The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-07-11
HEART OF EUCHACHA
BY CHARLES w. CUNO.


little assay Office and revolved the
matter in his mind.
+ Another consignment was ready for
its trip down the mountain side and its
immediate shipment was imperative.
The guard that had been sent with the
bullion had each time proved himself
q coward. Haskell knew not whom to
send.
Into the range Of his vision came
the graceful figure Of Dolores, daugh.
ter Of Sonora Valdes, the half-Mexican
boarding house keeper. She was the
one beautiful thing in all that barren
wilderness.
"Muchacha," little child. her mother
called her still. although she had
grown into slender womanhood. And
"Muchacha" she was called by all the
rough, tender-hearted miners in the
camp. They worshiped her. perhaps
the one thing Mexican that they did
not hate in the whole district Of So
nora. But of all of them there was
but one upon whom she would even
cast a glance.
1.-THE Boy" they called him. He
had drifted in from no one knew
where, reckless daredevil, whose
face was so fair and boylike in con.
trast to their rough skins that "The
Boy" seemed as natural to say as II
he really had not reached mans es.
tate.
And It was to meet "The Boy" that
Dolores was tripping down the steep
trail to the mine tunnel.
The moment Haskell saw her. an
idea popped into his head.
He opened the door. "Muchacha!"
he called. "Muchacha!"
The girl came obedient to his call,
"Will you tell Ell Senior Boy that I
wish to see him." he said in Mexican
patios.
rs it that the senior wished him to
go with the bullion tomorrow"
Haskell smiled. flush! Not word
to anyone he said. But how did you
guess it, hluchacha?"
Listen, noble senor," she said,
stuhbornly, "he must not 60, for If he
is killed, will be as one dead. My
heart viii be broken. Listen, senior,
have yor forgotten the day that
warned you Of ugly Pedro and his
wicked knife?"
Haskell's face scftened. mo, Mu-
'chacha mia, that have not" he said,
earnestly. "You saved my life that
day. l said then II ever you should
ask ct mo favor that I could grant
would grant 1t. I will keep my prom
Use, but II yon ask this Of me- whom
can l get to take the bullion to So
nopa?"
81. Gran Senior, It is I that WIN do
It"
"You!" he exclaimed. ircredulous-
y.
think you l cannot skoot?" 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 bald eagle
that lowered almost overhead. At the
first shot the bird paused in It's flight.
quivered and an instant after came
'tumbling earthward.
rs the senior ccnvinced" she cried.
~ am brave and besides, would the
bandit hurt woman? she qNeried.
! III you insist, Muchacha, cannot
refuse you. It shall be as you say, but
but my heart misgives me. IL
II l could leave this cursed place !
would go myself"
II will cot be hurt, and have your
promise. have Hot?" she cried gayly.
Tomorrow it is at nine, then! And"
laughingly shaking her finger at him.
tell it to no one. Good night, senior.
Buenas Noches"
The next da. the stage rumbled
away with but tle occupant, Mucha-
cha and her bullion sacks. To her
side the superintendent had strapped
his pistol Down through the canyon
the stage rumbled, and the cowardly
driver whipped UP his horses, for 1t
was just around the next bend that the
Tobber had last held up the stage.
The horses rounded the bend in
eafety and the driver was just draw.
ing a long breath OF relief when
Fing!-the oil horse fell with bullet
through his ho1rt. The stage stopped
with lurch and as 1t did SO masked
man sprang from the shelter of rock
and advanced toward the stage. pis-
/ tol leveled in either hand.
&a instant afterward the door Of
/ the stage opened and Muchacha stood
in tie doorway. AS she did SO a squirt
OF fame came from the pistol In her
hand AID the bandit fell dead. Laugh.
Ing lightly, she ran to the PROSTATE
form and snatched away the mask.
Her hand sought her heart. She
reeled. She almost cried out. It was
1.-THE Boy"
A moment only did the shock
weaken her. She turned and walked
steadily to the stage.
"Vamos! drive on" she cried. I'VE
must be in Sonora by three o'clock"
The monastery at Sonora holds
sister whose face is strangely like that
81 "Muchacha."
Copyright. by Daily Story Pub. Coz