The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-08-12


leo Lenehan Eazed drowsily
u at n ragged line OF timber
dotted hills that rose somberly into the
swimming sunlight. They were SON.
tinels that marked the course OF the
ella River. twenty miles away. Mexico
had gazed long at them. for m hour
he had lain In the mesquite thickst.
thinking as only n man can think who
has been out In the world and found
u an enemy lie perceived q certain
dim analogy between the frowning.
solemn hills and his own life-hs felt
as the hills looked.
In the first place there was fate. Queer
thing. was fate. viewed through Asx-
ico's eyes. Apparently It had conspirsd
against him from the beginning. II bad
given him name that suggested his
mixed blood. IL had brought him into
the world through the fundamentally
OF an itlnerant outlaw. who had sue
ceeded In making a reputation that ex-
tended throughout the Terrific ~: It had
nurtured him at the breast OF q Mexican
woman who, within q year after his
birth. had succeeded In drinking herself
TO death. Thus had hope for Mexico
died early In life; thus WAS ne prsdls-
posed to crime.
Yet for the full twenty-six years OF
fate: had succeeded In walking the
straight and narrow path.
Only once had he been In danger Of
strayins from It. and that was when
during the course OF an uproarious
evening In the Top Notch Saloon, In
Silver City. q foolish cowpuncher had
tainted him concerning his birth. They
carried the foolish punchsr out on Q
shutter, and a doctor worked All night
over him. extracting the buliet-eor
Mexico had used his gun when the
conversation. For a time things looked
bad for Mexico. but the punchsr recov-
ered-and Mexico got back into the
straight and narrow path again.
Mexico was thinking OF this incident
now-alonG with many other things. Al.
ways had the world treated him shah
billy. But he had taken the trsatmsat
grimly. suffering tho humiliation OF low
birth. resisting the drag OF evil desires.
holding a stern check upon himself b.
cause-because of the Fear.
Often. without success, had he at
tempted to enalyxe the ton. this
thing that held him back from his In
clinations. Latteriy he had come to
believe II inherent-a thing belonging
to his proEenitors; q curse Of the nssh
that made his body . great. hulking
anchor upon his mind. He knew this
curse could not have coma from his
father: the outlaw Lenehan had been
feared and respected because Of a
certain reckless daring and courage
that had always marked his operations
In the Territory.
That he had come by II through his
mother he doubted not He knew the
Mexican character. He knew the stink
Ing. stealthy. snesking chill that told
of his own cowardice: he felt the
mark OF II on his face whenever dan
ger confronted him; he felt II in his
heart. he felt II In the cold tingles
that reached from his brain to his
heeis-gripping him and paralyxing his
muscles and ciouding his thoughts. II
was a thing that made him weak and
validating; made him crinse whom fac
ing q brave man: made him yearn to
strike In the dark.
Something Of this passion gripped
him now as he lay In the mesquite
thicket gazing at tho somber hills or
the ella. Something OF the hate and
the murder-lust of his prosenitors
moved his lips from his teeth and
caused him 10 sneer at the shadows
of the hills. Yet he did not yield to
IL, for he knew II was the Mexican
blood. II he had wished to revenge
himself. why had he not done so when
the insult had been offered himf
Hudson, the manager of the T Down
ranch. had discharged him--had not
only discharged him but had booted
him out of the door OF the ranchhouse.
And Mexicos gun had reposed In Its
holster! Why had he not used Il?
Why? Certainly not because oppor-
tunity had lacked. Hudson had stood
In the ranchhouse door. his arms folded
has he NJ nj
scramble to his feet. His hands had
been nowhere near his guns; Mexico
could have replied to the insult with
his own weapon. Why had he not done
SO. lie kGnw. Hudson had known.
Hudson had laughed grimly as Mexico
had got to his feet. and had jesrsd
him as he skunk away TO rope his pony
In the corral. II had been the Fear.
lTo.Bs ContiausQ