The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-06
by TOM GILL

Clustered about the ranchhouse
each vaquero sti1ened. One dreaded
word passed among them like the
voice of death itself.
Eel Coyoter"
The flames of the haystack rose
higher. tossing great sparks into the
blue desert sky. Dimly the vaqueros
could distinguish a double rank of
silent horsemen surrounding them,
ready and ominous. The freight
danced on the steel of their rifles and
glittered on the conchas of their
chaps. Again came the clear voice.
II am sending men in to disarm
you. If one of you moves, it is death
to all of you"
Five masked horscmen approached.
Quickly they made a little pile of the
weapons of Jito's men. A short,
stocky rider seemed to have taken
charge. Presently he ordered the
vaqueros to stand before the door.
Meanwhile other riders gathered the
horses.
$50 you thought the protection of
FL Coyote not enough, amigos1"
asked the masked leader. "You will
have other thoughts before dawn.
But now I bring you this message
from Ell Coyote. Listen carefully, as
you value life. for the patience of
FL Coyote is not endless. For twenty
years you, Paco Morales, and you.
his hirelings. have held dominion
over the borderland. You have driven
men and their families from land
that is theirs. You have done il
without fear, for you knew that the
peon endured much and did little.
We had no leader. and for these rea.
sons the herds of Morales have be.
come fat and multiplied. while the
people have lived in poverty and
dread. Our women have not been
safe, our children have had no future
to look forward to, our old age has
become filled with fear. And all this
because Morales wanted land that
was ours by right. Today few of
US now have enough land to make a
grave, and still the herds of Morales
grow" The masked rider stopped
speaking. y
The dying flames of the haystack
cast spectral shadows across his face
and caused the eyes behind the black
mask to glisten. Still no man moved.
Beside him Ted could hear Adela's
quick breathing. Tito stood stiffly
before him. not knowing whether to
expect capture or quick death, while
behind. in an outer circle. the out.
laws sat in quiet watchfulness.
Once more the masked man raised
his voice. "Vaqueros of Morales. :
leader has risen. You call him Ell
Coyote. Many times you have sought
to kill him. Mexican cavalry has
joined with the Americanos to run
him down. But he il still free. To-
night he is out there with 10. Why
do you not 60 forth to him, Tito.
you who have sworn to tear out his
hearth See. he is out there-only :
little way."-and the masked man
pointed to the darkness behind him.
A shiver Of fear ran through every
man. Even Jito himself darted an
uneasy glance howard the shadows.
Out there. just beyond the rim Of
light. the unknown killer was. A
trembling vaquero made . fleeing
sign Of the cross. "Dios mio,s he
murmured. Tonight for this we all
die"
Listen now to what FL Coyote
bids me say. The 'ranchcrs Of the
border will no longer bear the yoke
OF Morales and his vaqueros. From
now on we will strike back, and, even
IF FL Coyote himself Is taken. still
will we strike back. And for every
COW OF ours you take or kill, we win
kill two. For every man you give
twenty lashes we will tie up one of
your band and give him forty, We
are men with our backs to the wall.
We have nothing to lose, for life It.
self has long since lost the things
that gave it value. Days Of living
profit Us nothing. for we have neither
peace nor security. But that day IS
done From now on We fight for the
things that make life good.