The herald., 1911-12-07
HER NARROW
ESCAPE
BY MOLLlE X. WETHEREIL
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

l"O HNeu. Near Dy was another Mex
lean family consisting of father, moth
er and II son. Enrique, just coming
Of age. Enrique and Pepita, being
neighbOrs and there being no other
young men and women near by 10 di
vert them from each other, naturally
loved.
One day a man was seen digging in
a patch of ground adjoining Pepita's
property. He was an American and,
though roughly dressed, gave evidence
or being a gentleman. Seeing Pepita
standing looking at him ~curiously. he
went over to where she was and ask
ed for n drink of water. Pepita got
1t for him from a spring back Of the
house, and the stranger chatted with
her. She asked him what he was dig
ging the hole for, and he said he was
prospecting. There had been no hunt
ing for the precious metals there be-
fore, and Pepita did not understand
what he meant.
The stranger came over occasionally
after that for a drink of water or to
borrow something. He said his name
was ThomaS B~urkhalter; that he was
the son Of a gentleman in the east.
He hadn't got on well with his father
and had come out west to shift for
himself. Pepita thought him very
fine. After looking at his white face
Enrique's brown viSage was not at all
attractive. Enrique noticed a change
In her, but was at a loss to account
for ii.
one day a man came to Burkhalter's
hole. He was q well dressed man and
wore a diamond stickpin in his neck
wear. Pepita saw him and Burk-
natter standing together talking and
looking over at her house. The stran-
ger went away. and that evening
Burkhalter came over to see Pepita.
She asked him about the man who had
visited him, but Burkhalter was un-
communicative on the subject. One
thing Pepita noticed-that he was very
attentive and d%eferential to her.
B~urkhalter during the next four or
w days did as much counting as is
usually done in months, sometimes in
years. He quite carried Pepita off her
feet. She discovered that Enrioue
knew nothing at all about making love.
Enrique was much distressed. What
could he do? But Enrique had more
n than Pepita and knew a little
more about the world, though not
much more. At any rate, he had sense
enough to suspect that Burkhalter had
some motive in devoting himself TO
Peplta. He went to an old rancher
who had always been kind to him and
told him his trouble. One day ENRIQUE
went to Grigsby, the rancher, and told
him that Burkhalter had asked Pepita
to marry him.
That's all talk" said Grigsby.
mo, no." cried Enrique; they are
be married tomorrow. Pepita does
wish it so soon, but the man in
She would like to raise q little
money so that she may get some new
to make her appear worthy of
so fine a husband"
Grigsby thought. He was turning
something over in his mind. At last
he said:
IF Pepita is going to be married
she Will not need her farm. What she
needs Is a little cash. | will buy her
property. Go and ask her for what
will sell it But say to her that
l Will not buy 1t unless she keeps nv
offer a secret. You may tell her I
will give her 5000"
. Enrique sorrowfully bore the mes.
sage and returned with Pepita, who
was delighted to get so much money
Tor what was really not supposed to
be worth more than half the amount
offered. Grigsby drew up the papers
conveying the property to Enrique
Ind placed a mortgage on It payable
10 himself.
NOW" he said to Pepita, you may
ell whom you like that you have sold
your farm"
In the evening Burkhalter came to
Zee his fancee and asked her IL she
would be ready for the wedding the
lext day. Pepita said she would and
told him she had sold her
property for the enormous sum of
900. Then she showed him the money
he had got for it.
He stood looking at her with a blank
Expression for some time, then told
ler to put her name IN the back Of the
heck and he would ride to a town
miles distant and draw the one
The must be ready for the ceremony
y the time Of his return. She did as
le babe her. and, leaving her, forget
ing the kiss. he departed.
Pepita waited all that day and the
ext for her lover, but he came not.
'or has be come to this day. Pepita's
unit at last told her that he must
ave gone away with the money for
he farm. What should they do? Their
ONE was sold. and they had nowhere
D lay their beads.
Meanwhile Grigsby had gone to the
ole Burkhalter had left with experts
had found that Burkhalter had
truck a vein of ore too narrow to pay,
ut beginning to open up in the farm
'epita had sold.
Then came Enrique and showed her
Is deed to her property and told her
hat 1t was likely worth a fortune.
nd so 1t was. Grigsby furnished the