The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-12-11

lEal lS!Ij glance over the simmer
~ nIaIn. The stretches OF cac-
tus-dotted sand glowed like
heated oven. Far across the arid
waste n chain Of mountains lay,
purple shadow against the sky. There,
somewhere, flowed the sluggish Rio
Grande, and beyond that-safety. His
eyes wandered from point to point
with hawk like scrutiny. Only soil
tary vuture, floating lazily far above
the dry arroyo, moved on the vast, 81
lent expanse. IIe had, for the present
Mt least, outwitted his pursucrs. lie
picked out here and there patches OF
the white road that glistened through
the chaDarral and mesquite. AS he
looked q yellow haze rose in the dis
tance; then the Brownsville stage
Iurched into view, moved slowly
against the white glare like n clumsy
beetle, and was swallowed up by the
foliage. Presently il Crawled into view
again as il labored up Il steep hillside,
scarce mile off. AS il turned on to
tae crest something slipped TO the
ground and lay motionless.
The stage passed over the hill. Har-
din's eye became fixed on the point
ut which il disappeared, expecting to
see some one return for the lost bun
die. In this he was disappointed. AT
ter a little the object in the road
moved. Hardin became keenly curl.
Gus. Glancing quickly around TO make
sure no danger threatened, he picked
his way TO his horse, hid in mat Of
man2anitas, mounted and gallopcd
toward the road.
As he neared the spot it suddenly
flashed on him that this might be
trick of the enemy TO tempt him into
The open. lie wheeled his bronco into
the dense undcrbrush and dismOunted
Holding his Winchester before him.
he crept stealthily on. He had pro-
cceded but a short distance when
faint cry, rs Of young animal in dis
tress, doatcd TO him from the dircc-
tion Of the road
"A young wolf OF bear cub he
thought that has tumbled over
board" But he would not turn back
now. Life OF late had been too mon
Otonous for him to easily forego the
prospect OF diversion. Reaching the
road, he stopped and listened ntently
No sound broke the stiffness but the
faint wailing from The roadway. lie
took quick glance about him. his eyes
resting obviously on the patch Of road
where the stage had disappeared, then
he parted the foliage and ran noiscless.
ly to where the bundle lay. He stooped
over and threw aside the covering that
concealed II; then he stepped back and
gave vent TO low whistle A baby
blinked up into his face. II stopped its
crying suddenly with an indrawn sob.
and the next second greeted him with
friendly "ghoooo," rs IL proceeded to
kick itself free of its swaddlng
clothes.
Blame my eats, young uuw he cx-
claimed, his eyes hard OH the road
where it wound over the crest of the
hill; yo amt the kind OF proposition
i was lookin fer. ! can't stand we're
In the road an entertain yc. an il
don't seem like jest the proper thing TO
leave yc; but | amt never went back
on fcller yet rs 'uz in hole Shorely
yer fricnds'll miss yc an turn up fer
you fore long. But if loafer shud
happen this way, il nd be the last of
you, an jest likely as not III cit the
credit Of kidnapping yc, for my tracks
rs goin' TO give me away. Well, they've
credited me with most everything else
fcller oughtn't be proud of-an' we're
goes, fer better or worse, il can't make
lnIlCh ItI1npanaN - "A NItnnnI
beneath the baby, lifted il TO his breast
and stepped into the brush Here he
made sundry maneuyres to conceal his
tracks regancd his horse. and spurrcd
for his hiding place. Meantime he had
kept the baby quiet boo -booing." tick
ling 1t in the ribs with the muZzle of
his revolver, and addressing Ia il spec.
ulative remarks as 10 the outcome Of
their "blamed uncommon pickle"
Safe again within the protection OF
his lookout. he made the baby com.
Portable on an old coat, laid it in the
thin shade Of ledge of rocks, and. sit
ting down opposite, began to regard il
with n qulzzical air OF perplexity.
We'll young un, I've been guilty OF
many fool thing in my day, but this
caps 'em. What I'm goin' TO do with
yes more'n | can savvy--"
GOO! goo!' cSted the baby, seem.
ingly delighted with this new arrange.
inent; and, indeed, as Hardin thought.
IL was more comfortable one than
the Brownsville stagecoach.
I'm afraid you'n change yer tune.
cub, when yer feedin time comes. an
then whatll come of me amt hard TO
predict Guess ye'd hardly take things
80 easy, no-how, If yes able TO know
that ye're n guest OF Hardin. rs has q
price on his head. Well. thems the
facts, an ef | don manage To git we
often my hands. wouldn't give n pin
fer my chances. Don't We dare yell.
young un, er I'll be tempted to choke
ye," lie broke off. as the baby puck
cred up its mouth in tentative whim.
per
There. that's all right. young nm.
well manage somehow" and he
chucked /. under the chin. The baby
was not wholly reassured. and contin-
ued spasmodically n sob which threat
ened at any moment 10 burst into a
wall. Hardin took IL on his knee. Jog.
gled II vigorously, and got II interested
I'm his watch chain, which the baby
continued 10 clutch desperately tili Il
got hold Of one OF Hardin's fingers.
This IL persisted In carrying toward Il,
snoufb