Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-08-27

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The bIistering sun peIted with IL
IRE the shanties Of Santa Rosa BY thu
Rio Pecos. Already the bar q
bunch had started on their wild Satur
day drunk, the broncho rack outside
MigueI's lOrod emporium being
tangle Of restless pony desh.
Far up the shadowy valley, broad
and arid, developed speck. which
enveloped in cloud Of alkali, grew
rapidly bigger.
A slender figure, white with dust
ktumbled on a staggering horse and
dashed up to the door, then through
II.
"IIuhl It's only Jose Pinas. the
Greaserl" the men exclaimed con
temptuously.
Perhaps some Of you-gentlemen
can tell me the news Of Escaion,
my home" said Jose. turning his boy.
fish face toward the men.
NO" replied Tarna, the Swede, q
malicious twinkle In his eye, nothing
except that Gloria, your sister, ran on
with Onovas, the murderer"
Jose's hand flashed to his holster,
but he replied quietly:
Il know that"
did you know" Tarna went on
that the committee will string him
up at noon to-day for killing Gonzales
land robbing him?"
"Then it's true!" JoSe's dark face
went ashen.
"True as gospel. onovas Is . goner
at IL o'clock"
"Men!" cried Jose. addressing the
crowd. my horse 10 done for. IT'S
100 miles to Escalon, and I must Get
there by noon. I've got to get there.
Here's 500 in gold for q broucho."
There was derisive laugh from the
crowd.
WHO wants your goldT Tarna
sneeredi "Who've you been sticking
up for 1t. chr"
take s2OO-it's for Gloria!" Joe
pleaded.
Tarna moved threateningly, but
Jose darted through the door.
The jeering cowboys followed.
Tarna in the lead. At the threshold
he yelled and sprang into the open.
Hes on my hossl"
Tarna's gun was in his hand, but
he was too slow. Jose wheeled and
fred as be dashed away, and Tarna
dropped.
"The telephone!" one man shouted.
"Tho Greaser'll 90 through sabinal,
20 miles this side Of Escalon. Wen
head him ofE--the dogl"
At Corral Blanca Jose snapped
steeds with little difficulty, for he left
his own tired animal and much gold
In exchange.
Then he galloped on, dizzy with
heat, now In deep, dry ravines, again
over and along high parched ridges.
"Poor little sister!" he kept muir
to himself 90 he rode. Again
and again he exchanged steeds, for
even II bloody and stolen will
buy almost anything.
An hour and a half before noon,
with a fresh pony under him. he sight
cd Sabinal. In front Of q group Of
frame buildings 50 or more men from
the ranches punched themselves
against his coming.
1t was too late to turn back now.
Like the wind he was upon them. He
their shouts by drawing his
Colts and fattening bis thin body
upon the horses back.
Like the Red sea opened before the
the mob parted, and be-
tween the human walls Jose darted
like bird. A fusillade followed,
bullet grazing his temple and covering
his face with blood. He fred back -
he Hoped away.
At last Escalonl In the main streets
the regular Saturday crowds had gath
cred from the ranches. Jose knew
what 1t meant to-day. The sun was
straight overhead and Jose's brain
reeled frightfully, but his eyes were
not too dim to see the rude gallowH
erected by the COMMITTEES for public
execution, lesson to all outlaws.
A few hundred feet away. now, Jose
deserted the erect form Of oncvas,
good Onovaa, mounted on the scanold,
his hands tied behind his back. Her
arms about his neck. Gloria stood By
him weeping.
"For the murder Of" the commit
teeman began. but q commotion IN
the crowd stopped him.
Jose, his face dirty, caked with dust
and blood, reeled up the steps.
1T was not Onovas. senior" he
cried, family, staggering and falling
to his knees; IL was !, senior. who
killed Gonzales. Seer-tossing hand
full Of gold at the committeeman's
feet-"ses, there's the gold ! did It
FORE
The rope was fastened about his
neck; the law was avenged.