The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-29
TIE EVENING STORY
The Three Spears.

/ Beh1nd ner WAS an escort OF TOUR
| Yaqui maidens, who did not display
| the grace and abandon of their leader.
| She brought her horse up standing
within a few feet of Holcomb's own,
and the adventurer saw that she was
not Indian at all, but pure Spanish.
Her creamy oval face, full scarlet lips
and eyes like pools of black water
made her very attractive.
The black eyes appraised HolcoInb
| swiftly. He sat his horse like a COW
boy, but the pack animal behind was
laden with the outfit of the prospector
| He was bronzed by hot suns, and his
| handsome face carried an expression
| of bold fearlessnesS that just escaped
| recklessness.
! "Senor," she said abruptly in Span
ish, don't go to the Three Spears
Why" demanded Holcomb abrupt
| ly. For an instant his eyes sought the
shimmering southwest, where three
slender peaks arose from the gray of
the desert into the hard blue of the
sky
s'Dangeri'' With the single word
the girl wheeled her horse abruptly
and set off at a gallop toward the
river with her cavalcade. Their goal
was herd of cattle which was stray
ing from the vicinity of the settle
ment.
Holcomb, bordering, rode on to the
Yaqui town. Tt was situated near the
only water within forty miles,
stream sunk deep in cleft of the
the half desert prairie that stretched
away to the mountains. The huts and
tents of the town were grouped on
shelf just above high water.
TWo-score yards below the town, |
near where the women were washing
clothes, the river dived into a deep
orifice in the mountainside. Running j
at right angles with the stream was a |
range of mountains to the west, ter |
minating in the distance with the
Three Spears"
Picking his way down to the river |
along a trail steep and dangerous, |
Holcomb replenished his water supply, |
bought meal of the sullen Indians, and |
set out on his way to the west again.
AS he climbed to the plateau a chief |
halted him with appraised hand-a tall /
man with stern brown face and mar
row eyes.
The stranger must not go to the
Three Spears he grunted.
Holcomb returned the hostile gaze
with calmness. He rolled a husk Gig
arctic, lighted it and shook the reins.
Il heard you, chief" he answered.
The Indian stepped ungraciously
aside.
An hour later Holcomb noted four
dots on the northern horizon-tWo
mounted Yaquis with pack horses,
swinging out and ahead of him in a
wide haIf-circle
Ho1comb was up next morning at
the earliest break of dawn, for the
Three Spears were less than a days
journey away and he was anxious to
reach them. At noon, when he stop
ped for a hasty lunch, he was within
the mouth of the defile which led to
the higher Businesses.
He was tightening the cinch of his
horse, for the trail ahead was steep
to wheel The Spanish girl of the day
BEE was coming toward him.
Her thin dress was torn and her
moccasins We're cut to shreds There
Et-IT5 hny~ h1 &c ]
and she limped as she walked.
You must go back, she cried
in Spanish; ''the Three
Spears mean DEATH
His mouth set in an obstinate line
1--WE travelled for six weeks to see the l
Three Spears They say there's gold l
there; that's why the Indians guard I
them so closely.
The girl laid an imploring hand on !
his arm. mo, mol Her earn estness c
could not be mistaken. There is no
gold there. But in the valley of the :
Three Spears is the burial place of ;
the tribe. The Great Father comes !
here. And the white man must not {
see. t
footsteps he dies. Even now the '
guards are waiting. They will Kill you r
f you go on t
Holeomb's face fell. II don't care
IF there's no gold I'm not curious. |
But" he asked abruptly, what are
you doing with this tribe ?" =
she 1ointed to the southwest. ''He !;
lied three months ago. and the Yaquls n
seized our cattle and horses am a
prisoner, though they treat me kindly. IL
T7hev are afraid I would bring the &
,urales if they freed me-. Il
How did you get here a
s'The senior saw where the water il
lows into the mountain? At sundoWh, | s
when they were not watching, l let q
nvseIf into the river. and was earned q
through to the other side. l had seen y
he boys 10 it in play G.
eft was very dark. and the current IS :
wifi. Sometimes I struck upon the
ocks but the dear Virgin protected fl
ne. and I came into the blessed air W
gain After one passes through the al
mountain there is secret path, much e
borter than the horse must take, to Sc
he Three Spears So was in time to =
warn the senior. b,
Holcomb seized the girls hands i'm
ulsiveIy in his own. You did that Tor 81
1e?', he asked wonderingly- But you Ii
rere hl1rt-vou must have been injured ri
n the cruel rocks"
mo" she replied: "a few bruises
hey are nothing. And I did it for my to
elf. too. senior. I wanted to be free ~
gain" of
The cowboy-prospector burst into -
English: You're sure a plucky little fr
id! I'll get you back to civilization, or til
ust a 1aig! Texas Holcomb may have he
cen a pretty tough citizen, but he amt
n ongratefuI one. How do we get out f-
f here? Them Injuns may come II
urgin' down any time. An amt goin' II
take chances-with you along" Il
The girl smiled and colored at the
,ok in his brown eyes. The four
orses are hidden just below" she re- i
lied also in English and without ac- nc
emit I'VE must take them and go II
1eir valley, they will creep back and
nd our footsteps. If we leave the -.