San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-13
Begin Here Today.

John Harmon, wealthy ranch own
err; his blind wife, Belle, and their
beautiful daughter, VAL. live happily
together in lannon's wonderful ranch
home. Paradise. Redstar is the king
of the Red Brood Of horses owned by
the master of the ranch. Val, on Red
star. rides to the Mesa Grande and,
while resting on its flat top, she sees
a strange horseman on a mount amaz-
ingly like Redstar.
In game at Hunnewell's store in
Santa Leandra, Velantrie from the
Border wins Lola Sanchez, who offers
herself as stake for Brakeman, a man
OF mystery. Velantrie sends Lola
home to her father. Father Hillaire,
in charge of the Mission near Para
disc, is visited by his friend, yelan-
trie. who brings him present of gold
for his poor.
Go OH With the Story.
Il have ridden a day and half a
night to bring you this. / will cover
the same ground in the next few hours
to get back from whence / came. But
the bringing gives me joy"
He lifted the old mans hand and
placed therein a buckskin bag, heavy,
and musical with the dull clink Of
gold.
Take it." he said, ct is yours"
But Father Hillaire shuddered and
his fingers slipped loose from the
others pressure, so that the bag fell
back upon the table.
IIcan't;", he said sadly lit is
''True," said velantrie, gaily, 81
10 xt.h.
thousand poems, soul and body, who
drives them through hunger and op-
preston down into the darkness of
death with never hope or COM
fort" His soft voice had become sud-
denly hard and bitter.
Father Hillaire caught his own
breath in sigh.
"Oh, my son! I cannot vision such
thing! 1t cuts me to the heart !!
Give it up-give up this life. Start
oyer-go away-into the north-some-
where-and forget these rides, these
desperate risks, this dashing against
the law Of God and manv
With a quick spring Velantrie was
on his feet. He swept the bag OF
gold into his hand and held it out.
will you take it?' he asked even
ly, ito buy food for your poor, your
aged, your sick and your little ones
that swarm here in our blessed gar.
den? Or shall ! ride south again and
squander it on the gaming tables of
Cejon and Caremente, on the girls of
the dance halls?"
He was steady, cool, ready to do
what he promised. Slowly the ,old
priest rose to face him in the dusk.
He stretched out a hand.
Il will take it, my son." he said,
"a doubtful means to a holy end
and he took the bag of gold and
dropped it in the deep pocket of his
cassock.
.yelantrie smiled, that brilliant
lighting of his lean face that shOne
like a fire behind a curtain, and put
ting a hand on the others shoulder
shook it gently. Then he whirled
and put his fingers to his lips. The
whistle that startled the quiet garden
was enough to split the eardrums.
Instantly from the distant side of the
enclosure where the stables stood
there came an answer, wild, shrill,
heavy scream, the piercing neigh of a
stallion, and a huge dark bulk came
trotting swiftly down the walks be-
meath the trees, its rein, jerked from
the hands of Bonifacio, dangling at its
feet.
The Comet came to his master.
Velantrie put his palm to the
horses lips, their secret sign of greet
ing.
"6oodby. father" said velantrie,
gravely, "buenas noches. Vale" he
added gracefully, giving the farewell
in three tongues.
Then be gripped the others hand
hard. cadght the pommel and leaped
into the saddle without a foot to stir.
rup, though the great horse stood
seventeen hands to his bare shoulder
There was a sudden leap, a thunder
of hoofs on the hard-beaten earth
and they were gone. a wind and a bot
of speed, out through the gate which
Bonifacio had opened.
| For long moment Father 'Hillaire
stood in the dim light by the narrow
door of the church and listened to
the long roll of their going. lifting
exciting sound, and he shook his head
and sighed and touched the gold il
| his pocket.
81 would that he came no more tc
this land of his destiny" he whispered
miserably, gay, reckless, lovable-