Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-03-21

In the chaparral on the edge of the
bluff Dick Matson lay fiat on his stom-
ach, his chin prOpped on one hand,
while the other rested lightly on the
shining barrel OF a rife. Below, on
the further bank OF the river, Esco-
lante, the cattle-thief, strutted back
and forth before the door of his cabin,
bis gun in his hands, his Strident voice
proclaiming TO the air his disdain for
all 0rinOoS in general, and for the
white-livered, chin0ado MatsoR in par
ticular.
Matson. unseen, and his presence
only dimly apprehended by the strange
animal instinct of the half-breed, could
hear with sufficient plainness the
gusts of wrath and objurgation which
doated up from below; and when his
own name was mingled with especially
acrid vituperations, the rage to which
he dared give no more audible vent
expressed itself in tense and impotent
mutterings
"Tll get you yet, you old cattle
thief. o Lord, o Lord, to have to lie
here and take such blasted impudence
from a black-hearted Apache mon
grelw This when Escolante's remarks
ON the status and heredity of the
0Ti10o became particularly personal
and historic wish 1 wasn't a white
man and I'd take a pot-shot at you for
luck, just as you stand, you internal,
cattle-steaiing, lying whelp. Cursed
nonsense anyway, waiting for proof,
and taking a man to the law, when
I know darn well you've a steer of
mine slowed away in the bushes
somewhere Walt till 1 find your
cache, or catch you red-handed; and
I'll make you sweat for this"
SO each vocal volley from below, d.
rected against the unseen foe that the
half-breed apprehended to be lurking
near. was answered by the hidden enc
my with one no less heartfelt because
OF being, for strategic purposes, neces-
Barily unheard.
AS time passed Matson's limbs grew
Increasingly cramped and stiff. De-
cidedly, he reflected, Escolante had
the best of the game. He cursed. soft
IL, and warily stretched himself into
q new position. The hours slipped by;
and still the half-breed, warned by his
subtle instinct for danger, kept up his
grotesque parade; and still the watch
ing man was baffled Of his clue.
The shadows heightened on the riv-
CT A few crows, loudly cawing, shook
themselves out OF the branches Of
tree near the cabin and winged them
selves for the homeward flight. Dusk
was all but fallen; and the watcher
painfully stirred his limbs, preparing
for a furtive retreat, when a new ele-
ment entered the scene below.
The girl who stepped TO the door Of
The cabin was slim and 1.-THE as q will
low from the stream. Her black hair
fell sleek and straight on either side
OF her face, hanging in thick braids
nearly TO her knees. She raised one
hand TO her forehead, shading her eyes
Cor a long look up the river, and the
movement had the supple, untaught
grace OF a wild thing OF the woods.
MatsOn drew his breath in some
thing that came dangerously near to
being a whistle. So this was ESQ.,
lante's daughter-child OF a Mexican
mother and a half-breed father-who
since her mothers death had been
with the sisters at Santa Barbara. He
vaguely recalled having heard OF the
girls return. This could be none
other than. she; for what woman,
young and beautiful. would foregath-
er with that wicked old devil, Esco-
lante.
He cautiously reached for his blno-
culars, with which he had so carefully
scanned the landscape earlier in the
day. The girl stood as If posed,
straining her level gaze toward the
sunset The glass revealed her face,
a warm brown oval, the curves as soft
and perfect as a child's. yet with the
fullness and richness Of early woman
hood. The heavy brOws were arched.
The thick lashes. frIngIng lids now
wlde-fung over soft fawn-like eyes,
surely must shadow her cheek when
the lids were lowered. The red. curry