The Washington times., 1904-09-04

ter for me TO leave the national road
| intimatiu- that I had escaped the au-
| thorities-which was true enough-and
was wanted for being a rebel.
You are not the first person who has
found n retreat in these mountains. -
! replied the man.
He came out of the house. examined
my horse and equipments, and seemed
to size me up generally.
! Revolutions" l said. have been so
frequent. rcbellions so common. and po-
Itical preferences of so doubtful ma
ture, that often a man who one day is
high in authority is the next day fu-
| fsitive."
You are a Stranger he inquired alb
ruptly.
"A stranger I come to your door
Il mean a stranger to these parts, &c
he said. You would not come here
| otherwise"
mo. or 1 would not let night over
! take me in this out Of the way place,
| 1 answered.
Even for the maliciousness Of his eyes
and the ugly look he had given me,
/ thought that he could not be without
some sense of human feeling for
stranger But I believe. however. that
even had l come there as a fugitive, I
would have but ran from one danger to
meet another, for men of his character
are avaricious and selfish. and any I'M
fortunate individual VINO falls into their
J hands is a fit subject FOR plumber.
! 1T is not much / can DO for you he
! said finally.
But you will accommodate me with
such as you have?" I asked.
NO. senior, I've no room" he replied
/ shaking his head. You no stay with
/ me-house above-yoU go there. They
sometimes have room-may keep YOU
He pointed up the trail, and L saw as
he did so his mouth twitch a little.
! Had 1 been running from danger l
should have taken this 4 warning and
kept clear of the house ne mentioned
How far have I to go?'' asked.
| 1T is right ahead-round the turn" he
replied.
Acting upon his suggestion, bid him
good day and followed the trail as he
had directed. knew now that 1 had
about come TO my journeys end. The
! house he had reference to was without
doubt the rendezvous of the bandit chief.
Montaveo. My feeling of satisfaction
ut having found the place Out-weighed
I ali fears 1 might have had. ! did no;
| once think but that l would be able 10
/ take care Of myself, come what might
| 1 found the house as the Mexican said
/ would It was a low stone building
| with three rooms built side by side. AMI
| stood under the shelter Of high preci-
pice. while in front the ground fell away
/ gradually. 1t was so constructed that il
could be made strong place Of defense
as the small windows in the front Of the
house had a wide sweep Of the pass; and
-F4~,1, ~aI
with this object in view.
Two lazy looking fellows. sitting in
front Of the door. made grab for their
| guns as / approached: but seeing that
was alone. quickly regained their COM
| posture. I told my story, and asked
them II I might stay there for the night
we will see II we can accommodate
YOU" said one OF Them.
4 cannot go on / replied Let me
! have little straw in the stable. The
night is cold. or L would not mind lying
outside. And. as you can see. my horse
is spent"
It's a hard country on a horse OBJ
! served the other man.
IT'S hard country for any one" re-
marked the other fellow. Not safe
after nightfall-nor safe any time for
strangers Too many turned gucrrillas."
The country IS all unsafe for me-"
/ replied.
Maybe, senior. but the government
never sends any troops here" he
answered, with a broad smile.
Where are you sOing?" asked the
other fellow.
I expect to get TO Very Cruz some
time" ! said.
Not good place to go TO-" he re-
piled. They have the vomito there"
I dismounted, and, as II l meant to
stay there whether they wanted me 10
OF not, followed them into the house.
Il will pay YOU" l said, drawing my
purse, and letting them see that IT con-
tanned only a few reals and few other
coins.
After some fumbling among small
change / handed one Of the men four
reals. He took the money, and said
| that he would do what he could for me,
In the meantime questioning me further
as TO who ] was and how I came there
l held 10 the story that l was "A fugitive;
and they finally accepted the statement,
or at least enough OF it % believe that
1 had some reason for wishing to con-
ceal my identity.
My horse was led TO rude affair used
as a stable. 1 went 70 see that he was
well cared for. When we returned to
the house there was a third man there,
a lean visaged fellow, who kept his
scrape wrapped closely about him.
He looked up. but on the whole re-
garded my presence with "a silent in
difference which might have been taken
for contempt. The Mexican who came
In with me introduced me. inaufring
my name.
Foster l answered. giving my
mothers name. It was also a part Of
my own. but / seldom wrote IL.
They all went out of the house after
awhile and I could hear them talking
together. It would appear, from q word
or two I caught now and then that
most Of the band was away. but that
they would return before long.
| When I first came 10 the nlaca 7
looked eagerly for some evidence Of Mr.
Melrose. II was possible that he was
in the further room Of the house The
first room, which was open on the front
was used as a stable. and the middle
room was the living room But. after
listening, I could hear no sound and
concluded that he was not there.
Senior goes tomorrow asked one Of
the men, when they had returned