The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-04-04


lips would permit, continuing to plait
her hair and looking him over with
placid contempt. The Mexican cOntin-
ued to gaze at her and showed his
teeth in a white, Jagged smile.
81 no hurt-y you, senorita," he said.
"You bet you won't" answered the
queen, shaking back one finished, mas
sive plaft but don't you think you'd
better move On?H
mot hurt-y yOu-no. But maybeso
take one beso-one Ill KEGS, you call
him.
The man smiled again and set his
foot to ascend the slope. Alvarita
leaned swiftly and picked up stone
the size of a cOcOanut.
"Vamoose, quick" she ordered per-
emptorily, "you cOonp'
The red of insult burned through the
Mexican's dark. skin.
"Hidalgo, Yor' he shot between his
fangs. 81 am not neg-r-rO! Diabla
bonita, for that you shall pay me-"
He made two quick upward steps
this time but the stone, hurled by no
weak arm, struck him square in the
chest. He staggered back to the foot
way, swerved half around and met
another sight that drove all thoughts
| of the girl from his head. She turned
her eyes to see what had diverted his
| interest A man with red-broWn, curl
ing hair and melancholy, sunburned,
smooth shaver face was coming up
the path twenty yards away. Around
the Mexican'S waist was buckled PTS
tol belt with two empty holsters. He
| had laid aside his siXes-pOssibly in
the jacal of the fair Pancha-and had
| forgotten them when the passing of
the fairer Alvarita had enticed him to
| her trail His hands now flew inStinc-
lively to the holsters; but, finding the
weapons gone, he spread his fingers
outward with the eloquent, abjuring,
deprecating Latin gesture and stood
like rock. Seeing his plight, the
newcomer unbuckled his own belt con-
| tanning two revolvers, threw it upon
| the ground and continued to advance.
"Splendidr' murmured Alvarita,
with flashing eyes.
| As Bob Buckley, according to the
mad code of bravery that his sensitive
conscience imposed upon his coWardly
nerves, abandoned his guns and closed
in upon his enemy, the old, inevitable
nausea of abject fear wrung him. The
| hot June day turned to moist Novem-
Der. And still he advanced, spurred
| by mandatory pride that strained its
uttermost against his weakling flesh.
The distance between the two men
| slowly lessened. The Mexican stood
immovable, waiting. When scarce five
yards separated them little shower
Of loosened gravel ratified down from
4 above to the rangers feet. He glanc-
ed upward with instructive caution. A
pair of dark eyes, brilliantly soft and
ferily tender, encountered and held his
own. The most fearful heart and the
boldest one in all the Rio Bravo coun-
/ try exchanged silent and inscrutab1e
communication. AlYarita, still seated
within her vine, leaned forward above
the breast high chaparral. One hand
was laid across her bosom. One great
dark braid curved forward over her
shoulder. Her lips were parted, her
face was lit with what seemed but
wonder-great and absolute wonder.
Her eyes fingered upon Buckeyes. Let
no one ask or presume to tell through
what subtle medium the miracle was
/ performed. AS by a lightning fash
two clouds will accomplish counter
poise and compensation of electric sur
charge, so on that eye glance the man
received his complement of manhood,
and the maid conceded what enriched
her womanly grace by its loss.
The Mexican, suddenly stirring, ven,
tilated his attitude of apathetic wait,
ing by conjuring swiftly from his boot
leg long knife. Buckley cast aside
his hat and laughed once aloud like a
happy schoolboy at a frolic Then,
empty handed, he sprang nimbly and
Garcia met him without default
So soon was the engagement ended
that disappointment imposed upon the
rangers warlike ecstasy. Instead of
dealing the traditional downward
stroke, the Mexican lunged straight
with his knife. Buckley took the pre-
carious chance and caught his wrist
fair and firm. Then he delivered the
good Saxon knockout blow, always so
pathetically disastrous to the fistless
Latin races, and Garcia was down
and out, with his head under clump
of prickly pears. The ranger looked
up again to the Queen of the Serpents
Alvarita scrambled down to the
path.
'T'm mighty glad I happened along
when did," said the ranger. =.
"He-he frightened me So" cooed
Alvarita.
They did not hear the long, low hiss
of the python under the shrubs.
| Then came galloping to the spot the
civic authorities, and to them the ran,
ger awarded the PROSTATE disturber
of the peace, whom they bore away
Imply across the saddle of one OF
their mounts. But Buckley and Alva,
rita fingered.
Slowly, slowly they walked The
ranger regained his belt of weapons