The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-04-20

What do you want?" she asked as
sharply as five hairpins between her
lips would permit, continuing to plat
her hair and looking him over with
placid contempt. The Mexican contin-
ued to gaze at her and showed his
teeth in white, jagged smile.
Il no hurt-y you, senorita,'' he said.
You bet you WON'T" answered the
queen, shaking back one finished, mas
sive plat. But don't you think you'd
better move on?'
Not hurt-y you-no. But maybeso
take one beso-one lii KEGS, you call
him.
The man smiled again and set his
foot to ascend the slope Alvarita
leaned swiftly and picked up a stone
the size of cocoanut
"Vamoose. quick" she ordered per-
emptorily, you coon!'
The red of insult burned through the
Mexican's dark skim.
"Hidalgo, Yov' he shot between his
fangs. II am not negro! 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
or 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 pis-
tol belt with two empty holsters. He
mad laid aside his sixes-possibly in
the jacal Of the fair Pancha-and had
forgotten them when the passing of
the fairer Alvar1ta 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, abiur1ng,
deprecating Latin gesture and stood
like a rock. Seeing his plight, the
newcomer unbuckled his own belt con-
tanning two revolvers, threw it upon
the ground and continued to advance.
''Splendid!' 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 weakl1ng flesh.
The distance between the two men
slowly lessened. The Mexican stood
immovable, waiting. When scarce five
yards separated them a little shower
Of loosened gravel ratified down from
above to the rangers feet. He glanc-
ed upward with instructive caution. A
pair of dark eyes. brilliantly soft and
t1erily tender, encountered and held his
own. The most fearful heart and the
boldest one in all the Rio Bravo coun-
try exchanged silent and inscrutable
communication. Alvarita, 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 Buckley's. Let
no one ask or presume to tell through
| what subtle medium the miracle was
performed. AS by a lightning fash
two clouds win 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
tlated 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 frolic. Then
empty handed, he sprang uimbly 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 be delivered the
good Saxon knockout blow, always so
pathetically disastrous to the fstless
Latin races, and Garcia was down
| and out, with his head under a clump
of prickly pears. The ranger looked
up again to the Queen of the Serpents
Alvarita scrambled down to the
, path.
I'm mighty glad l 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