Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-06-21

was marvellous rider. and his services and those
OF his brother were In considerable request all
over the south. So some months and even wears
vent by during which many hundreds of animals
\ Spassed through the hands of the Brunels and
Nhey became the owners of comparatively large
troop OF horses. Ascensio, though a savage and
merciless rider. never during all this time gave
glimpse of the ferocty which underlay his
character.
AT length the two brothers happened. in the
natural course of their nomadic profession to
come to the estancia-this fine word may mean
anything from a large residence to a mud hovel
with roof of tin-of farmer who had recently
settled in the country and who the husband
OF very pretty wife, dark beauty of, 1t
rumored rather uncertain temper.
The farmer gave the brothers a horsebreaking
contract and for some weeks all went we'll
One evening when the farmer. tired from a long
day in the saddle, had Just come home, Ascensic
Brunei entered. and having. 1t is said, put him on
his guard by making some simple little request
murdered him in cold blood.
The actual details of this. Azcensios first MUIR
der are hard to come by. Henri. whom l met
near Ultima Casa, never told the same story twice
running and the only other witness, the wife of
the murdered man. passed through some terrible
experiences and never heard her authentic story
The main fact remains:
Ascenso murdered the farmer in order that he
might carry off his wife, which he did. besides
driving the whole stock. the cattle sheep and
horses of the dead man. into the heart of the
wilderness.
Here for time, the two brothers dwelt with
the unhappy woman. until at last Ascensio quar-
relied with Henri. 1t not for the first time
and Henri went to sleep, thinking It would have
all passed over in the morning He wakened
at dawn by voice shouting to him, and saw at
that during the night Ascensio had driven
away all the horses and had also removed the
woman.
Ascenso then said he had decided to part COM
pany with his brother for good and ALL that at
first it had been in his mind to kill him in his
sleep. but for their mothers sake he had re-
Tented. He added that he had shifted the horses
and stock to safe distance. and that If Henri fol-
lowed he would unhesitatingly shoot him down
He then rode away without more words
AS Henri had neither horse weapons he did
not follow Indeed all his efforts were directed
toward getting out of the wilderness alive Living
chiefly upon berries. he wandered for many days
finally to arrive, emaciated wreck, the
estancia of Argentine herdsman The latter
tended him and. when he was recovered gave
him sufficient provision to take him to the nearest
settlement where he duly arrived.
Proved innocent of the murder his brother had
committed he went back to the life of a peon and
shepherd and so he passes out of this history for
good
The next act in the drama opens with the ar
rival in the settlement Punta Arenas of the
woman whom Ascenso had forced to accompany
him into the wilderness She had frghtful tale
of cruelty to relate. eliminating in fortunate
escape
1t appears that Ascensio had become subject to
Its of passion frightfu that they were akin TO
madness and indeed madness of kind had al
ready declared itself in him.
The Tehuelches of Patagonia hold the wellknown
belief common to many branches of the Indian
race that when they die they pass to the Happy
Hunting Grounds On the grave of warrior
they slay his dogs and horses; within 1t they
olace saddle knife and food. and for nine nights
they kiadlo great fires. by the light OF which The