The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-12-19
WIZ saw tie Signal
forLrinnlI


sunset eonIngto ranch We turn
"a IN anli were invited TO spend the
hiriit at the house by Manuel arlo.
ne owner There were a number q
men IN the yard. al jingFing spurs, ana
nm, al them was pointed out to me ~
= trailer His name was Sancho, ana
nv Informant told me that II he were
,firopDetI down anywhere within hEty |
miles Of the ranch on the darkest q
dark nights he would feel the bushes
ana tell within thousand yards Of
where he was. These traiIers were al
ways rare and are now well nigh e1-
tinct.
only saw one woman abOnt the
house. PradO's daughter. about sixteen
years old. She was as pretty as q ltt=
lie picture. Her black hair seemed 20
indicate a trace OF Indian blood. and IN
the center of her brown cheek was q
dab OF vermilIIon. At supper she hand
ed us cofEee and during the evening
entertained US with songs. accompany
Ing herself on the guitar.
After a good sleep arose and threw
omen my window. The yard was fun
of men, plainly in Il state Of excite
ment. Prado was there swearing Ike
a pirate, occasionally stopping to give
an order Sancho was leaning against
the porch, apparently the only nncon-
cerned man OF the lot. Prado every
now and again would go up to him and
say something, to which Sancho wonlu
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 hfty
horses had been driven away from
| their range. A party was being made
l1Ia for pursuit. We We're invited to
ioih ana. after hasty breakfast,
mounted our horses. When all were
ready 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 eIectrifying corpse. Sancho
| Jumped up and ran back to the stables
| when he. returned he was splendidly
mounted. On his head was sombrero,
from under which fell long black In
| dian hair: around him was gaudy
blanket; under his right knee his VIM
chester. Prado gave the word, and
/ we were OF. Looking back, saw
something white waved from an upper
window. If any OF the party except
me saw it. they paid no attention to IT.
I Nevertheless believed it was an
..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 well
kept secret.
The stolen horses had left broad
trail, which Sancho, riding in front tol-
lowed ON we rode mile after mile
keeping the steady ranch horse tro4-
The horse thieves had nearly twelve
hours the start of US, and we were
Obliged to so faster than they could
drive the horses. At noon we rested
for an hour. 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. A faint streak IN
the east broadens, and before 1t the
face Of the moon in the west grows
ashen Then the sun rises, and we take
few hours rest.
A cup of coffee, and we were on on
our relentless pursuit. We had gone
but a few miles when the broad trail
gave place to single one, then dlsap
peared altogether. Sancho was puz
zled.
Ugh he said presently, 'they have
driven Wild cattle across their trail.
The next sign was n heavy cloud OF
smoke. Sancho said that they were
burning the dry grass through which
their trail lay, hoping to destroy II
Prado, now realizing that the horse
thieves We're near, gave the order 70
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 RrHss, unconcernedly ms
IL they had wandered away OF theil
own accord Some of our party push
ed on, hoping TO catch the thieves, bu'
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 ZIP to the ranch house
there again for moment flashed some,
thing white. We were all facing It, dnd
looked from one 10 the other for some
telItale coloron the cheek or fash In the
eye to indicate that 1t 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 It's to delay.
1--WE are to have n wedding tonight"
H.. Vn.r.