air. and
Marsden dropped like a log, under a
crushing blow on his head.
The report of his revolver echoed
through the hills, and an impatient
Spanish curse answered it, as a man
stepped out from the bushes and seized
the frightened horse, for Senior Con
zales, a half-breed by birth and bIigand
by profession, was a gentleman who
eschewed loud noises, preferring to do
his work quietly, like some low-fying
night-bird in search OF prey. Then,
with ungentle hands, he jerked Mars
den up into the saddle, binding him
there as he lurched forward, and to-
gether they picked their way through
the dark woods, the watchful brigand
keeping eye and ear alert for danger,
and the still s%hivering horse, with the
limp, dead weight strapped down on
his back.
When consciousness at last came
back to Marsden he lay dazed and un-
comprehending for some minutes, in
the orner where he had been thrown,
trying TO ft himself back to his own
identity, and his identity to the sur
~roundings In which he found himself.
The blow on his head had left it be-
wildered and dizzy. with an a~ii-pervad-
ing ache, but as the light of reasoning
consciousness filtered back into his !
mind, a dull resentment took hold of /
him. His right shoulder was wrenched |
and horribly sore from his fall, and
his capfor had bound him with a dis
tinct disregard for his physical COM
fort.
It was dark In the corner where he
lay, but slowly he made out the walls
of a hut. and then, as the sound of
~deep-drawn breaths came to his ears,
he followed 1t to a rough bed, vaguely
outlined in the far corner. A woman,
entering quietly. had thrown herself
face downward across it, and the sound
of her smothered sobs came painfully |
TO Marsden across the little room.
IT needed but this strange touch to
put all his faculties on the alert, and
not q movement betrayed his raturnIo
consciousness al the woman presently
arose and went outside.
Through the open door his eyes fol-
lowedSher, and saw his captor stand
ing BIT q small fire. The Pickering
iightdarced onthe man lace and
strnclSAAout cleaning lights from a sin