Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1906-09-29
The Heart Of Muchacha.
BY CHARLES w. cuNo.

BY CHARLES w. CUNO.
Copyright, 1906 by Daily story Pub. Coz
For the past two trips the stage
that carried the bullion sacks from
the Golden Nugget mine to Sonora
had been robbed by lone highway
man HASKELL superintendent Of
the mine, s,ood at the window of his
dingy little assay Office and revolyed
the matter in his mind,
Another consignment was ready
for its trip down the mountainside
and its immediate shipment was inn
peratiyc The men, mostly Amer
leans Of the rougher class that had
drifted down into this seemingly
God-forsaken Mexican country, were
already grumbling about their de-
layed pay and another weeks watt
ing might provoke anything from a
riot to massacre. The guard that
had been sent with the bullion had
each time proved himself coward,
Haskell knew not whom to send.
Into the range Of his vision came
the graceful figure of Dolores.
daughter of Sonora Valdes, the half
Mexican boarding housekeeper. She
was the one beautiful thing in all
that barren wilderness.
'Muchacha," little child, her
mother called her still, although she
had grown into slender womanhood.
And 'Muchacha" she was called by
all the rough, tender-hearted min
ers in the camp. They worshiped
her, perhaps the one thing Mexican
that they did not hate in the whole
district of Sonora.
They hated the land, the Next
cans, and even the swift-scudding
sand lizards, but the Gold Nugget
mine paid its men well, so they
fingered, toiled on and loved
Muchacha." But of all of them
there was but one upon whom she
would even cast a glance.
"The Boy" they called him. He
had drifted in from on one knew
where, reckless daredevil, whose
face was so fair and boy-like in con-
trast to their rough skins that 'The
Boy" seemed as natural to say as if
he really had not reached mans es-
tate.
And it was to meet ''The Boy
that Dolores was tripping down the
steep trail to the mine tunnel.
The moment Haskell saw her, an
idea popped into his head He
knew '"The Boy" knew his courage,
admired his strength and knew also
that he could shoot straight. Ur
doubtedly he was the man for the
bullion shipment. Of the mans
anteccdents he knew nothing. He
must trust him to be honest and
trust him he would.
He opened the door "Mucha-
cha" he called, "Muchacha p
The girl came obedient to his call.
'Will you tell Ell Senior Boy that
] wish to see him." he said in Mex
lean patios.
Isl, Senor," the girl said, willing
ly. She took a few steps, hesitated
and turned back.
'Is it-may | ask the noble Senior
a question:
Haskell nodded.
"Is it that the Senior wished him
to go with the bullion tomorrow ?"
Haskell smiled. "Hush! Not
word to anyone" he said ''But how
did you guess it, Muchacha?"
The girl colored beneath her dark
skin. "My heart told me- she said,
lefiantly, shaking out her black I
eurls.
'Listen, noble Senor," she said, |
5tubbornlN "he must not go, for if
ne is killed, | will be as one dead
My heart will be broken"
"But the bullion. The men are
getting ugly | need brave man
ike your Boy He must go. Why
S it? Do you fear that he will turn
coward like the rest? ?"
The girl drew back with an in
ured air.
"He," she cried, disdainfully, sit
S not that that | fear. Dios milo,
t is only that he will be too brave"
"Then he is the man that / want"
Tho GIRLS Inns tiohtenad