The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-06

Jose" one-tirne gambler and card
sharp. whose eyes glowed cunningly In
MS siIences. and who had departed
New Mexico between two days-nra-
ceding by a scant hour a sheriff who
had not been very anxious to get near
him. San Jose acknowledged TO feel
ing something OF the same battling un-
certainty. ~
Hem not a stranger" he said with
much decision. AN he play slick han
at poker, damn he'ml'
amt just hankerin' to arger the
thing with him." declared the cook.
me an him en- git along without
gittin' any thicker than we've hin
There's somethin' about the cuss
makes me think OF Bad" Nevfns. over
at Trinidad. An, IL Dexter is him. I
amt takin' any chances What's
San Jose had drawn His breath
Sharply Looking closely at him the
COOK saw his lips settle into HARD lines;
saw his eyes CLINT with a curious min
CLING OF hatred and triumph
Know him?" he questioned.
NO. San Jose turned abruptly and
strobe to the other side or the chuck
wagon.
'Shucksl Now what do you think OF
CnatT observed the cook In an Ar
grieved tone What did I say 70
make him hun up that-a-Way7"
reFsI ; ~.
High up over Purgatory Valley a
Mexican eagle circled. looking alertly
down upon the earth-shrunk to map
For a moment the eagle noated mo
uonleSs over the valley. for In the vast.
vacant space something had moved
In the north he saw Nevins. moving
down along the brush of the river
trail; the pony looping evenly Neyius
% u
mile behind NevinS rode San Jose IN
like Nevins. San Jose did not bestride
his pony easily, for at times he stood
In the stirrups. hating the pony and
peering ahead at Nevins' back Then
there were times when he leaned far
over his ponys name and rode with
the speed Of the whirlwind. Always
this occurred when Nevins was out
Of sight behind a swell With Nevins
In sight San jose held In his pony.
over into the West there was also
movement. From near the cluster OF
Bar Cross buildings a pony had ap-
peared, ridden by the Bar Cross man
ager. His course lay exactly at right
angles with that of Nevins and San
Jose. II Nevins and McVea held the
pace they were going they would meet
IN draw about a mile from the river
McNea came steadily on. his pony
swinging In sharp canter. Five min
utes after he had left the cluster Of
low him. she rode with more effort
but her pony was the faster. Watch
ing five minutes. the eagle fiuttered
its wings, mounted higher toward the
blue that yawned above him, and de-
parted upon beating wings into the
Eastern distance
But the riders still came on In
ten minutes Nevins entered the. draw
pulling up with sharp rein as McVea
entered from the opposite end. They
met near the center, the high. slopinR
banks Of the draw hiding them COM
pletely from the gaze OF the other
riders-as they hid Miss McVea and
San Jose from each other. Hard words
passed between McVea and his punch
er. While they talked San Jose eau
uously approached the northern slope
OF the draw. dsmounted. and crept
carefully up until he commanded a
view OF the other riders. An eighth of
a mile out on the plain Miss McVea
came. riding steadily.
For an instant the scene remained
unchanged. Nevins had spurred close
10 McNea. his body was partly shield
ed from San Jose by the managers
Then from the crest OF the slope above
the draw came a flash and a duh re-
port. McNea reeled in his saddle.
grosped blindly for the saddle horn.