The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-07-08

abruptly as the mans face turned to
! ward her.
Even at this distance she could see
the malicious ape-grin. 1t was Man
uel Valdez. Carramba! What was
that low brute doing here. and where
was he-her sweetheart? Where was
he?
The man on the rock was drinking,
long and leisurely, something whisky
no doubt-from bottle.
Lolita's frightened eyes roved from
him to the broncho. tied to a tree at
the edge OF the arroyo, then back
again. She could not see into the pool
Itself from where she STOOD the rocks
intcrfered.
Her breath failed and her very heart
halted when the one below pointed to
it with one hand and beckoned to her
with the other.
A yell OF coarse laughter came up
the hillside.
! At the sound the girl threw away
the one loose glove and hurried down.
ward.
| Now she was past the jutting angle
of overhangng rocks and but ten
PAGES from the pool, Valdez between.
She looked past him In an agony OF
relief. Bross had been taken unawares
by the Mexican. He was wrapped
from shoulder to heel in the snaky
folds OF two lariats-trussed so that
he was little more than an inanimate
log. There was the tip of branch to
serve as gag thrust roughly into his
mouth and tied behind.
And he was in the midst Of the pool,
cent into sitting posture, his back
against supporting bowlder and an
other slab laid heavily across his
knees, precluding any possibility Of
movement
Lolita drew a hand across maddened
eyes and looked again. Valdez leered
viciously at her.
well. little one" he snarled in
Spanish, "you see! Quick work, eh7
You go up the hill from your Ameri-
cano and behold-he becomes drown
ed ratr'
valdez. you dogr she cried, with
eyes ablaze. Let him go! Do you
hear me? Let him go!'
mot /, Lolita. 1t has been too great |
a trouble to put him where he is. You
do not notice the labor | have per
formed in stopping up the holes in the
walls of our small meeting place of
waters. | have crammed every crack
with grass and sod, Lolita. Soon the
water will be deeper. If your amigo
IS thirsty 1t is we'll He will not have
ong to wait"
The girl understood.
She gave one shuddering, gasping
Job; then, shrieking, she ran forward,
rying to pass. Valdez pushed her
pack.
n the dust.
"You will not do this-this dreadful
hing Manuel? Manuelr'
Nothing shall save him. / hate the
ursed Americana! have hated him
ince the first time l ever saw him.
lie would have taken you from me.
lie shall die. Lolita. And | am not
fraid of your running away, my dear.
'ou will watch every one of the tiny
ubbles. You can say farewell And
ye will hear the rat squeak-begging
Or life. Keep back now"
Valdez leaned over the crystal sur
ace and cut the string. The branch
18th its brush Of green needles drop
ed into the water. Bross worked his
umb jaws and tongue convulsively.
olita staggered around TO the far side
the pool and crouched at It's very
ige.
Bross met her eyes quietly with a
tile smile.
"You must go. sweetheart" he said.
L is useless to wait II will only
luse you agony. There is no reason
mercy in him. He is insane with n
1nk-and worse. Go now as fast as u
~ can" u
The girl covered motionless for an D
her moment, then leaped to her feet n
I'd began wailing frantlcally. The n,
alter was over her lovers tightly CO
osed lips. HI
Manuel" she moaned, her arms out Of
retched. ~ yield. | will be your G
I'VE. Only take me away do not So
ant to see this-this man dier z
The Mexican reached out his drunken -
ms. She was close-within easy
ach. 4
they were standing at the margin
the water, now dancing in the rain =
ops.
looking down. she saw the first air
bibles leap upward from the nostrils
the drowning man.
[ was over in an instant The long
tpin was in her hand 1t leaped for
I'd like a snakes fang
ust behind the ear of the Mexican
truck ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS out
lin, leaving a tiny mark-a mere
ok of the skin. it seemed. But the
n fell heavily, his head and shout
s In the water.
Even before he struck Lolita was
ring az the sods and watching the -
lked contents Of the pool gush out
/ plunge over the bank Then
life from the belt of the dead man
shed the bonds. and with the
ength of desperation she rolled the