New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-21


spirit Was his brthright And had It not already been
gentle and loving. and generous To- him Md great
est Of al possible gifts It had brought him to the love
Of Mildred Tc,rplcton. Suddenly he Saw that ne owed
a vast debt Of gratitude To this land lie hai been
given lie and love From ms HE and from ms "Vc nc
must make return 10 the uttcrmost possible lie must.
He would
Tho bronco sbtly conscious Of the rcsurgcnt yIgpr
II is rider cngthcncI and made its stride more brisk
and rushed along the level mesa that stretched away on
al sides 10 the siaiOwy mountains like du'ky sea,
.y,rhung b ih. immense dome II the bIuc-bldek sky
now being studded with ever increasing muluudcs Of
exceedingly bulmn, stars. He soon IN sight ot his
little adobe house
A,bc d,,rloun,cI he was thinking no, Of his problem
or Of his determination 20 ,pyci he was thinking That
after me- had attended % h', pony needs he would walk
across the mile Of mesa tina, separated him from the
Templc',n ranch and again See Mildred
THROWING the bride lines forward over his ponys
head ne entered the house 20 light lantern. SIM
uancously Alcsg Bill Tarpcy entered the main room
from door al the bach; which opened into little lc,nto
kitchen and storcroom where for the las, halfhour he
had been patiently waiting lie carried lighted lamp
which he placed on the table saying
Good cvcnn, Padre. I've come 70 give YOU mes
sage"
For a moment Wrghtman, shocked violently out Of
his musng mood could not ind his voice to reply but
"Wha, IS the message" ne said at last, nervous
trrruor in his tones that sent a lazy, snccrng smile
Pickering across Mcsctl Bills grim mouth.
ITS short and sweet, said the gambler I'm a
committee Of one from the business men OF san Juan,
who feel tina, j, time for YOU pull your freight We
don't like YOU nohow We won't stand no buttln' IN on
our plays. You got to hit the trail much-o pronto.
is that all the message; asked Wnghman His voice
no longer shook His eyes ncntly studied NcscaI Bill
Amt that good an plenty? Well, no. it amt ALL
-, sYI,ln ..',,i, 4 cad
pencil and a sheet Of paper with which he had laborcd
when waiting for Wrightman coming Here's little
document YOU got TO sign. II says hereby promise TO
leave Santa Cruz County and never come back more
Put your name TO that Padre and then we'll get
hosscs and I'll escort you down the trail bit Well
"Tarpcy, | don't mean 10 sign that paper.
"Padrc, don't care what you mcan-tor you must,
And with a dclibcratiOn meant to be powerfully I'M
prcssvc dcbcraton that resulted from his knowledge
that the clergyman did not carry arms, Alescal Bill
slowly reached for his gun.
He ran into the surprise OF his life.
With rapid gertrude that any gInman of the South
west would have approved, the Rev. Thomas Wright
man drew forth Uncle Bill Tcmpctons sixshooter and
cvclcd it firmly between Mcscals astonshcl eyes, and
in voice that denoted, Enthusiastically die cuts out
coin, the strength and purpose OF his will he snapped
Hands up!'
Mesca Bill stuck them up instantancously.
"Now, them don't sign that paper, but you dol
Take the pencil and sign! II your hand goes your
gun, | fire.
The gambler picked up the pencil. But to sign the
paper meant that he signed true warrant of cxpu-
sion from San Juan. where he had been prosperous:
for he knew there many who thought it high
time that he remove himself
Padre he said, "you win. You called my bluff
But it only Joke
~ mighty poor one. Sign the papcr,"
lust a moment. Let me tell you the straight Of this
The boys get into an argument about your nerve The
most say you amt got any-you being sky pilot and
cndcrfoot. So its stakcd out that come up here and
kind of try YOU. 1t was all joke, and"
",rh1f Ina.nt 10 rnrnn,." Wrinht,,,nr