The evening world., 1912-08-13
~ The&
Triangle Cupid
By Charles Alden SeItzer
An Adventure Romance of the Big West
MOO



tions and dwelling sioauentiy upon It's
for human flesh.
Then at the psychological moment
ne had sharply warned Mexico that
the animal was behind him. MEXICO
had turned. his fear overcoming hts
caution. and upon that instant the
rustier had plucked his weapon from
Its holster.
The game was an old one; many Of
the men were In favor Of awarding
Mexico the rustler's place at the ropes
end. but calmer counsel prevailed ana
Mexico was led back to the T Down TO
he publicly kicked out by Hudson.
That was all. Now he stumbled under
the weight Of the heavy saddle - ne
reached the railroad track and swung
nee chemically along over tho ties.
For q mile or niore he travelled. WINE
the darkening shadows grew ana the
pale disk Of tho moon swan IN the
clear blue arch overhead. lighting up
his way. Eiistsning upon the two rans
that disappeared somewhere In the
darkness OF the foothills he wes ep-
preaching. He came into the lighsse
shadows Of the hills presently. Into
cut where the side walls rose above hsm
many feet .. 81"
Entering this cut, he WAS procssd1ns
absentiy, his mind on his disgrace.
when ks heard aidtAeu sound. ispDoe
rustiing leaves: a sharp. cracking rum
hle, q clattcr. . menacing sWish-and
a great boulder. Weighing many hun
dreds Of pounds, dropped with . crash
upon the track In front Of him, rolled
over upon Its nat side. poised gracefully.
and then settled down directly between
the rails.
Mexico lodged Involuntary and then
stood stiil. paraiyssd into inaction. the
Fear gripping his heart and bringing the
damp sweat to his forehead. A little
time elapsed before he went forward
and placed his hands upon the boulder
--shrinkinsly. as though It were living
thinE that might arise to rend him. He
laughed presently to think OF the scare
II had given him. wiping the damp
sweat from his brow and laying the
saddle down beside the track. For q
long time he stood beside the boulner.
trembling Around him had ssttie{lea
new silence. a silence full Of vagusnsss.
Of strang portent. Of prsmonttory willis
perings.
At first Mexico heard Il family, a.
though It were In some dream ana he
could not catch Its signincance. He
stood beside the boulder. his arms upon
it--resting while he strained HE ears
emily Il came again--the faiftt. long
drawn plant OF locomotive whistle.
Mexico smiled reminiseentIy: many
times while at the T Down haA he
heard II. and, riding line In the twilight
or going on the night watch In the
basin. had watched the giar!ng head
light swing into view around DEVILS
Curve: had seen the giimmering LIGHTS
In the windows of the coaches. had
heard the dull roar. the shrill boot Of
tho whistle. had halted his pony TO
listen while the roar diei away among
the distant foothills. and siiencs had
come again. II was the express-west
bound
Mexico leaned upon the boulder. me-
chemically computing distances. The
first warning whistle had come from
the long level behind Devils Curve.
Had he been In the basin at that mo-
,nent he would have halted his pony TO
watch for the headlight. An instant
later he would have seen II and would
have been wondering at the desperate
courage OF men who found It In their
hearts TO drive this rushing. roaring
monster through the darkness and
the dangers OF the night.
Devils Curve was miles away from
the point where he stood beside ths
boulder Yet not SO many miles after
all. Ten. he estimated roughly. He
had heard Hudson say that after leav-
Ing Devils Curve the train travelled
nearly mile a minute. for the track
was straight aud level. At that rate II
was due at the cut In ten minutes at
most
Ten minutes! why. he could hear
the rail- singing now; he could hear tina
distant roar and rumble. He thrilled
al. n nlx h. ht At hat