Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1909-09-16

Ill DU lliSIc, OOyS, ana O-O-QOn
you forget it I'll hook him! Neva
saw anything 1 couldn't buy if 1 had
little Of the p-p-proper stuff abou
me-"
I say, Doc, that daughter Of your
knows her biz when 1t m to tellin,
fortunes" ventured a young dandy
whose head had been turned by Pc
peeta's beauty.
"D-d-daughter!" snapped the quack
turning sharply upon him: she's no
my daughter, she's my wife!"
In order to comprehend the relation.
ship of this strangely mated pair, W.
must go back five or six years to 6
certain day when this same Doctor
Aesculapius rode slowly down the
main street of a small city in Western
rugged country highway. A couple OF
miles brounght him to the camp of a
band Of gypsies.
Around q campfire was a picturesque
group Of persons, all Of whom, with a
single exception, vanished at the ap-
proach Of the stranger. The man who
stood his ground was a truly sinister
being. He was tall. thin and angular:
his clothing was scant n ragged,
his face bronZed with exposure to the
sun.
Good morning Baltasar,. said the
visitor.
The gypsy acknowledged his saluta-
ton with a frown-
Il wish to sell his horse" the trav-
eler added. without appearing to notice
his cold reception
The gypsy swept his eye over the
animal and shook his head
IF you will not buy, perhaps you
will trade" the traveller said
Come" was the laconic response,
and so saying the gypsy turned to-
wards the forest which lay Just beyond
the camp. The doctor" obeyed A
moment later he found himself in a So
questered spot where there was an
~improvised stable; and a dozen or
more horses glancing up from their
feed wh1nnied a welcome.
A little rivulet lay across their path,
and VI from the margin of it where
she had been gathering water crosses
there sprang q young girl, who cast a
startled glance at him, then bounded
swiftly toward a tent and vanished
through the opening. This keen ad-
mirer Of horses was equally s~uscepti-
BILE to the charms of female beauty.
So swift an apparition would have be-
wildered rather thar illumined the
mind Of an ordinary man. But the
quack was not an ordinary man. He
was endowed with a certain rude pow
er of divination which enabled him to
caa " n a. r1a i,c+o~ 80 I-v --.l<k L.
ton, more than the average man dis
covers by an hour Of reasoning. BY
this natural, c~lairvoyance he saw at q
glance that this face Of exquisite deli
cacy could no more have been coined
in a UPS camp than a fine cameo
could be cut in an Indian wigwam. He |
knew that all gypsies were thieves,
and that these were Spanish gypsies-
What was more natural thar that he
should conclude with inevitable logic
that this child had been stolen from
people Of good If not of noble blood!
"Baltasar!" he said
The gypsy turned.
You are a girl-thief as well as a
You stole this girl from
the family OF a Spanish nobleman. I
am the representative Of this family
and have followed you trail for years.
You thought I had come to get the
horse You were mistaken; it was the
"Perdtta!" exclaimed the gypsy,
completely off his guard.
Lost indeed" responded the uuack,
scarcely able to conceal his pride in his
astuteness. And then he added
She must be a burden to you.
8altasar. You evidently never have
able or never have dared to take
Ter back and claim the ransom which
7ou expected. I will pay you for her
md take her from your hands. It is
he child 1 want and not vengeance.
What will you take for her?"
The doctor drew a leather wallet
rom his pocket and held it up tantal-
Its influence was decisive.
"Pepeeta! Pepeeta!" called the gym
y.
Out Of the DOR Of the tent she came
per eyes fixed upon the ground. and
ser fingers picking n%ervously at the
lnsel strings which fastened her hod-
&c.
Gift me re money and take her.
The doctor counted out the gold and
hen approached the child. For the
rst time in his life he experienced an
motion Of reverence. There was some a
hing about her beauty, her helpless f
ess M his responsibility that made a
ew appeal to his heart. ,
Yielding to the gentle pressure OF his :
she permitted herself to be led l
way. Not a goodbye was said. The
octor lifted the child upon the ..orse's t
ack and climbed into the saddle. The t
child trembled; she also
epC She was parting from those e.
hose lives were base and cruel: but
were the only human beings that
lie knew. She was leaving a wagon
Id a tent but it was the only home $
at h could remember. Il
TO have a fellow-being completely
our power makes us either utterly
or utterly kind, and all that was
ntle in that great rough nature went o.
It In a rush Of tenderness toward the e.
tie creature who thus suddenly be- tt
absolutely dependent upon his Ia
mpassion. After they had ridden q r.
tie way, he began in his rough fash
to try to comfort her.
Don't cry, Pepeetal You ought 70 %
thankful that you have got ont of
e clutches of those villains. You -
u1d not have been worse off, and you
~ be a great deal better! They Ii