The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-11-20

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
: BY AGNES LOUISE PROVOST :
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4 S THE shadows deepened across
II the twisting trail which Marsden
followed and no sign of human habita-
ton had yet appeared, he began to
realize that he had been a trifie too
impetuous in setting out alone over
strange roads, when the day was al
ready far advanced.
This is what 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. II believe these hills and val
leys were 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 an empty stomach, and catch
ing the deuce knows how many fevers;
providing. that mythical .brigand
doesn't catch me. If he comes I shall
try to make 1t pleasant for him."
The bushes at the side of the path
rustled ominously, and, as his horse
SHE'D. Marsden's revolver flashed up
and cleaned darkly 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 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, half~breed by birth and b1igand
by profession, was 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 jerlled 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 shivering horse, with the
limp. dead weight strapped down on
his back.
When consciousness at last came
back to Marsden he lay dazed and I'M
comprehending for some minutes, in
tho corner where he had been thrown,
trying to fit 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 all-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 captOr had bound him with dis
tinct disregard for his physical COM
fort.
1t 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 it to 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 movement betrayed his return to
consciousness as the woman presently
arose and went outside.
e Through the open door his eyes fol-
lowed her, and saw his captor stand
ing by a small fire. The Pickering
light danced on the mans face and
struck out cleaning lights from sim
ister-looking machete laid across his
arm, but his attention was centered in
Marsden's revolyers, which he was ex-
aiming with infinite satisfaction.
Marsden's wrath rose to boiling point,
and he ground his teeth impotently as
he watched.
The woman came forward and began
mechanical preparations for meal,
and Marsden saw that the face which
i bent over the fire was young and
@comely, although disfigured by recent
tears. Presently she stopped and stood
close to the man. w. sse>S,
'.You will do it, Pedro? You will
promise me this. .much?"
8Sl Marsden's Spanish was lame and
hating atsbest, but he strained his ears
to latch: and understand her words.
won erine what this could mean. Hex