Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1911-06-09
Punishment
BY HELOlSE BRAYTON
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.


of IL hand of robbers who were ter
ror to the gold miners. What was his
surprise to hear when he reached the
locality in question that the bandits
were led by girl twenty-one or twen-
ty-tWO years Old.
GOnS;.lez cOrnercd them and called
on them to surrender. The reply that
came from the little mountain pocket
in which they We're ensconced was IL
burst of giiliSh laughter that was
sweet and musical.
In the fight that cnsucd number
were killed on both sides. but the BAN
dts were practically annihilatcd. A
few were made prisoners. including
the girl leader. who was addressed by
the single name of Concia.
''Scnorita." said her captor. II dis
like to shoot woman. Promise me
that you vii! abandon the life you are
leading and l will spare your life"
II prefer to die with these men
whom you have not yet killed.
The lieutenant WINGED. lie would
rather iii" himself than kill woman,
especially this one.
Suppose" he said presently. ''you
all give mo your pledge to go to your
homes and lead honest lives"
"As for homes" the girl replied. I'VE
have meme. but we are willing to break
ur and join 10 other band, living as
honest lives as we can without starv-
Ing"
There We're but half n dozen men
left. Gonsalcz would have shot them.
but to save the girl he made good his
proposition. Each one Of the band
gave the required promise and went
his way. Concia did not seem by any
means pleased with the arrangement
on her own account. She acted as if
she would rather have died and had
only assented to it to save the lives OF
the remnant of her band. She turned
away from the lieutenant without Il
word of thanks and. taking a trail
leading mp the mountain. was soon
lost to view.
A year passed. during which no rob-
berries by Il regularly organized band
were committed. Then the trouble
broke out afresh. 1t was supposed
that the remnant of the old band had
broken their pledge and become the
nucleus of a new one. Whether they
had the same leader as before was a
matter Of conjecture. GonS:,ez was
considered the man above all others to
go to the mountains and destroy the
robbers
Friends warned the bandits Of the
approach of the soldiers. and they de-
termined to retreat to a spot where
they could defend themselves against
a greatly superior force. Gons;lcz fol
lowed them. but when he came up
with them saw that they We're not only
in an impre@nable position, but that
they outnumbered his own force. New
ertheless he attacked them. Receiv-
Ing murderous fire. he lost Il large
number of his men. while none of the
robbers was killed. Not only this:
sallying from behind their improviscd
fort. they drove the soldiers before
them till they in turn We're obliged to
take refuge in n gorge where they had
chance to defend themselves. Night
came on. and Gonsalcz. who knew no
way out of the trap he WAS in. looked
to the morrow for slaughter of his
force.
He had rolled himself in his blanket
and was sinking into n troubled Stun
Der when he felt II touch. By the light
Of smOldering fire he saw bending
over him woman. and in that woman
he recognized Concia
"What-you here!" he exclaimed. Il
supposed you We're in command of the
robbers"
NO, senior lieutenant. though l am
the only one of my band who is not
there. told them that if they broke
their promise to YOU l would punish
them. and ! am here to give them
that punishment. Let your fires go
out and then get your men under
arms. will lead You to place where
you can come down on them. taking
them unawares."
! GOnsalcz determined to trust her
and acted accordingly. About mid
night. when the fires We're all out and
the robbers could not see them move.
the soldiers. led by Concia. who seem
ell to have the eyes of cat. passed
through detile and just before the
break of day emerged from a thicket
OF low trees. rushed down upon the
sleeping robbers and after killing two
thirds of them overpowcrcd the rest
This is your victory" said Gonsale:
to Conria. 1T is for You to say what
shall be done with the prisoners"
Concia pecrcd into the faces Of the
captiveS and picked out three men,
These" she said to Gonsalez. "wcre
OF my band. and saved them. They
have broken their pledge. Indeed.
they organized the new band. Shoot
them. Spare the rest under new
pledge"
| Her orders were carried out to the
letter. When tho troops were ready to
depart Lieutenant Gonsalez promised
COncia that If she would 20 with them
he would sec that the government re-