The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-27


and was hit nervous over H.
Tomorrow tOrenonn at 10 o'clock
he said the night before the duel. II
shall ride forth from the cottonwoods
! over there 20 meet Gulllo as he comes
out from behind the bluffs. and shall
do my best TO kin him. We win not
say goodhy, hope TO be here at this
same hour tomorrow night"
For the first time since the duel was
talked about the girl was sstisned.
There was no Dragging, no vaporing
but quiet, grim determination.
Only the cowboys were 20 witness
the cowboy duel, and they from points
afar off, Not word was dropped TO
the stage passengers who stopped for
breakfast at 4 o'clock In the morning
after an all night ride.
At 0 Viola stood In the doorway
at the lean.to, gazing with eyes. mar.
rowed to mere slit out.-out across
the endless stretch OF sagear he.
hind her ran the cottonwood llne
which marked the rivers course, and
beyond. the bluffs. But the Three
Stars men mast come from the prairie
road.
Suddenly Viola started. There was
black speck amid the gray tones OF
the sagebrush. The speck grew and
elongated. Then she realized that the
upper part Of the figure swaycd un.
certainly. II was the movement OF a
cowboy sodden drunk In his saddle.
viola's lips set firmly aud her cheeks
blanched. for the pony beneath the
figure was the calico colored broncho
OF Dave Henderson.
The broncho cantered unerrfngly to
where the girl stood. and as Il stop.
ped. the figure OF Dave Henderson
slid Imply from saddle TO ground. His
eyes were bloodshot. his lips torn
where his teeth had shut tight upon
them. One arm-the rlght-hung use.
less at his side and the duh tau Of his
chaps" was stained with crimson.
Henderson clutched at his saddle
and missed il. He swung
around In half circle and caught at
the door jamb.
The bunch on the Alameda arroyo
last night. Mlghty-queer |
business. And-I-got-this"-. He
tried to raise the unlnJured arm. but
failed. ''Treachery-treach"-
Then he lurched through the door.
way. and lay at her feet. inert.
THE Alameda arroyal And be has
ridden from there to be on time with
his arm like that!"
Something hard and hot rose in the
girls throat, and for a minute she
.ould not move. could not even 10 to
he aid Of the man she loved. The
jt.....eT:.. instinct OF motherhood was
lot within her. The light love Of the
yirl was smothered by the stronger
imotion.
She called TO her mother, aud they
'arried him into the girls own room
nd closed the door.
Ten minutes later the Widow Hu.
'er was working over the injured COW.
10Y, but the tears rolling down her
heeks were not for the man, for dart.
ng toward the grove OF cottonwoods
he calico pony Of Dave Henderson
arried figure that tried to sit up as
traight and stiff as the broncho's own.
r ever had
The cowboys, grouped on the mesa.
'atched the calico pony come out OF
ne grove, and the sturdy little gray
roncho invariably ridden by Guillo
nnced gingerly from behind the bluffs.
he two horsemen clrcled around each
Lher with spirited tactics. and then
uillo raised his pistol and shot In the
r. But before the cowboys could
We vent to their amazement the Ag-
re on the calico pony seemed TO rise
ON the saddle, an arm darted forth, :
iere was fash, report, and Gulllo
Imbled to the ground.
With an angry roar at such dishon- ;,
able action on the part OF member :
their own band the white cowboys ;,
re down the incline, while from the :
uff rushed the stream Of Mexican re- J
iners. y
The two bands reached the spot 81 =
nltaneously, and their leaders stopped y
ort, for the hat pushed back from \
e figure on the calico pony showed Z,
e face Of Viola Huber.
Suillo raised himself on the elbows
Senior Henderson, he sneered. "was
raid. The senorita would save his
nor. / do not fight the duello with
,menw
rhe girl turned upon the men with
shing eyes.
He lies with his last BREATH Dave
anderson was shot before he ever
iched the dueling ground. Ask him :
out the midnight assault on Alameda =
-oya." nj
another glance in the dIrec- IN
n Of the dying man she sprang into II
J saddle, and the groups parted to
her pass.