The Glasgow courier., 1916-12-01
The Boy
Bushwhacker
By DONALD CHAMBER m

TWO American boys, whose fathers
were engaged in business in northern
Mexico. were out hunting: What they
were after was not rabbits or squirrels
or birds. They wanted bigger game
They were bushwhackers. From be-
hind a tree. a stone or a bush they
would pick OF the bandits. Their
homes had been plundered and the
brother Of one Of them. George Dor
rance, had been killed by the men they
were now taking revenge upon.
George had lain In wait for a strag-
gler from the band Of one Alvarez and
shot him from behind a tree. Imme.
diately after the deed was done
Iexican woman, who knew George.
saw him emerge from the timber.
Passing along the road she saw the
dead bandit lying on his back. his
CLASSY eye looking up at the peaceful
blue sky. Alvarez had heard the shot
behind him and, desiring to know what
II was about, turned and rode back.
Seeing the dead man. he asked the
woman who shot him. She told him
that George Dorrance had done the
deed, and pointed In the direction
George had gone.
Warren Edwards, Georges compan-
ion, was waiting for him not far dis
tant, and they moved on together to-
ward Georges home. Presently look.
ing back. they saw Alvarez coming.
He was on an elevation in the ground.
and they were on another The Dor
rance house was a short distance be.
low. and, boylike, instead Of going into
hiding anywhere else they made for it.
They were met at the door by Mrs.
Dorrance.
Mother" said George. Il shot
bandit, and think one Of 'em is COM
ing for me-"
A moments thought decided her. and
she led them to a garret, unceiled and
the joists above uncovered. On these
joists were piled some old beds.
"Get 'lp there" said the woman.
The boys climbed up and hid them
selves in the, bedding. Unfortunately.
Alvarez had seen them 60 into the
house and knew they were there. He
was full Of wrath at the loss Of his
man and determined to wreak 1t on
the slayer. Riding up to the house,
he threw himself from his horse and
stalked in with knitted brow and a
merciless look in his eye.
Il want boy named George Dor.
rance" he said to Georges mother.
"There's no such boy here"
~He Is here; saw him come in with
another boy q. few minutes ago. You
might as we'll produce him and save
me the trouble Of looking for him."
what do you want to do with him ?"
"Never mind that; tell him to come
out Of hiding"
The woman stuck to it that George
was not in the house.
Are you his mother?" asked the
bandit.
"Yes."
As soon as he received this reply
Alvarez gave up trying to persuade or
frighten the woman into giving up her
son and went through the house
searching for him. As soon as he saw
the beds stored on the joists above the
garret, recognizing 1t as a most likely
hiding place, he examined It and yank-
ed the boys out. Hustling them down
stairs, he took them out in front of
the house.
(which Of you boys Is George Dor.
rance?" he asked.
Neither replied. Alvarez asked the
question of Mrs. Dorrance. who had
followed them out Of the house. She
would not reply.
Il want to know" said Alvarez an
grily. (which one Of you boys. Is
George Dorrance, who just now sho1
one of my men. If can't find out II
kill you both, for I'm determined tt
kill tho one who did the bushwhack
Ing"
George declined to give the required
information. and Warren was deter
mined that he would not betray hi.
friend. Whether Alvarez admired al
act of heroism ON the part Of one O.
the boys unknown to him or from
some other cause he did not carry ou
this threat to kill both. He resortet
to a device to learn the truth. He hat
seen the boys guns standing in a cor
ner in the house. He stepped inside
brought them out and, keeping tn
boys covered with a revolver, handet
each boy a gun. Then he told them
when he gave the word, to fire ol
Mrs. Dorrance. and the boy who fail
ed to intlict death wound should die
In this way he expected to discove
which was her son, for no boy woul'
thus kill his mother.
But the test was interrupted. II
had scarcely handed the guns to tn
boys when there came the metalli
notes Of a bugle. Alvarez. withou
even looking to see whence 1t came
leaped on to his horse and, digging th
rowels of his spurs into the beast
TANKS. was OF like a fash.
But the boys had the guns. Two re
ports rang out together, and Alvarez
| hOdv woo LOTT IN tI0 s1,,c< v,,h1ln III