Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-09
DAILY SHORT STORY
WHO SAW THE SIGNAL?
[Origfnal.l

| the owner There Were a number of
men in the yard, all jingltng spurs. and
| one OF them was pointed out TO me as
a trailer. His name was Sancho. and
my informant told me that if he We're
dropped down anywhere within fifty
| miles OF the ranch on the darkest of
dark nights he would feel the bushes
| and tell within a thousand yards OF
| where he was These trailers wereIal-
| ways rare and are now well nighteX-
| tinct.
l only saw one wouEln about the
house. Prado's daughter. about sixteen
years old. She was as pretty AS a lit
| tie picture. Her black hair seemed TO
indicate a trace OF Indian blood. ,and in
| the center of her brown cheek twas
dab of vermillion. At supper she hand
| ed us coffee and during the evening
entertained us with songs. accompany
| ing herself on the guitar.
After good sleep l arose and threw
| open my window. The yard was full
OF men. plainly in a state of excite
ment. Prado was there swearing like
a pirate. occasionally stopping to give
an order SanchO was leaning against
! the porch. apparently the only uncon-
| cerned man of the lot. Prado. every
now and again would Cup toahinrAnd
say something. TO which Sancho would
| invariably shake his head. Meanwhile
saddle horses were being led from the
| stables.
Dressing hastily, 1 went down to
| learn that during the night some fifty
horses had been driven away from
their range. A party was being made
up for pursuit. We We're invited to
join and, after a haSty breakfast,
mounted our horses. When all were
ready l was surprised to see Sancho
sitting on the porch, evidently not go
ing. Prado went up to him and said
something we could not hear, but it
was like electrifying a corpse. Sancho
jumped up and ran back to the stables.
When he returned he was Splendidly
mounted. On his head was a sombrerO,
from under which fell long black In
dian hair; around him was a gaudy
blanket: under his right knee his Win
chester. Prado gave the word, and
we We're off. Looking back, l saw
something white waved from an upper
window. If any of the party except
me saw ii. they paid no attention to it.
"adieu" TO some one of our number and
that some one saw it. but would not
admit the fact Which one of the wild
gang it was intended for was a we'll
kept secret.
The stolen horses had left a broad
trail. which Sancho. riding in front. fol-
lowed. ON we rode mile after mile,
Keeping the steady ranch horse trot.
The horse thieves had nearly twelve
hours the start of US, and we We're
obliged to 90 faster than they could
drive the horses. At noon we rested
for an Four then started on and rode
till night was coming on. when the
broad trail suddenly disappeared. San
cho said that they had scattered the
horses.
We ate a supper of bacon and hard
tack. then started on under the light of
a full moon. Sancho still kept the lead,
leaning far forward in his saddle,
watching what was now single track.
Sancho gave a grunt of satisfaction.
Before Us again stretches the wide
track made by the fugitives Midnight
comes and passes. \ faint streak in
the east broadens. and before it the
aShen. Then the sun rises, and we take
Il few hours rest.
4 cup of coffee. and we were off on
our relentless pursuit. We had gone
but a few miles when the broad trail
gave place To n single one, then disap-
pearcd altogether. Sancho was puz-
zled.
Il gh." he said presently. "they have
driven wild cattle across their trail"
The next sign was a heavy cloud OF
smoke Sancho said that they were
burning the dry grass through which
their trail lay. hoping to destroy il.
Prado. now realizing that the horse
thieves We're near, gave the order to
push ON more rapidly. and in another
hour we came up with them. There
were the herd of Prado's horses nib
bling at the grass. unconcernedly as
if they had wandered away of their
own accord. Some of our party push
ed on. hoping 10 catch the thieves, but
after several hours hunt returned with
out having even got glimpse of them.
Then. after half days rest, we made
our way slowly back to the ranch,
driving the horses before us.
When we rode up TO the ranch house
there again for a moment flashed some
thing white. We were all facing II, and
! looked from one To the other for some
telltale color on the cheek or fash in the |
eye To indicate that il was for him. / |
looked in vain. We dismounted in the |
yard and all went in To supper, which |
was the first square meal we had had |
since we started
The next afternoon we prepared TO |
continue our journey, when PradO beg |
ged us TO delay.
We are TO have a wedding tonight" /
he said. and we would like TO have !;
you present"