The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1906-09-22
The Heart Of Muehacha.
BY CHARLIE w. cuNo.

the mine, stood at the window of hi
dingy little assay Office and ~revolve,
the matter in his mind.
Another consignment was read.
for its trip down the mountainsid
and its immediate shipment was i'm
perative. The men, mostly Amer
leans of the rougher class that haC
drifted down into this seemingly
G~od-forsaken Mexican country, wert
already grumbliGg about their de.
layed pay. and another weeks wait.
ing might provoke anything from g
riot to a massacre. The guard that
had been sent with the bullion had
each time proved himself a 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 'Muchacha0 she was called bv
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 Mexi-
cans, and even the swift-8cudding
sand lizards, but the Gold Nugget
mine paid its men well, so thew
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
a reckless daredevil, whose
face was so fair and boy-like in CON
trast to their rough skins that 'NThe
seemed as natural to say as if
really had not reached mans es-
ate.
And it was to meet ''The Boy"
hat Dolores was tripping down the
teep trail to the mine tunnel.
The moment Haskell saw her, an
dea popped into his head. He
new "The Boy" knew his courage,
.dmired his strength and knew also
hat he could shoot straight. Up-
.oubtedly he was the man for the
shipment. OF the mans
.nteeedents he knew nothing. He
aust trust him to be honest and
rust him he would.
He opened the door. "Mucha-
he called, 'SMuchacha !"
The girl came obedient to his call.
will you tell Ell Senior Boy that
wish to see him." he said in Mex
an patios.
Isl, Senor," the girl said, willing
z. She took a few steps, hesitated
nd turned back.
"Is it-may | ask the noble Senior
question: {
Haskell nodded !
"Is it that the Senior wished him !
} go with the bullion tomorrow ?" !
Haskell smiled. "Hushl Not a
ord to anyone" he said. "But how Z
d you guess ii, Muchacha z" !
The girl colored beneath her dark !
an. my heart told me-" she said, |
ehantly, shaking out her black :
iris. S
"Listen, noble Senor," she said. s
Uniformly, she must not go, for if
is killed, ! will be as one dead. e
y heart will be broken"
But the bullion. The men are t
ugly. | need a brave man s
&c your Boy He must go. Why S
it? Do you fear that he will turn P
ward like the rest?" Il
The girl drew back with an in. t.
red air. a
'He," she cried, disdainfully, cit
not that that | fear. Dios milo. r
is only that he will be too brave" "
"Fhen he is the mar that l want"
The girls lips frightened. Y
"Listen, Senor," she said, @have 81
u forgotten The day that l warned r.
u of ugly Pedro and his wicked
ife?" O
face softened. eNo. G
lehacha mia, that I have nor he .