The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-09-07
PEPITA'S
METHOD
BY ELlNOR MARSH


crate "greaser" to money making
merchant. Bob had been well brought
up and on coming of age inherited
some means, which he concluded to
invest In new country.
! He had not been In New Mexico quite
long enough to be keenly alive to the
danger Of offending any one Of the
rough element inhabiting 1t when an
incident occurred which caused him to
forget caution. He was sitting in an
armchair on a sidewalk In front of a
hotel when little Mexican girl ap-
preached him, offering to sell him
fruit. He bought couple of oranges,
for which he paid quarter, declining
to accept the change. Then the girl
went to man standing near with her
wares. Instead Of buying of her he
gave her a cuff.
| Henderson, who, had grown to man
hood with the idea that a man who
would tamely refrain from the protec-
tion of woman was not entitled to re-
. spect, made a jump for the brute and
knocked him down. The man managed
to get his hand to his hip and drew his
revolver, but Bob was too quick for
him and, wrenching 1t from him, turn
ed it against him.
There was some talk between the
two. A crowd collected, and the child
told the story of what had happened.
Then a citizen of the place who was
somewhat prominent said to the man
who had practiced the brutality:
"Jim Cundiff, you get out o. this
town. We've had enough Of you here
and don't want any more. If you're
seen around here in two hours from
now you'll be brought before the COM
mittce to be tried for several affairs
that have been overlooked. If you trou-
bic Mr.. Henderson you'll swing"
Cundiff understood this perfectly.
He dared not remain in the town, and
he dared not injure Henderson-that is,
he dared not injure Henderson openly.
He went away, but resolved upon do
ing" his enemy In way that would
not render him liable to punishment.
A month passed, and the incident
was forgotten by all except Pepita, the
little Mexican girl whom Henderson
had championed. Now and again she
would approach him with an offer of
some choice fruit, for which she would
not permit him to pay. Bob at first
refused to accept the gift, but the
child's eyes filed with tears, and he
reconsidered his refusal.
One day Pepita while walking on the
street peddling fruit saw a man ahead
of her whose walk was familiar to her.
Surely no one but Jim Cundiff had
that walk. Hurrying on. she passed
the man. He wore white beard and
to n casual observer was an old man.
Cundiff was young man. The little
girl was not deceived. The man was
Cundlff.
AS he passed along the street no one
recognized him. Pepita pretended not
to do so. She held her basket Of fruit
toward him. He looked down at her,
started at seeing her, but moved on
without word. Then Peplta dropped
behind without intimating that she
even suspected his identity. But she
shadowed him. for her little brain was
fine enough in texture to know that he
had come to town in disguise to get"
her champion. She was not long In de-
Gliding that she would continue to watch
him.
That day Henderson was away from
the town, having ridden to the county
seat to perfect the titles to some prop
erty he had purchased. He returned
at sunset and spent the evening with
family from the east who had re-
Gently located In the place. At II
o'clock he went to the little house
where he lived and to bed. At 12 he
was awakened by an exclamation with
out, followed by string of oaths.
BY this time he had learned that the
most important article to citizen Of
that country was revolver. Spring
ing out Of bed and catching up his
weapon from under his pillow, lie open
ed the. door, The moon was ut the
full, and by It's light he saw man
struggling to free his arms from some
thing that pinioned them.
drop him. cried a child's voice.
and Pepita, pulling on rope, appear
ed some ten or twelve yards from the
man. She had thrown lariat over
him and had caught him about the
body. incloslng his arms. Henderson
did not take III the full meaning of
the situation, but he realized enough
of it to run to the man, put the muzzle
of his revolver to his ear and call on
him to cease struggling. A man living
next door to Henderson, hearing the
fracas, appeared, and soon others came
to learn what was going on. Mean
while white beard had fallen of the
captive and displayed his features.
"Why, it's Jim Cundlff!" said one Of
the group.
The fate OF Cundinf when 1t was
learned that he had returned to muir
der Henderson was not long In being
decided. He was visited with the pun.
tshment that had been promised I'm
asc he attempted to harm Henderson.
AS to the little Mexican girl who had
invented her own method OF capturing
her champions would be murderer, she
k,.ns, oAn hv tha tnun nnt un,,