Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-06-05

that the man might have been her
father and that in his absence she was
doubtful what to do with the stranger.
He resolved to help her out.
Some tortlllas and frijoles for sup
per and a bundle of straw for a bed,
senorita; these would make me most
grateful" he said eagerly, and the girl
nodded brusquely and led the way up
the avenue of chestnuts and into the
courtyard of the hacienda
With gesture she detained him
while she went to the door of an. adobe
wing of the building and brought forth
a fat Mexican woman. who scOwled at
the stranger in a most unfriendly
fashion. The girl spoke rapidly to the
woman in a strange dialect, of which
now and then Il word was familiar
The supper was hot in more ways
than one, but it was good. and Blake
ate ravenOusly and drank of an excel
lent cup of coffee. He waved away
handful of cigarettes the Mexican wo-
man cOntemptuously offered him and,
to her astonished disgust, drew from
his breast pocket a pipe and calmly
proceeded to fill and light it.
my hitting the pipe instead of the
national vice has Jared them some"
meditated Blake .as he knocked the
ashes out of the bowl and proceeded
to convey his bundle of straw to the
hut which an Otomi Indian had point
ed out as his sleeping place.
Blake had planned to sleep with one
eye open until the pale dawn should
signify that eight hours of repose of
a sort had been his. Then he would
arise. throw a few dollars on the floor
and resume his tramp to the frontier.
He surmised that he was not far from
the little Rio del Cuchillo. and by
keeping close to its banks he would ul-
timately come out near Aguel, which
was few hours walk from Fort Ham,
cock.
In spite Of his efforts to keep awake
the young American fell into a sleep
through which he was ever pursued
by the fair Castilian, whose dark beau.
ty enthralled his senses. So vivid were
his dreams Of her that when he awoke
he was loath to carry out his plan of
escape.
But prudence forbade this. for he
had not comprehended enough of the
girls conversation the night before to
satisfy himself that she was not a
rebel sympathizer and to be avoided.
He was passing through the arched
gateway that led into the drive when
the sound Of voice smote sharply on
his ear. 1t seemed to come from the
wall of the arched passage. 1t was
the voice of the senorita.
"Quien esq"
When Blake hesitated before reply
Ing she added meaningly, IF you do
not answer. insurrectO. | shall shoot!"
But ! am not an insurrecto, senori-
ta. am an American" he was be-
ginning when her contemptuous laugh
ended his explanation.
"Ah, senor, perhaps you are also
the commander of the American forces
in disguise. I will thank you to return
to the courtyard to await the return
Of my father"
"And suppose do not surrender to
your wishes"
The ominous click of her little weap-
on was the only reply. Blake could
see her now in the weird light of the
coming day. Her lovely face was
framed In small window cut in the
wall Of the arched passage. There
were shadows beneath her sweet eyes,
as If she had not slept. and the long
black lashes dropped against her pink
tinted cheek.
~ surrender, senOrita." he said
gravely, and, lifting his hat. he re-
turned to the adobe hut and once
more threw himself on the straw, a
prey to thousand new emotions.
Presently there came the clatter of
hoofs as the ranchero returned from
his journey. Servants few hither and
thither, and Blake heard the distant
sound of pleasant bass voice within
the house. At last footsteps accom-
panied the voice, and he was pleas
antly aware that the senorita was
coming, too to exhibit her captive.
"Hey. therep' called out the ranch
ero in English. Then he added i'm
patiently, H"Vamos" The girl laughed
deliciously at her fathers mistake.
Blake appeared at the door as rag
ged specimen of native Mexican as
one would care to meet. But now his
eyes were bright with anticipation,
and broad grin overspread his face
as he held out brown hand to the
astonished big blond ranchero, who
had American written large over
dress and feature.
"Hello, Smith! was Blake's greet
ing.
"Hello yourself" said the other,
with puzzled stare. WHO the dick
ems are you anyway? Why, it is
Blake OF the Laguna mines. You
know I'm stockholder there, Becky"
he explained to the girl while he was
pumping Blake's arm cordially. Here,
come out of that hole, old man, and
come in among white folks. This Is
my daughter. Rebecca. Looks like q
senorita. Ell? but as loyal an Ameri-
can girl as ever left the states and
on mo down here tO rough IL with her