The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-07-19

If he profanes the. valley with his
footsteps, he dies. Even now the
guards are waiting. They will kill you
If you go on"
Holcomb's face fell. Il don't care
much about graveyards." he muttered.
If there's no gold, I'm not curious.
But" he asked abruptly. what are
you doing with this tribe?"
my father had a ranch-there." She
pointed to the southwest. HE died
three months ago, and the Yaquis
prisoner, though they treat me kindly.
They are afraid would bring the
rurales If they freed me-"
How did you get here?"
1.-The senior saw where the water
flows into the mountain? At shutdown
when they were not watching, let my
self into the river, and was carried
through to the other side. had seen
the boys do it in play.
1T was very dark, and the current
is swift. Sometimes struck upon the
rocks, but the dear Virgin protected
me, and / came into the blessed air
again. After one passes through the
mountain there is a secret path, much
shorter than the horse must take, to
the Three Spears So l was in time
to warn the senor."
Holcomb seized the girls hands i'm.
pulsively in his own. ''You did that for
me?" he asked wonderingly. But you
were hurt-you must have been in
jured on the cruel rocks
NO." she replied; "a few bruises.
They are nothing. And I did it for my
self, too. senior. 1 wanted to be FREQ
again."
The cowboy-prospector burst into
English: you're sure plucky little
kid! I'll get you back to civilization,
or bust laig!" Texas Holcomb may
have been a pretty tough citizen, but
he amt an ongrateful one. How do we
get out of here? Them 1njuns may
come surgin' down any time. An l
amt goin' t. take chances-with you
along"
The girl smiled and colored at the
look in his brown eyes. "The four
horses are hidden just below" she re-
piled, also in English and without &C.
cent. I'VE must take them and go
north. If you do not come soon into
their valley. they will creep back and
find our footsteps. If We leave the
horses they will follow"
Good; we'll take the horses then.
Lead on; I'll follow. What may call
you. ma'am?"
my name is Isabella de la Barro,
but father called me 'Chiquita.'
'Chiquita'-that means little one.
Chiquita 1t isl"
The girl swung into the saddle OF
one of the horses, and they were off.
BY shutdown they had put several
miles between themselves and the dan
gerous "Three Spears" Chiquita
cooked supper on the fire which Hol-
comb built, and never had the pros
pector tasted a meal more delicious.
Holcomb treated her as he would
have his sister treated under similar
circumstances. At night she slept the
sleep of innocence and honest fatigue
in his one blanket, while he shivered
and dozed, since it grew chill when
the sun went down.
BY day they plodded northward at a
good pace, Holcomb. with his head on
his shoulder" for there was danger of
pursuit. But the Yaquis, evidently dis
couraged because of the start which
the fugitives had obtained, and the
number Of fresh horses at their COM
mand, did not follow them.
Chiquita was an ideal travelling CON-
panion. She was always bright and
gay, delighted with what the moment
brought, and taking no thought of the
morrow. She was quick to see the
changing beauties Of the vast country
and point them out to Holcomb. Some
times, with childish impulsiveness, she
tugged at his sleeve or clasped his
Drowned wrist, and he thrilled at her
touch as the strings of the harp re-
spond to the hand Of the player
After two weeks they came at last
to the sight Of a town nesting in a
hollow below the ridge of hills on
which they stood. It was mid fore
noon. The clear air etched the hamlet
with wonderful distinctness. They
could see the toy men and women in
the streets.
There's Ascension, Chiquita," said
Holcomb; "ain't you glad?"
YES" replied the girl, listlessly.
The adorable sparkle had died out OF
her piquant face.
so am l." went on the prospector.
do you know why, little one?"
She turned grave eyes upon him.
why, my friend?"
Because there's a priest there. I'm.
less" he added humbly, after a
pause, you don't want me. know
I amt good enough"
The girl. rosy with happiness. flung
herself into his arms. "Why, dearest
one," she said, in her liquid Spanish,
Y have loved thee always!"