Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-10-22

American answered the call, the va.
cant eyes rekindled. The daughters
drew back into the midst of the foil.
age OF the court Quesada picked at
his throat, and paper shook in his
hands.
Listen, big man." came harshly
from the gray visage. All this is
yOurp-only kill Jose Costa when Ne
comes, and you marry my daughter,
Mazda"
But" Jim began.
The old man fell back and heard
nor was heard again. Death erept
upon him from beneath and SILENTLY
as spring fills its basin in a rock.
From the paper which made him
rich, Jim glanced out into the court
where the fountain tinkled. He met
the eyes Of Magdalena there. Some.
how, he thought about that breezy
night in the campus. and how NettIes
eyes were 1T Presently be dropped
Into his hammock. and his mind
played with the puzzle, until slumber
drew on apace. When he awoke be
wrote to Nette. Here is part:
I've got a world Of money in a silver
nine Out / don't see how l can keep Il.
Inc old man who left It 10 me wasn't
Hght upperartly, and | think I'll negot
ATE the stun and turn II over 10 the
daughters. Sit tight, little girl; IN get
a-hold OF another fortune somewhere
Don't forget that I'll happen in upon YOU
one OF these Sundays with a preacher
ana couping-pin; also finances for two.
I've been thinking about you every min
uts' Yours until lifes sunset.
jim.
After this heavy effort, jim medi.
lated long time. The paper cover.
Ing the possessions Of Quesada was
MADE out to him, SO he couldn't turn
II over 10 the daughters just as It was.
He must 90 to Amadillo and sell the
Lode, dividing the proceeds between
the Sisters Quesada. He wished that
the old man hadn't gone crazy at the
last. He didn't see how he could very
well reimburse himself for his sery.
ices as the chief Of STAFF of Corazel's
defenders, at the expense OF the girls.
1t would be holding out on the defense,
less. But there was no need to
hurry. The days we're very hot for
travel, and SO he put Of his Journey
TO AmadillO. He was vaguely sorry
to keep Nettie waiting. Her answer
came at last. Here, in full, is the In.
telligence II bore:
Why, you dear old Delayer. I'm mar
ried and have baby. Nobody but Evan
geline could wait forever without any
help from the postal service. l don't
mind telling you. jim Qf you'll burn this
letter., that | might have waited q bit
longer, except that there Is no redemp-
tlon Tor a woman when she begins to re-
ilect the glow OF ''life's sunset" Il isn't
mean TO tell you that I'm happy. because
l Know You are. Jim Quest couldn't helm
being happy.
Yours on the other side of sunset.
NETTIE HOLDING.
Jim drew out his match box.
scratched. resuvian, and dutifully
ignited the letter. Its a fact" he
reflected. 81 suppose l should have
written to her. After all, Jerry Hold.
ing Is a good fellow"
Magdalena came with broom and
dust-pan and swept up the charred
paper from the floor. How simple and
restful 1t would be now. with Nettie
dead to him, to carry out the wishes
OF Senior Quesada! What a gorgeous
creature Magdalena was.
The next day he set out upon his
journey. Word that the Lost Lode had
been found startled the sleepy city
An expert and representative of cap,
ital accompanied Jim back to the
mountain treasure. All that Quesada
had dreamed was true. With a sum
of money that would cause certain
men 10 turn foe 10 their race, Jim
rode into COraZel one jeweled dawn
after all absence Of four days. 1t was
right good to be home again.
The natives gathered about his
pony near the edge of the village. and
it was gradually borne to Jim that
Jose Costa. bandit and son of ban
dit, had descended while he was away,
and that Magdalena was gone.
DO you mean that you allowed that
robber to come in and loot the town
ct its LADY," Jim questioned reproach-
fully. Spanish was OF course being
spoken.
But, Senior jim" they told him
breathlessly, "Senor Jose did not ell.
ter COrazel. He remained with his
men out on the mesa and whistled. II
was in the dusk. and long after he
had ridden away We found that
Senorita Msgdalena was gone. with
her entire torZal."
'Huh-'tOrzal?'" jim repeated duly. |
His little Spanish dictionary gave
light in the word 'trousseau." Pm
afraid | should have done no better
than you did. neighbors," he declared |
at length. squirting on toward the casa |
Of the late Senior Quesada.
81 guess I'll have to go down deep
er into Mexico" he muttered. Cora.
eel is getting too heady and tumultu.
Gus for me-"
Some one was standing in the door.
way f-the Quesada house-a figure
with which his mind had grown un-
familiar I'm the late furious days