The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-07-12
HEART or MUCHACHA


immediate shipment was imperative
The guard that had been sent with tIe
bullion had each time proved himself
a coward. Haskell knew not whom to
send.
Into the range Of his vision came
the graceful figure Of Dolores. daugh-
ter of sehorz Valdes. the half Mexican
boarding house keeper. She mas the
one beautiful thing n al that barren
wilderness
Muchacha. little child her mother
called her still. although she bad
grows into slender w0mauhOod. And
.MHchzcha- sae vas called b all the
rough. tender-hearted miners in the
camp. They w0rshiped her. perhaps
the one thing Mexican that they did
not hate in the Whole district OF so
nora. But Of ali of them there was
but one upon whom she would even
cast a glance.
THE Boy. they called him. He
had driited In from no one kneE
where. reckless daredevil, whose
face was 80 fair and boylike in con
trast to their rough skins that The
Boy seemed AZ natural 10 say as #
be really had not reached mans es-
tate.
And II was to meet The Boy" that
Dolores vas tripping down the steep
trail 10 the mine tEnnei-
The moment Haskell saw her, an
idea popped into bis head.
He opened the door ~Mpchacha.
he called Muchachai"
The girl came ohedient to his call.
"WiIl yoa tell EI senor Boy that !
wish to see him. he said il Mexican
patios.
rs II that the sen0r wished him to
20 with the bullion tomorrow"
Haskell smiled. Hush. Not word
to anyone. he said. But how did you
guess ii, Muchacha?' r
Listen, noble senor." she said.
ssubbornly. ehe must not 60. for If he
IL killed viil be as one dead. Ny
heart viii be broken. Listen. senor,
have you forgotten the day that
warned you Of ugly Pedro and his
4 wicked knife2"
Haskell's face softened "No. Mu-
chacha mia. that have not, he said
earnestly. you saved my life thai
day. said then IL ever you should
/ ask Of me a favor that l could grant
would grant il. I win keep my prom
ise. but II you ask this Of me whom
can get to take the bullion to So
nora?7
Il, Gran senor, it is / that viii DC
IT,
aYou!a be exclaimed. incredulous-
w.
think you cannot shoot?" she
cried, fearful, now that she had made
the resolve, that her request would
not be granted Look" She seized
The pistol that hung in the holster by
his side and leveled at a bald eagle
that lowered almost overhead. At the
first shot the bird paused IN its fight
quivered and an instant after came
tumbling earthward
is the senior convinced she cried
Y am brave and besides. would the
bandit hurt a woman? she queried.
'If you insist. Muchacha. / cannot
refuse you. 1t shall be as you say, but
but. my heart misgives me. -
il / could leave this cursed plaea
would 80 myself"
4 viii not be hurt. and I have your
promise, have 1 not?' she cried gayly
Tomorrow it is at nine. then? And,
laughingly shaking her finger at him
tell it to no one Good night, senor
/ Buenas Noches."
The next day the stage rumblec
away with but one occupant, Mucha
cha and her bullion sacks. To hel
side the superintendent had strapped
his pistol. Down through the canyon
the stage rumbIed. and tho cowardll
driver whipped up his horses, for Il
was just around the next bend that the
robber had last held up the stage.
The horses rounded the bend II
safety and the driver was just drav
ing a long breath Of relief When
Pingl-the OF horse fell with bulle'
through his heart The stage stopped
with lurch and as it did SO a masked
man spfang from the shelter Of rocl
and advanced toward the stage, a pis
tol leveled in either hand.
An instant afterward the door o
the stage opened and Muchacha STOOD
in the doorway. As she did SO a spur
Of fiame came from the pistol In he
hand and the bandit fell dead. Laugh
ing lightly, she ran to the prostrat'
form and snatched away the mask.
Her hand sought her heart sh'
reeIed. She almost cried out 1t wa
The Boy
A moment only did the shocl
weaken her She turned and walkel
steadily to the stage
''Vamos! drive on she cried. "W'
must be II Sonora by three o'clock"
The monastery At Sonora holds /
sister whose face Is strangely like tha