The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-03-17

neck, half-strangling him. He was
suddenly jerked backward to the floor
Of the shaking bridge, and as his
frightened horse sped snorting up the
winding path, he heard at his ear the
low, fendish laugh of his rival-Juan
d'Imray had caught him!
For a moment Emerson lay stunned
where he had fallen; then he sprang
to his feet, and his hands tore at the
tightening rope about his neck; but
a second time the cord was pulled, and
again he fell.
Then, before he could rise, strong
arms bound him, and again the de-
monical laugh rang in his ears.
"Ha. blue coat! Americanos! Dog!
You would steal my bride! Did you
think a d'Imray would retire because
you had entered the field? Fool! See,
am going to drag you at my horses
heels back to Hacienda Alrares, and
fling your carcass before the gate!
Donna Guadalupe will think the In.
dians have killed you. She will weep,
then marry me- Do you hear-at my
horses heels?. How you will bound
along the wayv'
A shrill laugh rang among the rag.
| ged rocks, as though the fiend himself
were present in the gorge that bore
| his name.
Emerson's heart stood still. Death
| was soldiers fate-a noble death his
| honor! But this-Heavcns! it was too
horrible.
"Pray. Snake, dog, spawn - pray,
while I mount!'
With whistle, the Spaniard called
his horse from the shadows behind
him and sprang to the saddle, one end
of the lariat fast about the pommel.
The horse and the two men were to-
gether now upon the narrow bridge,
which creaked beneath their united
weight, while the angry waters
foamed madly on a hundred feet be-
meath them.
The soldiers tongue Glove to the roof
of his mouth. He could not pray
and Guadalupe's kisses yet warm upon
his lips.
I'm thirty seconds we start!' Kissed
Juan, drawing his lariat taut, and
gathering the reins in his nervous
hands. "Pray, poor fool, for in less
than a moment you die"'
The lieutenant heard him not. Three
words only rang in his ears, "Yo te
amor
A cloud drifted across the face of
the moon; shadow crept by the
mounted Spaniard along the narrow
bridge, and paused close to where
Emerson lay. The murderer turned
in his saddle.
Come" he Kissed. hoarsely, I'VE
must go!' and he stuck spurs to his
horse.
But even at that moment the moon
reappeared, a steely CLEAN flashed
across the frightened lariat, it parted,
and, rising from the shadow by the
victim, stood Jacque Dumox, long
knife cleaning N his hand.
With yell of rage, the maddened
Spaniard turned, and made as though
he would have ridden both soldier and
peon down; but Dumox raised his wea-
pom and hurled it at the advancing
steed with deadly aim.
The heavy steel hissed through the
night air, and buried itself to the hilt
in the brown flank Of the plunging
animal. There came single agon-
lied, half-human scream. ringing with
shudder through the silence about,
and then, rearing madly. with one
blind spring, the horse and rider shot
downward into the black abyss be-
neath-downward to headlong death
below-and Los Mexos roared on!
Lieutenant Emerson and his beau
tiful bride moved to California, and
the old don lived with them. His
New Mexico hacienda was sold, and
the servants were discharged, except
one old man and his daughter, who are
still attached to the person Of Alvares.
But the story of that terrible night
upon the bridge in La Gorge de Diable
is known only to two. The third and
principal actor therein has never since
been seen. Los Mexos never gives up
it's dead!-Saturday Night.