The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-05
ON THE UNKNOWN TRAIL.

Theory came clearly and imperatively from the trail below. Marie Louiss sighed half regretfully. and turned pHs burro's head in the direction of the call. As she did iso something clipped neatly through the peak of Estepan broad, brimmed Mexican scmprero, ana sent a batter of dust up in the ar few yards down the trail
 Esteban never turned hk head. After twenty-six years on the border. one learns small ways of caution in mo- ments of emergency. Esteban paid strict attention to the landscape ahead, and his thin. dark hands gripped ms bridle tensely
 hoarseiy.s Tt is he"
 The second bullet caught them pefore they had gone ten feet It lodged IT
 the right foreleg of the burro pearlns the senorita. The burro stumbled heao- long and rolled Esteban haiteds For an instant the girl lay motionless.nnss
 foot beneath the burros ner lass
 shastly white in the brilliant sunshine
 As Esteban watched her. her iashes
 fiIckered and she looked up at nm,
 aYon so to Mrs. Knight at once, sne
 saad, brehthlessly.
 Esteban went. In small ways Of
 caution he never wavered rom hls
 purpose srS..a
 Marie IfDulSl WAItSu. &tCtDAAAtt1'
 was absolute silence around her. Ihe
 h,,rro moved restlessly and kicked she
 iaia one hand on its head and patted
 it gently Then she looked back up the hillside -,
 The Rattier returned her gaze. She saw him, outlined between the orisnt, suniit yellow and red of the earth, ana the deep blue of the SKY a motlohl1s9, 4ls.,ls p uprIeft figure dressed in brown, with q knot of scarlet. at his throat, and US
 mate on his sombrero. thin line or nale gray smoke curled in the ar rom the revolver in his hand.
 His horse was not the loosely joint ed. sioping shouidered breed Of the Mexican ponies. It was a slim chest nut
 Rut Marie Louise did not notice the horse. She looked at the Rattier, ana almost forgot the pain in the ankle under the Bupro The Rattler was young--also picturesque. Under the shadow of the somprero his face looked darker than even It's coat of brickeo sunburn warranted. He was smootn tFfaced and only the softness ana cnaIa'' .s of his eyes could counteract the hard ness of contour in jaws and mouth : rsuf the eyes did their work. They were l biue.ana their calmness and utter sor- | row impressed even the senorita. He slid from the saddle and hurried down the slope. slipping the revoiver back into his holster as he ran, Be- l fore she could speak. he had raised the burro and released her foot Thanks. I don't think began 1 Marie Louise with dignity sYou take off that shoe and stock- 1 ing and I'll bring water He was out l of sight before she could catch her I breath. It seemed like dream. the l whole absurd occurrence There was | -.x.a ler,, f. Net her | aunt anyfhere They would probably 1 push on to the camp and bring bdck help. But that was absurd. too There 1 uvfA no one in camp to bring but nef l uncle, and the two 5fexican youngsters l they had enlisted as general packers al Grismer. She almost laughed to thinH l of such a force advancing to her rescue I against this six foot desperate, whc could count his sscalps by the-how | many had Esteban satd?-three ano l gour nosseR, hnd-There was crashing 1 through the mesquite and undergrowtf behind her and the Rattler pushed ms l way through. hot and grim of visage | His sombrero was half full of water and leaking at all points. F Didn't say ter take of that tpere l sboeYssehe aetnanded.s sGit it of quick lbefore 1t swe1ls us"
 The lacing caught and knotted tight l lv under her nervous lingering. Hold the hat he ordered curtly ] She took 1t bg the brim and he knel l and cut the laces neatly with a knife | when she gave a gasp of pain as n' 1 tried to draw off the low shoe. n' l cut the sides coolly, threw the shoe tt one side. and waited while she took on I fl1e stocking The Rattler scrutinizet I the foot anxiousiy.
 Didn't smash 1t much" he said 1 There aint no blood, Can you stani I upY''
 "No,,I can't The senorita,s voice was not friendly. The Rattler disre 1 garted her tone. and proceeded to sloI l cold water over her foot
 l eIt may hold back the inflammation till you git some place" he said terse 1 ly,
 sPd like to know how I'm to ge | some place or any place since youv' | shot my burro."
 l There was a half tremulous quavel | under the anger and the Rattter look ed at her with sudden interest The 1 little burro kicked feebly
 Reckon he ought to be eased, don' | you?'S asked the Rattler, reaching To 1 his revolver. N'He ain't no more good. You let him alone" Marie Louis 1 sat up, and there was the light of bat