Evening journal., 1905-05-10
A WELL EADNED
CONSEr


While travelling in Mexico | was pro
ceeding one afternoon ON horseback /
when l overlook a young man leading
a mule on whose back was strapped
load Of wood He was singing a merry
tune and apparently as happy as if his
lot had bees east in a more exalted
plane Having some knowledge of
Spanish, / addressed him:
"You seem very happy"
"And why notg have no riches to
make me unhappy, At present no
greater care is on me than to get these
fagots into the city and sell them for
what they will bring in the market"
I chatted with him til suddenly
young girl rode out from a thicket and
refined up before us excitedly.
what is IT, SuzanneT asked the
young man quickly.
"The bandits, Carlos"
"Welw
"They will be here in a moment /
made a short cut through the wood"
The young man looked very uneasy.
"What have bandits to do with you.
my fine fellow" ! asked-"you who
have nothing but this load Of woodT
True" he replied, recovering some
thing of his equanimity. Suzanne,
ride on. When they have found moth
ing they viii not trouble me-"
lie gave her quick look, and, put
ting spurs to her horse she disappear
ed down the road. / was somewhat
puzzled, for she did not appear to be
Of the same social grade as the man.
Her features and voice were high bred,
though her dress was plain. But no
ticed the mans features were refined
Notwithstanding his coarse garh
Presently two men came galloplng
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.
Il am not so sure" said the other.
Then, addressing Carlos, he asked,
did you come from the minesT
"No. slgnor. have been in the forest
cutting wood"
| Judged from the robbers conversa-
tion 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 his mule. One Of
them looked among the fagots, but II
was plain that the package was not
there. was expecting the bandits
would relieve me OF some $50 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 were gone the young man turned
to me-
"signor," he said In a different voice
from before, ARE you a fighter"
"That depends upon the cause"
These men will not find the maj
they are after and
He was interrupted by Suzanne re
joining us. She looked inquiringly a
Carlos.
"All right 80 far" he said, but the.
will return and, convinced that hav
i hidden what they are looking for some
where on the road. win torture me :
make me tell. Signor' he added, turr
Z. ing TO me, Il am going to fight. WI
you help me?"
: "You have no weapons"
i He stopped and pulled a revolve
}. from each boot leg. ! had my own r.
j. volver under my coat. took it out an
2 examined the chambers TO make sur
! they were all loaded. Carlos propose
i an ambush. and halting the mule. "
J. hid behind trees. which grew thic
= close to the road We waited an hou
; and were about TO proceed when W
heard horses hoofs and the two bar
a dts reappearcd. Seeing the mule stanC
J ing in the road. they dismounted an
j began TO tear off the fagots. Then Cal
Y los and | as well as Suzanne each ley
eled a pistol at them and at the wor
= given by Carlos fired. Both bandit
; fell dead.
/, We were bnt a few miles from Il
T outskirts OF the city and hurried 9
= till we arrived at a suburb whei
r there was a police station, where "
d reported the killing Of the two me
d Then we went on Till we reached q
p city. By this time a change had con
G over Carlos and Suzanne. They thre
It Off any pretense of being peasants. an
e ! was quite sure they were lover
n Once in the city, they made their wa
y TO a bank, and Carlos said TO Suzann
7. Go in and tell them TO send out Il
t It while / watch"
In a moment a gentleman came Of
hand in hand with Suzanne. He WI
h all smiles.
z my boy, I congratulate YOU
l. said "You have saved us"
/ This gentleman was of great help
It said Carlos, turning to me.
e A porter came out Of the bank Al
carried in the wood. / was invited
by the gentleman, the president Of Il
bank. and when the wood was piled
~ his private office a well concealed pll
10 was removed from the end Of each Ia
y and it was found to be hollow and II
> of gold dust
- I learned the rest later. A run
Il the bank had depleted its funds. and
!, more could be obtained nearer than q
: mines But the road was full OF ba
4 dts, and there was no guard at han
: Carlos, a poor clerk, who loved 4
= presidents daughter, Suzanne, volu
=. teered to go and bring the dust throul
- by stratagem. At this the preside
= said TO him, IF you succeed you shi
y have Suzanne" Suzanne. a spirit
I girl. had stolen away to act as a scol
nh 4. 4