Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-07-31
! Out on the Pampas /!
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By q. A. HENTY

''Oh, 1t was q mlracle.' 6eth 6alQ,
thoughtfully. II have no doubt that it
is all true, and wish could read it for
myself. 1 can just remember that my
mother put a great store Of her Bible,
and called it the Good Book. l can't
read it myself, and shouldn't have time
to do it If l could; so it's all one as far
as that goes. 1 am just hunter and
Indian fighter, and don't know that for
years 1 have ever stopped so long under
roof as have here. My religion is the
religion of most of us out on the prairies.
Be honest and true to your word Stick
to friend to death, and never kill man
except in fair fight. That's about all.
and l hope it will do; at any rate, it's
too late for me to try and learn a new
one now. l listen on a Sunday to your
fathers reading, and l wish sometimes
l had been taught; and yet it's better as
1t is. A man who acted like that
wouldn't be much good for a rough life
on the prairies, though have no doubt
1t could be done in the settlements. Now
1 will go ON with that yarn I was just
beginning.
Zone day OUT captain sent for Rube
and me, and says, I've got job for you
two scouts. It's dangerous one, but
you won't like it any the worse for that,
I know
He was the lightest-hearted fellow, was
Rube; always gay and jolly, and wouldn't
have hurt a squirrel, except in stand-up
fight and as a matter Of business.
"'What is it, CapT said L; you've only
got to give us the word, and we're off,
"I've had message he said, from
Col. Cabra Of their service. that he is
ready to turn traitor, and hand us over
some correspondence Of Santa Anna, of
which he has somehow got possession.
Being q traitor, he won't trust any one,
and the only plan we can hit upon is that
he shall make a journey to San Miguel,
thirty miles north Of this, as If on bust
ness. l am to make an expedition in that
direction, and am to make him prisoner
He will then hand over the papers. We
shall bring him here, and, after keeping
him for time, let him so on parole. No
suspicion will, therefore, at any future
time, arise against him. Now, / want
you to go on tomorrow to San Miguel.
Go in there after dusk, and take up your
quarters at this address. Get up as Mex
leans; 1t only requires a big cloak and u
sombrero. Stay all next day, and till day
break on the morning afterward, and
then ride back ON this road. You will find
out, in the first place, whether Cabra has
arrived, and, in the next place, whether
El Zeres is In the neighborhood. shall
only bring forty men, as l do not wish 1t
to be supposed that 1 am going on more
than mere scouting expedition. You
understandT
"'All right, Cap; we'll do it, said,
and we went off to our quarters.
1--WE had better start early, Seth said
Rube, say at daybreak.'
"'What for, Rube?' said.
"Rube laughed. 4 don't want to get
there before dusk. You remember Pc
pita? You know l did feel uncommon
soft toward Pepita, and really thought
Of marrying and taking her back to Mis-
souri,
"'Only she wouldn't come, RubeT
"Just so, Seth said he, laughing. So
we agreed we would be the best friends
and she asked me, II ever went out to
San Miguel, to go and see her. She lives
in a small hacienda, a league this side of
| the town.
81 saw that It was OF no use to argue,
but didn't like it, The Mexican women
hated US worse than the men did, and
that warn't easy to do. But next morn
ing of we started, and by ten o'clock we
rode up to the door Of the place which
Rube said answered to the description
| ho1 cyiv Il -
| place, with trees around 1t, and might
have been the residence of a small pro-
prietor such as Pepita had described her
father to be. As we rode up to the door
1t opened, and l saw at once that Rube
was right, for a dark-eyed Mexican girl
came out and looked at us inquiringly.
What can do for you, seniorsg she
| asked.
| Don't you remember me, Donna Pc
pitaT Rubo said, laughing. as he lifted
the sombrero which had shaded his face.
'"rhe girl started violently. 'Ah, Sig
nor Americana, Is IL you? might have
known indeed. she said, smiling. by your
size. even wrapped up. This, Of course
Is Signor Seth-you are always together
But come in.' she said.
| VINO nave you got inside, Donna
PepitaT Rube asked. L know that |
can trust you, but can't trust others,
and don't want 1t known am here
THE house Is empty Pepita said
My father is out. There is only old Ja-
cinta ut home
AT this moment an old woman made
her appearance at the door, and at a
word from Pepita took our horses, while
Pepita signed us to enter.
Excuse me, signora,' l said. We will
20 first and see our horses stabbed. 1t is
our custom; one never knows when he
may want them
81 thought Pepita looked annoyed. but
1t was only for moment, and then she
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