The Press., 1905-09-20
BLOTTED OUT
By CAROL MURRAY
Copyright, 1905, by R. B. Mcclure

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They were a rough lot of men under
the shadow of Diamond hill-miners,
teamsters, prospectors, traders and cat
tlemen-but when old John Dyer, one
Of the mine bosses, brought his daugh-
ter Kate from civilization to live with
him there and keep his humble cabin
he had faith in that chivalry that has
always made the western man respect
the other sex. He knew that she would
have many admirers and that there
would be quarrels on her account but
he was a widower and she motherless,
and he hoped he was doing what was
best.
The cabin, like the rude and strag-
Cling village, was backed by the grim
mountain, while along its front as far
as human eye could reach there gilt
tered the white sands Of the Mo1ave
desert. Here and there out on that
dreary waste were patches Of ugly
cacti, and intuition told the girl as her
eyes searched the desert for the first
time that out there under the blazing
sun the rattlesnake basked and the
lizard glided swiftly over the bones Of
men and animals.
The desert was not always at peace,
Its surface resembling placid lake.
Now and then wind, born up In the
gulches Of the mountain, came down
and then the spectator saw great
clouds Of dust as the f1inty particles
were caught up and driven here and
there to cut and cash and wound
whatever lived. The sands never
swept in from the desert, but always
were driven the other way. Had it
not been so Diamond mine and the
town around it could not have been.
The coming of the girl among the
were a few old women there-cooks
and laundresses-but here was a girl,
a handsome young girl. Her influence
was felt almost Immediately. The
mine manager said that more soap,
combs, handkerchiefs and looking
glasses were called for from the COM
pany store in week than were bought
during the preceding three months.
At least 800 Of the thousand men
once, but when 1t came to the
point, and even after three months
had passed, there were not a dozen
callers at the cabin. A month or two
later it was said that only two Of the
dozen stood a chance. By CHANCE
they meant marriage. It never Oc-
CURED to any Of them that a girl might
have come among them without fall
ing in love and marrying one Of their
number.
1t was strange that among Kate's
earliest and most persistent admirers
was Pedro Diaz, full blooded Mex
lean. He had charge Of the company's
transportation, and he managed through
the father to force an Introduction.
He was kindly received by the girl,
but no more. He was tolerated by the
father, but there was no welcome for
him. Pedro was a swaggerer. He was
an egotist. He thought he was in love,
and once having made up his mind to
this he was ready to maintain what
he called his right by fair means or
foul.
The thousand men said that Pedro's
rival was Tommy Britt, the keeper Of
the company's store. He was an Amer
lean, young, fair looking and down on
the books to be promoted for his ell
ergy, ambition and integrity. Perhaps
he admired, as all others did, but he
had never asked himself If he was in
love. He found both father and daugh-
ter congeniaI company, and that would
have been his excuse had any one
asked him why he paid two visits
week to the cabin.
There came day when Pedro DiaZ
made up his mind to know his fate.
He chose an hour when he knew the
girl would be alone, and he dressed
in his best and knocked on the cabin
door. He believed himself irresist-
ible, and he smiled and smirked and
offered his love. There was a moment
Of astonishment, and he found himself
rejected. The girl tempered her re-
fusal as much as possible. It was her
first offer, but womanly instinct told
her to soften the blow even though the
man was obnoxious to her.
what! You refuse Pedro Diazv' ex-
claimed the man in reply. "You re-
fuse meme, who am worth $1,000
and could marry any senorita in my
own country! Do you quite understand
me?''
II have no love for you" replied the
girl. ;,
"But that makes no difference. You
shall love me later on. am Pedro
Diaz. It is the first time ever did
a woman the honor Of asking her to
marry me-"
The girls reply was firm one. and
Pedro flung himself out Of the cabin
with anger raging In his heart he
had been snubbed, humillated. made q
fool OF. There was a man IN the case
Of course. and ik could ho nanO O&Aae