The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-05

| tsteady yourself" with one hand holding the chestnut's | bridie near the bit, and the other rest | ing on the back of her saddle, he guid- 1 ed the horse down the hillside. Her l hand held his shoulder for support and I once or tawice as she swayed he put l his arm about her and held her safely. lThe first three-quarters of a mile were | covered in total silence They had I reached a nat, bare stretch of wilder l ness lying between the foothills. The senorita looked at the face beneath the 1 sombrero for the first time T am thirsty she said.
 'sYou'n have to wait awhile. There's I no water within couple of miles ex- I cept that back where we came from. We're In New Mexico now" "over the border She remembered l what Esteban had said. The Rattlers I life was not worth peso if he crossed 1 the border. For the first time during the adventure she felt a thrill of ex- l citement.
 I ..You must not go as far as the camp"
 why notY" He looked up at her | face
 briefly, "because I understand 1t would l he dangerous for you" Maybe so. Things like that don't worry me. If they're going to get me, sure they'll get me one side of the bor- der as the other That's what be- iieve."
 I .You.re fataIist."
 l whats that7"
 "A person who believes things hap pen of their own accord. Its delight II ful way to think. You never bother over anything. because you know ev- erything is going to happen anyway, and you can't help 1t.
 4xr T t.a4 wl.ak f<o1f fAxNa all right" he said slowly, you don't at first. You think you can slam l ahead and manage your whole life to suit yourself and the first thing you l know the reins are taken from you, and there's some one leading your pony for you over an unknown trail' l Like this?'
 "A good deal. You can't help your self. and you've got to travel the way say"
 "Because happen to be crippled temporarily7"
 I That's It. When Fate cripples fel- low. and turns him loose. he's sure to travel the unknown trail and get lost Or maybe he thinks he's lost I don't. believe there's that other hand on the bridle and there's somebody lead- ing who knows the way
 And you feel that your unknown traii leads over the borderr Fl | up at her suddenly.
 T hate to feel that perhaps may be the cause of trouble for you" She
 hesitated. You see, I am not fatal
 ist I'm afraid I believe In common sense more than In destiny. Just a
 little applied at the right moment VIII very often alter circumstances. Don't you think If you took me. say mile
 from camp, and left me, would find , my way7 We might arrange about the horse. Esteban could take 1t back ov- CT the border and leave 1t with you at { a given point
 I'm going straight to the camp. , answered the Rattler, deliberately.
 "But my unele--" again she hesi- . tated It was extremely difficult trying :. to carry on a conversation with per i, son. when the person.. in an entirely , impersonal fashion owing to necessity s was obliged to hold her about the . waist. as the RAttler did every now and then. She waited until Ahey had passed
 over the rocky patch of land. and the
 arm was removed. My uncle is Iris . than Knight He is interested fin copper . as I told you, and know he expects to meet some persons from Grismer, on business. It would be hard for you, and !. very much more so for me. should you meet any one in camp whom you-- : who'd be likely to arrest me-" ht 2 finished. well. you needn't worry. won't get into any trouble. For on' 2 thing you're not going to explain any ' details about me ofhand. If I get 70, to the camp in safety you're going tt play fair
 ! 'sEsteban"
 ''Esteban knows me well enough no to offer any explanations Anyhow. 3 afntt dependant on either him or vol 2 for an introduction. I ain't taking yo' home as favor. It's just convenien
 for me. I'm on my way to the arroyo 2 on my own account" At his words her first impression o him came back. It had not been foul 2 weeks since party of well-to-dS [ Americans had been robbed and kiiiet
 on the Mexican border. Her uncle wal U wealthy The Rattler was desperado
 an outlaw, man who had killed thre' e men and probably more. He must have }. heard of the business deal her unel' U was closing
 After a prolonged silence. the Rattlei E looked at her with keen measuring
 of her reasons for ignoring him. You've heard all about me. haven d you? Heard I was about the toughes @ proposition around here, yes?'
 She did not answer.
 - Didn't you? he demanded. "Dtdn' {. you hear all about the claims and hoy . killed three men"
 'Esteban said there were others JOG
 Some from the posses"
 He's a---- 1t ain't SO" He stoppe'
 abruptly, the color surging darkly t
 his face. "A mans got right to de
 fend his own life, ain't he? And if fl
 the defence the other fellow gets tn
 worst of 1t, what Is 1t, crime or fate
 Is 1t you, or the hand on the bridl
 that did 1t? They tried to do me ou
 of my share in the whole properties
 the three of them. and my partner, tn
 man I had brought from Texas. an
 stood by through every game we go
 up against in hard luck. he tried {
 kin me behind my back Was t
 blame if showed fight? And with al
 three opening up on me, was 1t m
 fault that their shots went wild an
 mine told true? Would you want
 man to stand and let his life and prop
 erty be stolen from him? killed them
 sure, I did. I'm not sorry I did it."
 What did you run away for?" He
 voice was low. Why didn't yo
 stand a trial?'
 Because there wasn't a ghost of
 chance for me- he answered coolly.
 didn't have any witnesses, nothing bu
 thA bodies of three dead men, and tn
 straight, cold blooded fact that I ha
 shot them. And the law won't talk
 A mans word in his own defence Ovr
 in GrIsmer they know I told the trutl
 and they let me pretty well alone. Blu
 public sentiment don't do man an
 good when he is shut out from his ow
 kind and feels that every time h
 shows up he's liable to be hunted dow sNN bon aaaaN