News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-04-26

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It's surroundings.
In the courtyard that served as
kitchen for Bonita, the aged Mexican
cook, they found her cooking frijoles
over brazier of glowing Goals, and
when the highly seasoned meal was
concluded they discovered that Bonita
and Manuel, who happened to be her
husband, had SAlmelessly deserted
their service, and they were entirely
alone.
"What shall we do?' Taber asked
the question this time.
"We better ride over to Eel Dora and
send a message to Linwood for i'm
mediate help. Let him understand
that this is a rs o s. call, wireless
code. and that help must come p. d. a.,
plain American talk!'
"Good. Our going together will en-
able one of us to reach Ell Dora even
| If the other one stops rebel bullet,
Ell? Good thing we shipped the last
accumulation of ore in season."
Eyes. We should have Linwood's
receipt for it when we reach Ell Dora.
Better take plenty of cartridges and
anything we especially value. Some
thing may break loose here before we
get back"
Just at 1ightfall the superintendent
and his assistant rode slowly down the
mountain side and turned into the beat
EN- path that followed the El Dora riv.
er across the Sandy plain. In the light
Of a full moon the shadows Of horses
and riders made huge blots on the
white sand. They rode on in silence
mile after mile, now and then the
road plunging into dark forest where
unseen streams murmul1d secretly be-
fore they dropped into underground
channels. Night birds stirred sleepily
as they passed by. Once cougar
dropped from branch directly in the
path of Taber's horse. The animal
squealed as he reared back and Taber
flashed his electric torch in the cats
glowing eyes.
Frank Whites automatic cracked
sharply and the cougar bounded into
the air and then fell dead in the
bushes.
NEARLY got you that time, Neal"
laughed Frank as they rode on.
I'D rather meet a. dozen cougars
than one snealling Mexican assassin"
retorted Neal. How many miles fur
Their have we got to goY'
Twenty, if I know my country here
abouts," returned White. '"There is a
shorter cut. When we are out of this
jungle we can skirt it toward the north
and go through the little valley of the
white hacienda
1.-THE valley Of the white hacienda"
interrupted Neal Taber curiously.
you sound like romance, Frank"
"That's what the greasers call it.
passed that way one night when was
in a hurry. There's some kind of a
fruit farm there; regular little paradise
I've heard, but haven't had time to
investigate; our rascals have raised
too much of the other thing ever since
I've been here"
''We'll try the other way-the short
err way" decided Taber.
Consequently when they reached the
end of the jungle they turned their
horses sharply to the right and found
well travelled road that skirted the
jungle for several miles; then it turn
ed to the northwest and entered be-
tween high wooded hills green valley
bathed in the moonlight.
T., ~, 90 bo
white blot.
"Yonder is the white hacienda" re-
marked Frank White as they rode
along.
Seems to be a light in the window
there. it's gone. l wonder If we're
trespassing, Frank"
Il believe there's a public right Of
way through here"
They passed a high stockade that
quite hid the white house and the
lowed the stockade for several hun
dred yards and finally emerged upon
narrow trail that mounted up and dis
appeared among tall oak trees.
"On the other side of this ridge lies
Ell Dora,' explained Frank.
They We're climbing the trail, still in
the glare of tive white moon, when two
figures sprang into view from the
shadows.
Two slim, graceful girls, daintily
clad in native costume, with dark
mantillas tossed around their beauti-
full olive skinned tinted faces, lustrous
dark eyes, lips like cactus flowers and
misty tendrils of dark hair.
They wern alike as two peas or two
roses or two cactus blossoms.
One of them Neal called the pref
tier Out Frank contested the state
ment) stepped forward and spoke mu-
sically in Spanish:
"Ah, senores, we are in great danger.
Our father has left for Ell Dora on i'm
portant business, and tonight all our
men have deserted and joined the rebel
army. The wife of one of the men
has risked her life to tell us that there
Is to be raid on our valley tonight.
You
The other girl caught her arm and
spoke rapidly i'm English.