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TOPYRIGHT P
y_
J ¢ ~ awe (, D+ Cha! a APN $6 TRUELIN VARIN. )) ‘CE PULLEN. 7 ee ——
837 BY THE AUTHOR
(Continued )
_—
r se worm “ 1 the €ate Had i:c* xt : : shue far Sound, Dut now, as neg ased nis rate attemnpis 10 rn ‘ “a th a \f to ( rral, She (auen- fain ce och aes y — 2) a ‘ : t ay laugh, filled with j—a ‘ the spill ; and derision. ue . om - — 4t the s laugh Sangrado stood stil! and listened. Evidently he | og { I who had laughed — } tonearm a onal as hi stood ¢ « ul i enuyvye, iiAeC a t out to strike. k Rave, t
, adventurous and seen many
nliate in the features
exapressions un-
- tv, but never have I seen ah in expression of baffled
3 to ce pare n fiendishness with that I saw working upon the face of mon Gasper Sang as he stood be- aoe the } rrier in ernost ad between him and tht consummation of his plot. 3
Again he looked at the wall as if he would scale it at any risk.
Through all this pantomime Felix and I had stood with clicked rifles in readiness for instant action. Should he attempt to break into the corral there was no doubt what we ought to do. By every precept of the fron-
tier code we should unhesitatingly have shot him. After that there were his followers to deal with.
But he did not make the attempt. Even his ungovernable rage did not hlind him to the fact that there was no chance to effect a surprise, and that to attempt to ferce matters now would, by causing an alarm, only en- danger his safety without bringing him nearer the accomplishment of his purpose. His arm moved behind him beneath his long cloak as
he again approached the gate. The expression of deadly hate upon his
face belied the soft tone in which he spoke.
“Lupita,” he called, in a tone gentle and insinuating, ‘‘ Lupita, mia carissi- ma.”
The black mantled figure within the gate moved a little aside so as to place the solid wali between her and the man who spoke.
“So, Senor Sangrado,” she said, in a tone as derisive as her laugh had deen, “it appears that you recognize me. What have you to say te me now ?”"
CHAPTER IX.
To the girl’s question thus peremp- torily put Sangrado did not at once make answer. Astounded and in- feriated by this unlooked for inter- tuption in his undertaking, he for the moment was plainly at a less what to do or say. When every obstacle to the execution of his desperate design had seemed to be overcome or smooth- ed away, this Mexican actress, whose yindictiveness toward him had been so recently shown in her outbreak dur- ing the tent performance. now unex- plainably appeared in his path and barred his approach te Carmen.
Baflied and ungry, as he stood before the gate his thoughts were revealed in the expression of his face as clearly as if they were spoken. Could he but have been within reach of Lupita so as to strike her down, strangle her, drive a knife blade into her heart be- fore she could make an outcry, his course of action would have been sim- ple, and its adoption immediate. But the hich wall and gate were between them, and so he must speak her fair
and bide his time. True, he might scale the wall that separated them,
but he knew Lupita and that she thor- oughly knew him. She was as suspi- cious, as alert, as ready as he was, and, leap the wall as suddenly as he might, he couid not surprise her so swiftiy that she would not raise an alarm that would defeat his plans. So, with murderous rage in his heart, Which his movements, restless as those fa jaguar shut from its prey, be- trayed, he tried other tactics and plied her with cajoleries.
you hate me then so bitteriy, Lupita.” he said, in the same smooth,
“7 LO
Dlausible voice as hefore, “that you bar my ay when I-seek you? I had lost sight of you, had missed you so long. Now, when at last I have found you again, will you repulse me? Has it all passed frcm your memory, the love that we bore in the happy days of the past? Open the gate to me, Lupita, life of my soul, for I swear I love you and you only {”
He paused. There came no words of answer from Lunita—only her lauch, bit - and taunting. Such meckery, triumph and derision I had hever imagined could be expressed in inarticulate tones of the human voice. I could hear Sangrado’s teeth grind fiercely as the sound of her laughter fame to his s, but he went on to talk as smoothly as before.
“I heard that you were travelling fastward across the plain and I fol- lowed you. J sought you in the tent Guring the performance, but your vio- lence lied me. Now I have found you hers where I may plead with You. My passion is unabated. I am had with jo of you. Lupita, caris-
el before you. I
Sma I kr throw myself
at your feet. Will you not fling open the gate that bars me from you 7” With all his semblance of sentimen- tal ard ir an@ impassionment he did hot raise his voice, but*™ spoke -in @ low tone intended to reach only the “ar of th girl he addressed.
“ Lupit 1,” he implored, “ be as for- Riving you are beautiful. Alas, that we separated! How did I ever OX myself to part from you ? I “4S wad with Jeve “and fealousy of
‘very minute sinee our parting ag ween an age of unhappiness to a t hay come for your forgive- gp Let me enly see you, kiss your hang ; : :
“nd, then, if you will, send me from *ou fore, er.”*
New sho azswered ‘him. speaking in
restlessly |
a
a
ee
a& voice as sweet and ingratiating as | his. {
‘Gaspar mio, all this is so strange | from you who forsook me. And have
vou really love “ Love sand times Il had lost
\ } ro A ‘ al
sought me ? And do me ?’’
you, carissima ! A more than ever and have found vou.” sure you care for no one You love me wholly ?”
you
ealls thou- before, for
. , else ?
fit to stand in your shadow.
My heart is yours alone.’
There is no other woman on earth |
“ Ah, my heart, it flutters with emo- |
tion! Why did you come to disturb | me when I hoped I had forgotten you? Oh, the risk I run in trusting you again. If I forgive you, open the
gate to you, will you be ever constant to me? You will not leave me again, Gaspar mio ?”
“TIT swear constancy and that heart shall be ever yours.”
She shook the heavy bar of the gate and partly lifted it from in which it rested.
Felix and I, in our ambuscade, were astounded at Lupita’s sudden change of behaviour. Was this fierce creature’s
my
the socket |
jealousy so easily satisfied her re- sentment placated with a few fair words ? Was she indeed so readily | deceived that she would open the | gate to meet in reconciliation this | faithless suitor waiting in silent ex- pectancy outside ? Open it to meet
her death, merciless end swift ! Sangrado’s restless impatience had given place to a frightful calm. His features, no longer working with sup- pressed anger, had assumed an ex-
pression mvre omincus and terrible. They were set in an expression of
deadly purpose, his satisfaction at the change in the situation being revealed only by the gleam of the white teeth beneath his heavy black mustache. He steod alert and motionless. His cloak, thrown back over his shoulder, left the right arm free, and his right hand, held close by his side, clutched a long, glittering knife.
Our cocked rifies covered him; our fingers were against the triggers. We would not kill him until the last mo- ment, when it might become neres- Sary in order to save the girl's life. But he should not kill Lupita if our shots, deliberately aimed, cowtd do their Werk quickly enough to stop him. One thing I noticed, s© alert are the senses of men who wait thus in suspense. Closely watching San-
grado’s face, ready to anticipate every movement of his that its ex-
pression might indicate, I at the same time was noting an indistinct ‘some- thing beyond him, almost wholly con- cealed by the house, but which to my mind seemed to bear the semblance of a man peering round the corner of the building.
Once more Lupita tet her bar fall back into its socket. She then rattiod and partly lifted it again.
“The bar is heavy, Gaspar mio,” she complained. “ Are you becoming im- patient ?”
Upon Sangrado ‘the suspense of de- lay was telling. He fomnd it hard work to control his voice as he said encouragingly, * Once mere, carissiina. Push hard against the gate as ‘you life the bar, and it wili open.”
Again she shook the bar, so that it rattled in her apparent effort to lift it. What was the meaning of this performance 7 We had seen her fast- en the bar in its socket easily enough when she had entered the corral, and it was a thing no mere difficult fo unfasten it. Could it that, after all, she was only playing with San- grado ?
‘“‘ Hurry, hurry !” he urged, his ‘im- patience increasing beyond his power to restrain.
She struck the bar bac’k with a clanze into the socket. Her lawgh rang forth loud, exultant, and mocking.
At the sound Sangrado started as if
he
a serpent had stung him.
The girl’s laughter continued as if in merriment that she could not sup- press. But such merriment! Nothing that the human voice might utter could have expressed more thas was taunting and insulting to the man
standing as if frezen, disappointed and dismaved, outside the gate.
At last the scorn of her ‘laughter found expression in words:
‘Fooled and foiled, Gaspar San- grado, liar, traitor, perjured villain!
you have truly dune weil to try again
to deceive me who know you. Your s2y you ‘love me, and came here to find me. Shail I tell you how much you love me, and why you are here ? You followed Senor Pustamante’s
party from the Santa Cruz valiey, and to-night you have come to carry away his daughter.”
Again Sangrado started and his half-
stifled exclamation reached her ear. She laughed. ' ' J have diseovered
‘ah, you wince vour secret, and it displeases you. You planned your scheme well, Senor San- grado, but it woulda be strange if you
had devised so deeply as to hide it from Lupita. Now, let me_ tell you something.” ;
Her ‘voice, not rising in pitch, was
becoming intenser and more vibrant in her gathering excitement as she con- tinued :
“You have come for Carmen Busta- mante, but her you shall never heave. Lupita, whom you lived with, pretend- ed to love, made to shed many bitter tears, and at last cast off-—she stands between you and what you seek. Don Ramon’s daughter is within your call. Your voice may already have wake? her. She can see you frem her win- dow should she care to look out—and you are as far off from possessing her as if she were a star in the sky.
Sangrado’s rage burst forth in words:
“You lie, .tiger cat, devil's daugh- ter cf Jezebel!” he shouted, un- mindful in his passion of all caution
her in spite of her father and of von,
ane wee te ta those who stand tn my
’ or Veuethe time of reckoning 5 will pe soon,”
“So vou threaten ms. bandit, whose life rm sts on My word as. vou stand | talking ' Have you made canfession. ! Yen Gospar, that vou sneak so hold. | ly ? It were wise if you had seen a | priest, Your soul may take a long | ourney to-nieht.”’ }
|
He was silent and listenine tIntently
I could see that his neath his cloak.
arm moved be-. Lupita
Went on:
‘There is samething more that T' would say for your vleasure, mv Yoyal} and gentle cahatiero. The one for whom you have travelled so far and taken so STeat & risk would not wei- } come your coming. it is not
Don bavi iOh) aione WoO f) Ss oO anti
laughs at your pretensions.
Carmen
foes not love you. The dust that | i a . , floats beneath her father’s carriage | wheels is of more account to her than | you are. She does not even think of you. Her thoughts are of an Ameri- | eano. Did you not see him when you | were peering, like a prowling coyote, | into the tent to-night ? Hie is taller | and handsomer than you—a true and | I] i } » ro AT a e . ] > h a eyes i were for him. As for you—” Her voice was drowned in the loud | report of a heavy pistol. Crack, } crack, crack! Don Gaspar’s cloak | fell from his shoulders as, with re- | volver suddenly thrust forward, he fired three times in rapid succession '! through the gate, directing his aim ! by the sound of the taunting voice. “Curse you, I'll make my work sure,” he muttered, and sprang like
a cat to the top of the wall and over into the corral.
Two pistol shots rang out sharply behind him, coming from the corner of the house, as he rose to the crest of the wall. His sombrero flew from '
his head and went spinning half way |
across the corral. But he struck on his feet within the wall, and turned,
revolver in hand, toward Lupita. |
At the first report of Sangrado’s pix tol, she had darted to one side into the shelter of the wall. Now she
stood, facing the corral, with her back against the wall. By the light of |
~ ‘ --
Sangrado raised his pistol.
asics
the moon I could see a biackened mark across her cheek from which the blood was trickling, showing that Sangrado’s first bullet had not gone wide of its mark.
As the Mexican came over the wall Felix had slipped to the ground in front of the waggon. As the bandit landed within the corral the butts of our rifles were at our shoulders, and we stood in readiness to fire instant- ly at him. Another moment and the barrels of our pieces were lowered as quickly as they had been aimed. Be- yond Sangrado, Carmen had from the house, and was standing up- @n the doorstep directly in our line of fire.
Her hair, unbound, over her shoulders to her waist. moonlight irradiated her face, and was reflected in the depths of her glorious
streamed back
eyes. Her loose gown she had pulled together in front, and held with one hand. Her delicate feet, bare and
white, rested upon the dark doorsteps like exquisitely carved cameos. Awak- ened by the commotion and firing, the causes of which she could in no way understand, she looked, in her alarmed surprise, a divine picture of beauty and startled innocence.
Sangrado raised his pistol. With the weapon pointed full at her breast, Lu- pita did not flinch or scream, but fac- ed him, disdainful and defiant, her back against the wall, her arms held against her sides like a Mexican poli- tical prisoner stood wv before’ the muskets of a firing squad. There was but one way to save her life, and that
way would have been impossible of execution by one less resolute and ready than Felix. Two long, quick
steps, and his rifle barrel struck down the arm of Sangrado. whose revolver, soing off, threw up dust with its bul-
let at the feet of Lupita. As if with the same movement, the heavy rifle barrel whirled in the air down upon the head of the Mexican, who, stag-
gering back several paces, went down to the ground like a dead man.
Roused by the firing, the muies and norses were running in wild alarm about the corral. Sangrado came to his feet as quickly as he had fallen, caught un his pistol which had drop- ped from his hand, dashed in among the frizktened, plunging creatures. and, in a twinkling, had from our view. Out of the dust and tramp- ling two shots from his revolver came our way, as a reminder that he was still in existence, and desirous to pay off his indebtedness to all concerned with promptness.
Felix sprang to Carmen. ‘‘Go back into the house, senorita.” he hurried- ly said. “This is no for you.” As she still stood, irresolute,. perhaps not disposed to obey an order given so summarily, a third shot from
disavneared
safe nlace
; Bcne.,
i shcts at
stepped ,
The ;
Sangrado’s pistol chinpned the adobe in the house wall above her head. Felix waited no longer, but swiftly and gently lifted her to the doorsill and pushed her back into the room.
“Your father will be here in a min- ute or two,” he said, as he closed the door. ‘‘“Do not, on your life, venture out until he comes.”
As he turned from the doorway we saw, at the ‘farther end of the corral, @ dark form scale the wall and dis- appear hbeyord it. Felix and I both fired at it while it was in view for a moment above the crest of the wall, but the chance that such snap shots would find their mark we knew to bea
V—
Sromis one aoe Cerenteda hed made good his retreat.
We looked for Lupita, but she Amid the confusion the corral after Sangrado had leap- ed inside, I had heard outside the wall th reports of the Kid’s pistol ming-
aerperaco
! ling with other firing, by which it was
to be inferred that, after his two the bandit leader, he might
be transacting some business with the
; men Sangrado had left in reserve. Lu-
pita, in passing out at the corral gate,
had left it open There was no other sign of her going, but it was
i reasonable to helieve that she had dis-
appeared with her desnerado lover,
| Rily. Of his work there was character- istic evidence in the shape of a man, with two bulet wounds through his
body, lying dead at the outer corner of the ccrral with e half emptied revol- ver on the ground before him.
All these events, since Sangrado had fired the first shot, had taken place more rapidly than I have told them. The sound of the firing had awakened
everyone at the station, and the men in the building and those camping about it were quickly astir. But as
every one had to find his weapons, and
see that they were all right for ser- vice, some little time elapsed before they appeared upon the scene of ac- tion. The two herders who slept at the end of the shed were the first to appear. Whether they were slow in waking or had unusual difficulty in finding their weapons, they did not emerge from the darkness until the
flring was over, ard all parties cone
cerned, except Felix and myself, had
disappeared from the scene of action. The station-keeper and Don Ramon, with Manuel accompanying, came next round the corner of the house, and it was quite evident that within the tent and down at the Missourian’s waggon avd the prospecters’ camping place, the prtple were Astir.
With the caution that comes from experience to those who have camped much in the far Western country, every man kept out of sight until he could, by observing and listening, gain some idea of the cause of the shooting and excitement. Before this should be as- certained no man cared to rush inte unknown danger or expose himself in any way to the chances of catching a stray shot. It was better to lie low in readiness to protect his own life and belongings.
Don Ramon’s first thought was of Carmen. With carbine in hand he passed at once round to the door and called her name. Immediately she appeared to assure him of her safety. In answer to his anxious questionings, she told him so much as she had seen, but was equally in the dark with him- self as to what the disturbance was all about. The station-keeper and berders, assisted by Manuel, were counting up the mules and horses in the corral meantime, and they soon reported that none were missing.
Felix and I, of course, were beset with questions, but we gave little sat- isfaction to the inquiries. We had heard a noise outside the corral, we said, then some shots had been fired, and a man had jumped over the wall into the enclosure. We had exchang- ed shots with him, and he had dis- appeared. Of who were engaged in the affair, and of the events which led up to what had happened we pro- fessed no knowledge. To have dropped ‘a hint of the true state of things, and of the chain of circumstances that had led up to the midnight encounter, would have been to invite the ques- tioning and curiosity of peeple who had no concern in the matter, and we knew that Don Ramon would sternly resent svech intrusion into his private affairs.
One clew was found to stimulate the imagination of the curious when a herded picked up Don Gaspar’s som- brero in the corral, Although much trodden by the feet of horses and mules, its gold braid was intact, and {it had the further ornamentation of a bullet hole through both the brim and crown, indicating that the missile that had caused it had come danger- ously near where the head of the own- er might be expected to be when wear- ing it. Felix and I recognized the hat, of course, but there wes no mark on it to enable any one else to discover the identity of the owner, and we kept eur knowledge to ourselves.
(To be Contivued. )
Is the basis of good health,
Pure steady nerves, mental, physical ana digestive
Biced strength. If you are ner-
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FLOCOd S ‘sarin
pariila
The Best—in fact the One True Blcod Purifier,
Hood’s Pills
enre nausea, indigestion, biliousness. Price 25c.
Actual Business, Book-Keeping, Ari hmetic, Penmanship, Shorthand, Typewriting,
all thoroughly tanght at the P. E. I. Commercial College. Our stu- dents learn how todo business by actually doing it from the start. Best Work at reduced rates. We open this year, after tne holidays; on 16th Angust. Apply at once. Send for our new prospectus.
ISAAC OXENHAM,
(Graduate of Montreal Business College Principal and Proprietor.
P. O. Box 242, Ch’town. July 30:h—w2moe, dlaw 6
was within j
' 4 i
SEASIDE HOTEL —~
RUsTIC® BEACH PLE: I.
; fis m) : : < eA fi ee 7 PR EEE ET WIE Cia oe. BE og ES A RES SPS pen Se Peaweras tt Sue lf Ay ‘is i: < a oer, — oft ety tah be Ona ee ign a ae <E4 Passage? ree hipy ae ayes kd
% * Ae
ee ee sen, fl eae
j3
‘Opens f.r ithe season on July 3.d,
——<
JIHN NEWSON & Co., Proprietors. Surt and Still Water Tathing. Covered Ball Alley. Croquet, and Tennis Grounds, &e.
Tuesday Monday
Coach will leave Charlottetown. for the above Hotel, every Thursday atid Saturday evening, calling for Guests. Returning Wednesday, and Friday morning.
Trains leave Charlottetown for Hunter River, 6.30 a. m., and 3.30 p. m, Leaves Hunter River for Summerside, 7.28 a. m. & 4.58 p. m. Leaves Hunter River for Charlottetown 10.43 a. m. & 8,18, p. m. Summerside to Hunter River §.45 a. in. & 7 p. m.
Trains runon Eastern time, which is an hour slower than localjtime.
JOHN NEWSON & CO.
PROPRIETORS
BINDERS, MOWER AND RAKES
MAXWELL BINDER isreeognized to be the best im- plement on the marked. It is trne only right hand cut, and also the simplest and surest knotting machine, never break- ing twine.
MJER.—The lighest cutting and strongest machine in heavy or light hay. Has all the best improvements —foot lifting spring, raising finger bar clear of all obstructions, stumps, roots, etc.
RAKES.—tTiger and Sthied. These Rakes are fitted with the new steel wheel, having 26 teeth and solid steel axle. Also, angle steel bar to hold teeth, The teeth are set to rake, not toharrow the ground. They are the most perfect Rake made to-day. Inspection of those machines in- vited, or write us for prices.
FINLAYSON & McKINNON.
TERLIZZICK’S CORNER....-.
cee
Dont’s.
Eye
DON’T attempt to read in a reclining posture.
DON’T read with the light shining in your face. comes from behind.
DON’T use glasses without having your eyes properly examined,
DON’T forget that I am qualifiad to do this for you. ?
G F HOTCHESON, Jeweler & Optician
QUEEN STREKT.
Place it so that it
a enna eae $e ee ee ee ee
BURGLARS WANTED.
To the Burglar who entered our office and broke the Handle of Safe we extend an invitation to call again, promising him a free entry into the safe, and thereby sav- ing him the use of the Stilleon wrench. We will not insure his easy exit, but will be on band with an ambulance and uadertaker.
At the same time we give the Dairymena guarantee for one year with our twelve gang Cheese Presses, Nearly al that were imported herein the past required to be repaired within @ year.
Our improved Cleese Vat is the most popular in the market.
Our Babcock Testers never break the vottles.
The press hoops are right for eighty }bs of curd.
And best of all the “ ALPHA de LAVAL SEPARATOR” is on f th fi away ahead of all others
“Write for prices. Terms made to suit customers.
Our Pumps are vwinning‘a name for themselves at prices to beat any im
T. A. MeLEAN
Address all Correspondence to .
Pg nt
roe
sine
Nereis
Pe ee
esr
peat ase” 5
s
SREP eA EEL SG
PE i 2 at
rg
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‘9 ¥ q
Sige