Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-07-06
A WELL EARNED
CONSENT
[Original.

- "u'e vi Whose Dack was strapped q
load OF wood. He was singing a merry
tune n apparently as happy as if his
lot had been cast in a more exalted
plane. Having some knowledge Of
Spanish, 1 addressed him:
You seem very happy"
And why not? l have no riches IN
make me unhappy. At present no
greater care is on me than to get these
1agots into the city and sell them for
what they will bring in the market"
l chatted with him till suddenly a
young girl rode out from a thicket and
refined up before us excitedly.
What is it, Suzanne?" asked the
young man quickly.
"The bandits, Carlos"
"Well?"
"They will be here in a moment. I
made a short cut through the wood"
The young man looked very uneasy.
What have bandits to do with YOU
my fine fellow" l asked-syou who
nave nothing but this load of wood?"
True" he replied, recovering some
thing Of his equanimity. Suzanne,
ride on. When they have found moth
Ing they will not trouble me-"
He gave her a quick look, and, put
ting spurs to her horse, she disappear
ed down the road. I was somewhat
puzzled, for she did not appear to be
or the same social grade as the man.
Her features and voice were high bred,
though her dress was plain. But I no
t1ced the mans features were refined
Notwithstanding his coarse garb.
Presently two men came galloping
behind us and called on us to halt.
They paid no attention to me, but look
ed at the young man critically.
1T is not he" said one.
II am not so sure" said the other.
Then, addressing Carlos, he asked,
Did you come from the mines?'
mo, signor. l have been in the forest
cutting wood"
I judged from the robbers converse
ton that they were after some one who
was supposed to be carrying a large
amount Of gold dust, but they could see
no evidence Of any large package on
Carlos person or on bis mule. One of
them looked among the fagots, but 1t
was plain that the package was not
there. l was expecting the bandits
would relieve me Of some $50 I had in
my pocket, but they paid no attention
to me. They were evidently after big
ger game. They rode away, disguised
at the time they had lost. AS soon as
they We're gone the young man turned
to me.
"Signor," he said in a different voice
from before, "are you a fghter?
"That depends upon the cause"
"These men will not find the man
they are after and"-
He was interrupted by Suzanne re-
joining us. She looked inquiringly at
Carlos.
Cali right so far" he said, "but they
will return and, convinced that I have
hidden what they are looking for some
where on the road, will torture me to
make me tell. Signor," he added, turn
ing to me, 81 am going to fight. Will
you help me?"
"You have no weapons"
He stopped and pulled a revolver
from each boot leg. 1 had my own, re-
volver under my coat. I took it out and
examined the chambers to make sure
they were all loaded. Carlos proposed
an ambush, and, hating the mule, we
hid behind trees, which grew thick
close to the road. We waited an hour
and were about to proceed when we
heard horses hoofs and the two ban
dts reappeared. Seeing the mule stand
ing in the road, they dismounted and
began to tear off the fagots. Then Car
los and 1 as well as Suzanne each lev
eled Il pistol at them and at the word
given by Carlos fired. Both bandits
fell dead.
We were but a few miles from the
outskirts Of the city and hurried on
till we arrived at a suburb where
there was a police station, where we
reported the killing Of the two men.
Then we went on till we reached the
city. By this time a change had come
over Carlos and Suzanne. They threw
off any pretense of being peasants, and
1 was quite sure they were lovers.
Once in the city, they made their way
to a bank, and Carlos said to Suzanne:
$50 in and tell them to send out for
it while I watch"
In a moment a gentleman came out
hand in hand with Suzanne. He was
all smiles.
"My boy, 1 congratulate you" he
said. "You have saved U.S."
"This gentleman was of great help"
said Carlos, turning to me.
A porter came out Of the bank and
carried in the wood. I was invited IN
by the gentleman, the president Of the
bank, and when the wood was piled in
his private Office a well concealed plug
was removed from the end Of each log,
and it was found to be hollow and full
Of gold dust.
I learned the rest later. A run ON
the bank had depleted its funds, and no
more could be obtained nearer than the
mines. But the road was full Of ban
dts. and there was no guard at hand.
Carlos. a poor clerk. who loved the
presidents daughter, Suzanne, volun-
1.--k