Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-11-13
The: Groaser
Oy Phil oimns

Far up the shadowy valley. broad
and arid. developed q speck, which,
enveloped in q cloud Of alkaii. grew
, rapidly bigger.
A slender figure. white with dust.
tumbled of staggering horse and
dashed up to the door, then through
it.
Huh! It's only jose Pimas. the
Greaser." the men exclaimed con.
temptuously.
Perhaps some Of you-gentlemen
can tell me the news Of Escalon.
my home" said Jose. turning his boy.
ish face toward the men.
No" replied Tarna. the Swede. a
malicious twinkle in his eye. nothing
except that Gloria, your sister. ran OF
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 today for killing Gonzales
and robbing him."
Then it's true" Jose's dark face
went ashen.
True as gospel. Onovas is a Eoner
! at ~ o'clock
Mem" cried Jose. addressing the
crowd. my horse Is done for It's
100 miles to Escalon. and | must get
there by noon. I've got to get there.
Here's 500 in gold for a broncho."
There was a derisive laugh from the
crowd.
Who wants your gold?" Tarna
sneered? "Who've you been sticking
up for 1t, eh?"
Take s,oo-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 hoss!"
Tarna's gun was in his hand. but
no was too slow. jose wheeled and
fred as he dashed away. and Tarns
dropped.
"The telephone" ore man shouted.
"The Greaser'n go through Sabinal.
20 miles this side of Escalon. Wen
head him off-the dog"
Al 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
muring to himself as he rode. Again
and again he exchanged steeds. for
money. even II bloody and stolen, Will
buy almost anything.
An hour and a half before noon.
With a fresh pony under him. he sight.
ed Sabinal In front OF group OF
frame buildings 50 or moro 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
answered their shouts by drawing his
Colts and fattening his thin body
upon the horses back.
Like the Red sea opened before the
Israelites. the mob parted. and be-
tween the human walls Jose darted
like a bird. A fusillade followed. .
bullet grazing his temple and covering
his face with blood. He fired back ~
he loped away.
At last Escalon! In the main streets
the regular Saturday crowds had gath
cred from the ranches. Jose knew
what it meant to-day. The sun was
STRAIGHT overhead and Jose's brain
reeied frightfully. but his eyes we're
not too dim to see the rude gallows
erected by the committee for . public
execution. . lesson To all outlaws.
A few hundred feet away. now. Jose
deserted the erect form Of Onovas.
GOOD Opovss, mounted on the sca6old.
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 commouon in
the crowd stopped him.
Jose. his face dirty. caked with dust
and blood. reeIed up the steps.
TT was not Onovas. senior" he
cried. family. staggering and falling
to his knees: Il; was I. senior ] who
killed Gonzales See"-tossins hand
full Of gold at the committeeman
feet-"see, there's the gold I did II
for!"
The rope vas fastened about his
neck: the law Was avenged
0..rs L. rAnAs