Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-05-10
DOWN BY THE
RIO GRANDE
BY CURRAN RICHARD GREENLEY
Copyright, 1906, bv p. c. Edstment
Copyright, 1906, by p. c. Edstmcnt

horse thief" he murmured to himself
as he sat up straight and sent the pile
of magazines crashing to the floor
There was look of consciousness
about the back of that shapely brown
head that held itself so persistently
ayerted, but Alleyne deemed it wiser
not to reopen the subject of Miguel.
Over in the corral things wore a de-
serted air. Two or three men lounged
in the shade of the high wall. Alleyne
yawned and looked at his watch and
at faint movement of the figure in the
rocker. Margaret, T. Crack-ack-
ack! Somewhere away to the west
three shots rang out in rapid success
sion, pause and then three more.
Over in the corral the lounging fig
ures sprang to life, and an instant later
three ponies were galloping in the di-
rection of the shots. Alleyne dashed
into the house, reappearing with the
field glasses. They've got himr He
was peering at n collection of black
dots on the edge of the horizon.
''Got who?" Margaret laid her hand
upon his arm.
THE mischiefp' Alleyne jerked the
glasses down. 81 forgot you were
here" Under her steady gaze his
color changed. "Yes, If you will have
the whole CHASTITY truth and cannot be
persuaded to stay out of it, it's that
scoundrel Miguel"
Margaret shrank away from him
with low cry of distress. The look
In her eyes went straight to Alleyne's
heart, and his voice softened to a ten
der pleading as he tried to draw her
to him. Little woman, you cannot be
the judge of these matters, and you
cannot shield a horse thief. / could
have told you this morning, but pre-
ferred to let you think me a bit hard
on Miguel than to shock you with the
truth. There have been some queer
happenings lately both here at the
Alaho and at Jose's Last night q
bunch of Jose's best ponies came up
missing, and the boys have been trail
ing him since sunrise"
John Alleyne, do you mean to let
those savages Of yours murder a man
here on the Alaho just for the sake of
a few bronchos?" Margaret faced him
sterniy, and Alleyne lost his hard kept
patience.
'You forget that there are mems
laws to be considered as well as Gods,
and out here on the fringe Of the world
the code knows no greater crime than
lifting brpncho, and the lifting OF
many bronchos aggravates the case. 1t
Is not a question In which my wife
may meddle." And Alleyne strode to-
ward the corral, while Margaret pick
ed up the glasses.
The wind blown stretch of bare
brown mesa told her nothing of the
tragedy hrowing behind its crest. She
watched Alleyne until her eyes ached.
A clatter of hoofs and voice call
ing her name brought her to the door,
where n half broken cayuse snorted
and paved. Astride of him sat Bright
Eyes, Miguers Indian wife, the brown
baby swung to her back. There was
queer ashen pallor on the woman's
stolid face as she slid from the pony's
back, one hand clutching at the deer
skin thong that held the papoose.
white man got Miguel Miguel he
die" Here she pointed to her throat
and made a gaspfng sound. white
squaw much hurree. Miguel he no die.
Sabe?"
Margaret covered before the awful
pleading in those savage eyes. Not
a question in which my wife may med
die" John had said, but there was no
time to weigh scruples, and Ave min
utes later q strangely assorted pair
rode into the face OF the setting sun,
and the rough little cayuse strove to
keep pace with the swinging stride or
the Hindoo mare. Far ahead black
dot moved against the sky that Marga-
ret knew to BE Alleyne. A glimmer OF
consequences flashed across her mind,
but the sweet young mouth only grew
a little firmer as she struck the trail OF
many horses and knew the goal to be
in sight.
on and on, sagebrush and prickly
pear, the yellow sand beneath and
overhead the blue melting into the
evenings violet crown-nature's own
smile upon the scene that swept into
view, where men and horses were
grouped around the impassive figure
wrapped in the ragged poncho that
lounged In careless grace against the
white Scared trunk of large mes
quite. Margaret's eyes went instinc-
lively to the lariat knotted about the
bronze throat. 1t was not the first time
that Miguel had felt il there, but Rusty
Pete himself held the end of this one.
The voices hushed instantly, and to q
man the wide sombreros were lifted as
Margaret slipped from the saddle and
stood looking from one dark face to
another. An awful sense of self en-
quilted her, and in another moment Mi
guels cause would have been lost. But
the grim set of Alleyne's mouth as he
ktarted toward her gave her the cour-
age that is born of cowardice. Before
he could reach her she had broken
through the circle to Miguel's side, and
the sun struck along the barrel Of a re- |
volvcr leveled straight at Rusty Pete. |
''Drop that roper she cried
Pete let go as If the lariat were red |
hot iron; then she wheeled to face the |
ring Of MiguePs accusers. Men OF the |
Alaho, you are many. This man is but
one, bound and helpless, but the first |
man that moves toward him does so at |
his peril. If you persist in taking him |
ii will be over my bodyw
Alleyne's eyes were blazing, but not ,
a man stirred for n long moment, an |
interminable time, ii seemed TO the wo- |
man, who stood between that ring of |
fierce faces and their prey.
God in heaven. will IL last forever"
Her brain was reeling and the black |
figures danced In blood red mist as |
earth rose In waves beneath her. The |
silent battle was almost done when |
wild yell from the darkeping mesa |
scattered the circle TO right and left |
as the man from Jese's galloped In. |
"Cut that rope" yelled the leader as |
he bore down upon the group under |
the mesquite.
Margaret staggered blindly into AL !
leyne's arms. seeing nothing but the |
flash of Pete's knife as ho cut the |
thongs, then utter hlaclness until she |
awoke to the white walls of her own
room.
Alieyne was bending over her. There
was something distinctly apologetic in /
his attitude. Margaret grasped her
advantage. 'Well?" Her tone was
4.