Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, August 25, 1895, Page 10

(Copyright, 1895, by Bret Harte) CHAPTER 111 discovery in Sylvan Silve that Collinson as of Key's fears that | 1 his return from | nor did he afterward | either the news of the | registry the clalm nor the arrival of Key's workmen ever reached him. The few travelers who passed his mill came from the valley to cross the divide on their way to Skinner's, and returned by the longer, but easier detour of the stage road over Gal- loper's Ridge. He had no chance to partic- tpate in the prosperity that flowed from the opening of the mine which plentifully be- sprinkled SKkinner's settlement; he far away to profit even by the chance custom of Key's Sabbath wandering workmen. His {solation from civilization—for those M)m! to the v oy were rude emigrants like himself—remained undisturbed. The return of the party to his humble hospitality that had been an exceptional case; in his charac teristic simplicity he did not dream that it was be use they had nowhere els to go in their penniless condition. It was an in- cident to be pleasantiy remembered, but whos nonrecurrence did not disturb )|Hi infinite patience. His pork barrel and flour sack had been replenished by other trave his own wants were few. | It was a day or two after the midnight | visit of the sheriff to Silver Hollow that Key galloped down the steep grade to Collinson's. Ho was amused—albeit, In his new import- | ance, a little aggrieved also—to find that | Collinson had as usual confounded his de. scent with that of the generally detached | boulder, and t he was cbliged to add his voice to the general uproar. This brought Collinson to his dcor. “I've had your hoss hobbled out among the chickweed and clover in the green pasture back o' the mill, and he's picked up that much that he's dopkin’ fat and sassy,” he said quietly, beginning to mechanically un- | strap Key's bridle, even while his guest was | in the act of dismounting. “His back's quite healed up.” Key could not restrain a shrug of impa- tlence, It was three weeks since they had met; three weeks crammed with excitement, energy, achievement and fortune to Key, and yet this place and this man were as stupldly s Of the Hollow it knew nothing. he might stray Skinner's, he did revisit the locality. g would in t not pit to was too came western prospecting | night | | thinkin’ | that | Cotinson, 'w[fif: W HiLs BY ‘BRET, HARTE cnw'u{vfl%\yflw to be relieved on that point and went on § . this woman was undoubtedly in that on the night of the fire, She escaped, and in a mighty hurry, too, for she had not time to change her slippers for shoes; she escaped on horseback, for that is how she lost them. Now: what was she doing there with those rascals, for the face I saw looked as innocent as a saint's.’ Seemed to ye sort o' contrafry, jist as I reckoned my wife's foot would have looked in a slipper that you sald was give to ye' suggested Collinson pointedly, but with implication of reproach in his volc Yes,'" sa'd Key impatiently. I've read yarns afore now about them Eye- tallan brigands stealin’ women,” said Collin son reflectively, “but that road agent style. Great Scott! If one even 50 much as spoke to a woman they'd have been whipped outer the state long ago the woman as was there, cime the stay! As Key's face ither assent o n't il not seem to express tisfaction at this last state- ment, Collinson, after a glance at it, went on with a somewhat gentler gravity. “I see wot's troublin' you Mr. Key; yowve been that mebbe that poor woman might bin the hetter for a bit hat fortin® you discovered under the very spot where them slippers of hers had often trod You're th that mebbe it might hev’ turned her her man from their evil w hev' Kin’ and Key had been thinkinz nothing of the kind, but for some obscure reason the scepti- cal jeer that had risen to his lips remained unsaid He rose impatient! “Well, thore secms to be no chance of discovering any- thing now ne house is burned, the band dispersed, ‘and she has prcbably gone with them.” He paused, and then laid three or four large gold pieces on the table. “It's for that old bill of our party, Collinson,” he said “I'll settle and collect from each. Some time when you come over to the mine, and I hope yow'll “give us a call, you can bring the horse. “Meanwhile you can use him, you'll flud he's a Mttle quicker than the mule. How is business?" he added, with a perfunctory glance around the vacant room and dusty bar, “Thar ain't much with passin’ this wa equal carglessness, as he gathered up the money, ' ‘cept those boys from the valley, and they're most always apped when they come here. Key smilel as he obscrval 1 Collingon unchanged as when he had left them. A momentary fancy that this was the reality— that e himself was only awakening from | some delusive dream—came over him. But | Collinson’s next words were practical L 1 reckonefl that maybe you'd write from Marysville to Skinner to send for the hoss and forward him to ye, for I never kalkilated | yow'd come back."” | It was quite plain from this that Collinson | had heard nothing. But it was also awk- | ward, as Key would now have to tell the | whole story and reveal the fact that he had | been really experimenting when Collinson overtook im in the hollow. He evaded this by post-dating his discovery of the richness of the ore until he had reached Marysville. But he found some difficuity in recounting his good fortune; he was naturally no boaster, he had no desire to tmpress Collinson with his penctration, or the undaunted energy he had displayed in getting up his company and opening the mine, so that he was actu- ally embarrassed by his own understate- ment, and under the grave, patient eyes of his companion, told his story at best lamely. Collinson's face betrayed neither profound in- terest nor the slightest resentment. When he had ended his awkward recital Collinson sald slow) “Then ®ncle Dick and that other Parker feller ain’t got no show In this yer find.” “No,"” sald Key quickly. “Do you re- member we broke up our partnership that morning and went off our own ways? You don't suppose,” he added wrth a forced half laugh, “that It Uncle Dick or Parker had struck a lead after they left me they'd have put_me in it? 'Wouldn't they?" asked Collinson, gravely. ‘Of course not.” He laughed a little more naturally, but presently added, with an un- easy smile: “What makes you think they would " “Nuthin'!" said Colllnson promptly, Nevertheless, when they were seated before the fire, with glasses in thefr hands, Collinson returned patfently to the subject “You wuz saying they went their way and you went yours. But your way was back on the old way that you'd all gone together." But Key felt himself on firmer ground here and answered deliberately and truth- fully. “Yes, but I only went back to the hollow to satisty myself if there really was any house there, and if there was to warn the occupants of the approaching fira,"” “And there was @ house there,” said Col- linson, thoughtfull “Only the ruins.” He stopped and flushed quiekly, for he remembered that he had de- nied its existence at their former meoting. “That is,” he went on hurriediy, “I found out from the sheriff, you know, that there had been a house there. But,” he added reverting to his stronger position, “my go'ng back there was an accldent, and my picking up the outerop was an accilent--and had no more to do with our partuer<hip prospect- ing than you had. In fact,” te added, with a reassuring laugh, “you'd have had a better right to share my claim, con 2 as y o0 did at that voment, t an t have known what the thing was might hava put you in——aly it w tal and some experienc>” ile was g he had pitched upon that it had only Just occurred to him, and glanced affably at Collinson. But that gentleman said soberly: No. you wouldn't nuthor. 'Why not?" said Key half angrily, Collinson paused. After a moment he sald: “'Cos 1 wouldn't nev to:k wuny:hing cuter that place.” Key felt relieved. From what he knew of Collinson's vagaries he believed him. Ile was wise in not admitting hia to his eonfidence at the beginniug; he might Lave thought it his avty to tell others “I'm uot so particular,” he returned, laughingly, “but the silver in that hol> was never touched, nor, I daresiy, even imag ined. by mortal man bofore. However, there is something else about the hollow that | want to tell you. You remember the slipper that you picked up? “Well, T lied to you ahout that; I never dropped it. On the contrary, I had picked up the mate of it very near where you found yours, and I wanted to know to whom it belonged. For I don't mind telling you now Collinson, that I helleve there was a woman in that house, and the same woman whos face 1 saw at the window. You remember how the boys jokod me about it—well, per- haps, I didn't care that you should laugh at me, too, but I've had a sore co ver my lie, for I vemembered that you scomed to have some lnterest in th: matter, t d 1 thought that maybe I might have t you off the sceut. It seemed to me that ir you had any idea who it was, we might now talk the maiter over and compare notes, 1 think you said-—at least, I gathered the ideu from a rcmark of yours,” he added, hastily as he remembored that the suggestion was his own, and a sativical “that it re minded you of your wife's slipper. Of course, as your wife (s dead, that would offer no clew. and ean only be'a chance resemblance. unless he stopped. “Have yon got ‘em yo “Yes, both.” He fook pocket of his riding Jacket As Collinson recelved them, his face took upon itsell an even graver expression. “It's mighty cur'ous,” he sald reflactively, “but looking at the two of 'em the likeness is more fetehin'. Yo see, my wife had a straight foot, and never wore reg'lar rights and lefts like other women, but Kkinder changed about; ye see, these shocs Is reg'lar and lefts, but never was worn as “Thera may be other women as paculiar,” ested Key. ‘There must be.” said Collinson gquletly, For an instant Key was touched with the m: curity of the reply, for, remember- ing Uncle Dick’s scandal, it had oecurred to him that the unknown tenunt of the robbers' den wight be Collinson'a wife. Mle was glad them from the offered him no recelpt, aid, m - remembered that he hd only word for the destruction of Parke But he merely glaied at his uncons host and said nothing. A pause he | turned in a lighter tone, pose vou | rather out of the world I lead, T idea at first of buying out your mill, son, and putting in steam pawer to timber for our new build‘ngs, but you are so fir away from the wagon rcad that we couldn’t haul the timber away. That was the trouble, or I'd have made you a fair offer.” “I don’t reckon to ever <ol the mill,” sa'd Collinson simply. Then obsarviag the lcck of suspicion in his companion’s face, he added gravely, “You see, I rigged up the whole thing when 1 expected my wife out from the states and I calkilate to keep it in memory of he; , Key slightly Ifted his brows. “But you never told us, by the way, how you ever came to put up a mill here with such an uncertain water supply. “It wasn't onsartin when T came here, Mr. Key; it was a full-fed stream straight from them snow peaks. It was the earthquake dia it “The earthquake!” repeated Key. “Yes. Ef the earthquake kin heave up that silver-bearing rock that you told us about the first day yoa kem here, and that you found tother day, it could play roots with a mere mill stream, I reckon.” “But the convulsion I spoke of happened ages on ages ago, when this whols mounta'n range was being fashioned,” said Key with a laugh. ‘Well this yer earthquake was ten years ago, just after I came. I reckon I oughter remember it. It was a queer sort o' day in the fall, dry and hot, as if thar might hev bin a €ire in the woods, only there wasn't no wind. Not a breath of air anywhar. The leaves of them alders hung straight as a plumb line. Except for that thar stream and that thar wheel, nuthin’ moved. Thar wasn't a bird on the wing over that canon; wasn't a squirrel skirmishin' in the wood; even the lizards in the rocks stiffeped like stone Chinese idols. It kept gettin’ quieter and quieter ontil 1 walked out on that ledge and felt if I'd have to give a vell Just to hear my own vo Thar was a thin veil over everything, and the sun was rooted in the middle of it and couldn't move neither. Everythin' seemed to be waitin waitin’, waitin'. Then all of a suddin suthin’ emed to give somewhar! Suthin' fetched away with a queer sort of rumblin’, as if the peg had slipped outer creation. I looked up and kalkilated to sce half a dozen of them boulders come, lickity switch, down the grade. But, darn my skin if one of ‘em stirred, and’ yet while T was looking, the whole face o that bluff bowed over softly as if saying ‘good by, and got clean away somewhar before I knowed it. Why, you see that pile agin the side o the canon! Well, a thousand feet under that there's trees, three | hundred feet, still upright and standin’. You know how them pines over on that far mountain side always seem to be climbin’ up, up, up, over each other's heads to the very top? Well, Mr. Key, I saw ‘em elimbin’! And when 1 pulied myself together and got vor, as Coliinsor draft us re- re 1 an ollin- ut see you ' and the 50 was the mill wheel, e wasn't two ches of water In the ri “And what did you think of it?" sald Key interested in spite of his impatience. “I thought, Mr. Ke I musn't say I thought, for I knowed it. 1 knowed that suthin’ had happend to my wife Key did not smile, but even fe't a faint superstitious thrill as he gazed at him. After a pause Collinson resumed: “T heard a month after that she had died about that time o' | yaller fever in Texas with the party she was comin’ with. Her folks wrote that they died like fifes, and wuz all burfed together, unbeknownst and promiscuous, and thar wasn't no remains.» She slipped away from me like that bluff on that river, and was the end of it.’ “But she might have escaped,” said Key, quickly forgetting himscf in his eagerness. But Collinson on'y shook his head she'd have been here,” he sald, gravely Key moved toward the deor still abstract- edly, held out hand, shook his compan ion's warmly, say ng he woull eaddle h's horse himself, departed. A sen:e of disap- pointment, in’ which a vague dissatisfacti with himself was mingled, was all that had come of his interview. He took himself se- verely to task for following his romantic quest so far. It was unworthy of the presi nt of the Sylvan Silver Hellow compan and he was not guite sure but that his confi- dences with Collinson might have imperiled even the Interests of the company. To atone for this mementary aberration and his dismal fancies, he resolved to attend to | some business at Skinner's before returning | and branched off on a long detour that would intersect the traveled stage road. But here a singular incident overtook him. As he wheeled Into the turnpike he Yeard the trampling hoof beats and jingling harness of the oncoming coach behind him. He barely time to draw up against the bank be fore the six galloping horses and swinging vehicle swept heavily by, He had a quick | impression of the heat and steam of sweating | horsehide, the reek and varnish and leather, and the momentary viston of a female fa silhouetted against the glass window of the coach! But even in that flash of perception he recognized the profile that he had seen at the window of the mysterious hut! He sat for an instant dazed and bewlldered In the dust of the departing wheels as the bulk of the vebicle reappeared, a ready narrowing in the distance, without a second theught he dashed afier it, His dis- appointment, his self-criticism, his practical resolutions Were forgotten. He had but one idea now—the vision was providential! { Tho clue to the mystery was before him—be { mast follow it! Yet he had seuse enough to realize t no | California | | allow thar | hull | back to the mill everything was quiet, anf | that | G THE OMATA DAILY wny BEf: SUNDAY, the coach would not stop to take up & pas« senger between stations, und that the next station was the one three miles below Skinner's. It would not be difcult to reach this by a cut-off fn time, and although the vehiclo had appeared to be crowded, he could | no doubt obtain a seat on top. | His eager curiosity, however, led him to put si@s to his horse, and range up along- side of the coach, as if passing it, while he exaitiined the stranger more closely. Her face was bent listlessly over a book; there was unmistakably the same profile that he had seen, but the full face was different in outline and expression. A strange sense of disappointment that was almost a revulsion of feeling came over him: he lingered, he glanced again; she was certainly a very pretty woman; there wes the beautifully rounded chin, the short straight nose, and delicately curved upper lip that he had seen in profile—and yet—yet it was not the same face he had “dreamt of. With an odd pro- voking sense of disillusion he swept ahead of the coach, and again slackened his speed let it pass. This time the fair unknown raised her long lashes and gazed suddenly at this persistent horseman at her side, and an odd expression, It seemed to him a glance of recognition and expectation, came into her dark, languid eyes. The pupils con centrated upon him carce—that was almost, he even thought, a reply to his glance—and yet it was as utterly unintelligible. A moment later, however, it was explained. He had fallen slightly behind in a new confusion of hesitation, wonder, and embarrassment, when, from a wooded swept into the road powerfully built man horse of a ordinary roadster, before him. He was a mounted on a thorough- quality far superior to the Without looking at Ke to pass it, but Key with a sulden resolution put spurs to his own horse and ranged almost abreast of him, in time to see his fair un- | known start at’the apparition of this second horseman and unmistakably convey some signal to him—a sigual that to Key's fancy now betrayed some warning of h'mself. He was the more convinced as the stranger, aftor continuing a few paces ahead of the coach, t to pass him at a curve of road, and slackened his pace to permit Key to do the same. Instinctively conscious that tho stranger's object was to scrutin- Izo or identify him, he doter- mined o take the initiatiy and fixed his eyes upon him as they approached But the stranger, who wore a loose brown RANGE UP ALONSIDE linen duster over clothes that appeared to be superior in fashion and material, also had part of his face and head draped by a wh'te silk handkerchief worn under his hat, ostensibly to keep the sun and dust from his head and neck, and had the advantage of him. He only caught the flash of a pair of steal Ay eyes, as the newcomer, apparently not having satisfled himself, gave rein to his spirited steed and easily repassed the ach, disap pearing in a cloud of dust before it But Key had by this time reached the ‘“‘cut-off,” which the strang it he intended to follow the coach, either disdained or was norant of, and le urged his horse to its utmost speed. Even with the stranger’s advantage it would be a clcse race to the station Nevertheless, as he dashed on he was by no means insensible to the somewhat Quixotic nature of his undertaking. If he was right in his suspicion that a signal had been given by the lady to the stranger, it was exceedingly probable that he had d covered, not only the fair inmate of the robbers’ den, but one of the gang itself, or at least a confederate and ally. Yet, far from deterring him, in that ingenious’ sophistry with which he' was apt to treat his romanc he now looked upon his adventure as a pra tlcal pu uit in the interests of law and jus- tice. It was true that it was said that the band of road agents had been disperssd; it was a fact that there had been no spoliation of coach or teams for three weeks, but none if the depredators had ever been caught and their booty, which was considerable, was Known to be still intact. It was to the interest of the mine, his partners and his workmen that this clie to a danger which threat- ened the locality should be follow: to the end. to the lady, in spite of the disappointment that still rankled in his breast, he could be magnanimous! She might be the paramour of the strauge hors man; she might be only escaping from some hateful companionship by his aid. And yet one thing puzzled him; she was evidently not acquainted with the personality of the active gang, for she had without doubt at first mistaken him for cne of them, and after recognizing her real accomplice had communicated her mistake to hin It was a great relief to him when the rough and tangled “‘cut-oft” at last broad- ned and lightened into the turnpike road again, and he beheld, scarcely a quarter of “Then | | on correct | had | | a8 by pain, and the Then, | a mile before him, the dust cloud that over- hung the coach as it drew up at the lonely wayside station. He was in time, for he knew. that the horses were changed there but a sudden fear that the fair might alight, or take some other ance, made him spur his jaded steed for- ward. As he neared the station he glanced eagerly around for the other horseman, but lie was nowhere to be seen. He had evi dently either abandoned the chase or ridden ahead It seemed equally lieved was a pro convey- a part of what he lential int fon arriving at the station he found there was a vacant seat inside the coach. It wa: diagonally opposite that occupied by the lad and he was thus enabled to study her face as It bent over her book, whose pages, how- ever, she scarcely turned, After her first casual glance of curiosity at the new passe ger she seemed to take no more notice of him, and Key began to wonder if he had not ' mistaken her previous interrogating look. Nor was it his only disturbing query he was consclous of the same disappoint- ment, now that he could examine her face more attentively, as in his first cursory ance. She was certainly handsome; ere was no longer the freshness of youth there was still the indefinable charm of the woman of 30, and with it the delicate lines of erienced muliebrity and repose. Some of these lines, particularly those around mouth and’ fringed eyelids, were deepened chin, even In Its rounded had the angle of determination From what was visible below the brown linen “duster that she wore, she appeared to be tastefully although not richly dressel As the coach at last drove away from the station & grizzled, farmer-looking man seated beside her uttered a sigh of relief so palpable as to attract the general attention Tarning to his fair neighbor with a smile of uncouth but good-humored apology, he said in_explanation: “Youw'll excuse me, be- that fulness miss! T don't know the almost | with a singular signifi- | trail to the right, another horseman suddenly | he easily ranged up beside the coach as if | the | unknown | the | ozactly how you'rd teelin'—for, jedg your looks and '#n*ral gait, you're a in these parts-—bit ez for me, 1 do sayin' that I nbvr feel ezactly these yere road agents and stage robl arter we pass Skifner's station once pass Sknner', you're all never dare go below that. mind, miss, for, it's bein' I'll jest pull oft my but for a spell.” either the singular request righ in your and’ ea: nor It evoked on the faces of the other passen- gers soemed to disturb the lady's abstraction y lifting, her eyes from her b bowed a grave assept “You see, miss,” he gents,” he added, ‘taking the into his confidence, v got ounces of clean gold dust in them b tween the upper and lower mighty tight packing for my fee heft it,” he said, as he removed and held it up before them. “I dust there for s Kalkilatin® th these road gentry allus goes fo pockets and his body belt, they nev of his butes, or haven't time to go em.” He looked around him with of self-satisfaction, The murmur of admiring comm however, broken by a burly, beard | who sat in the middle seat. “Thet fair, 0 far as it goes,” he sald but [ reckon it wouldn't go started to run. I've got a ® than ~that, gentlemen continued far 1! e a and friends here, and the danger's over, I don't | mind tellir t road agents driver with passengers g The first thing after they've co their shotguns, is to out and hold up th That, ma'am”—explanatorily to th “Is to keep them from drawing volvers. A revolver is the last thir agent wants, either in a man's h his holster. So I sez to mysalf, * shooter ain't of no account, wot's of carryin’ it!" So I just put my iron in my valise when I travel an | holster with my gold dust, so! It's sight heavier than a revolver, but t feel its weight ard don't kser to ¢ t. And I've been ‘held up' twice ¢ freo every time! Th: applauze that followed side of the Divide this year, and tion and the exhibition of the ho only threw the farmer's exploits ve. do, " ‘HIS EAGER CURIOSITY, HOWEVER, LED HIM TO PUT SPURS TO HIS HORSE AND OF THE COACH." | shade, but scemed to | among the passengers. Other me securing their property were fr cussed, but the excitement culminat leaning forward of a passeng:r whe to that equal general excite an the fair ppear His thos and unknown nee were fessional man; his voice roborated the ‘presumption. I don't think, gentlemen,” he be a pleasant smile, “that any man would like to be called a coward fighting with an enemy who never or even appears, 8xcopt with a de prepared advantage on his side opinion that a man is not on avolding an uncqual encounter w but in circumventing by every m object of thit attack. You have frank in telling your methods equally in telling mine, even perhaps to confess to a littie more have. For T have not only availe of a well known rule of the rob infest these mountzins to exempt a and children from _their ma Ju gives them a sentimental considera all Californfans—but [ have, I con availed myself of the innocent of one of that charming and exempted sex.” He paused and bow eously to the fair unknown. “Wh tered this corch T had with me a bul which was manifestly too large pockets, yet as evidently too small valuable to be entrusted to the ord gage. Seeing my difficulty, our companion opposite, out of the very and innocence of her heart, offered a place for It in her satchel, which full. I accepted the offer joyfull. state to you, gentlemen, that that contained valuable government bon considerable amount, 1 do not your praise for any originality of but to make this publ'c avowal to fellow passenger for accepting this n fect security and immunity from agent that has been recorded.” With his eyes riveted on face, Key saw a faint color rise to h wise impassive face, which might h called out by the enthusiastic pr followed the lawyer's» confession was painfully conscious of what now to him a monstrous situation! Hera actual accomplice; oriconfidant of Imly radeiving the compl sions of the men who w ing to outwit therh Could he, in justice to th o himself, or the he believed he was -pursuing, refrain posing her—or warnmmg them private was he certain? Was a vague rem {of a profile momentarily seen—an; must even now agmit--inconsistent full face he was gazing at, sufficient an accusation? tect'on she had apparently afforded yer consistent with' the function of a plice? “Then gently, from under the it to you." “By no meani? Thn't trouble Pray allow me to still remain your At least as far as the next station, lawyer gallantly, The lady uttered a languld sigh in her seat and calmly settled herse perusal of her book Key felt hi beginn‘ng to burn wit th emba and shame of his evident misconcept! here he was his way to Marysvil low a woman for whom he felt he r cared, and for whose pursult he longer the excuse of justice, * “Then I understand thet you ha seen these road agents said the pro man, turning to the miner, Of o could be able to identify them? “Nary a man! You see they" and only one of ‘em eve “The lsader or chief ‘No, the orator.” “The orator?"" rep wan in amyzement “Well, you see he's mighty gl'b f the durget's over,” said reaching down to draw he ot suppose I m; e al r speaks.” ated the pro m the or tangu safe from | All that Galloper's ‘Ridge it's jest tech and go like; the woods i« ‘swarmin’ with ‘em. So ef you don't whole over smilingl emulation moment maintained a reserve spoliation—a which, of course, they perfectly unders the iMore than that was the pro AUGUST 25, 1893 ing from o't mind | off all he has to say like aw If he had it by heart. He's mighty rough on you, too, some times, for al his high-toned styl Ef he | sponsibility of a package forced up thinks a mon Is hidin" anywhere he jest scalps | one of the passengers. We feel, him with his tongue, and blamed it I don't | lleve, gentlemen, th think he likes the chance of doin' it. He's ot a regular set speech, and he's bound to go through it all, even it he makes everything wait and runs the risk of capture. Yot he ain’t the chief—and even, I've heard folks say, aln’t got any responsibility if he's took for he don't tech anybody or auybody's | money—and couldn’t b prosecuted. I reckon he's some sort of a broken-down lawyer d'ye sen bers ontil along % attempt to evade our rules sanctity of the lady's immunity will be permitted. For your own sak we are compelled to ask under your seat when the package Is removed.” “One mor Indignantly, ““there is a man here wh, ave spared that man,” pointing to the onie of your confederates?’ That man a lau Is th mine. him some consideration turned out of his house wlille the sheriff of He stopped, and th. voica and in a tot roughly Tumb quick! And you, You to rids outside o and u ht. They prese ! feet | my he smils it of a lawyer, | al man smiling, “for himself quite mistaken to hix share of responsibilit / But it's a rather clever way of concenling the identity of the real leader “Its the smartest gang that stafted in the Sierras, They sher'ft of ‘ra the other day him a sort of idea that they had hid place in the woods whar' they Kept their booty, and, by Jinks! he goes thar' with his hull posse—just spilin’ for a fight—and only lights upon a gang of in cent gresnhorns who were boring for silver | on the very pot where he allowed the rob bers had their den! He a'n't held up his head since.” Key cast a quick glance at the lady to see the effect of this revelation. But hemface if the same profile he had seen at the win- | dow-—betrayed neither concern nor cu- riosity He lot his eyes drop to the smart boot that peeped from below her gown, and the thought of his try-| Vet to. identify it with the slipper he had sted the | 1 up seemed to bim as ridiculous as his ke e | r misconceptions, He sank back gloom- | 1 TR EaA In his seat; by degrees the fatigue and 1 excitement of the day began to mercitully oir re. | benumb his senses, twilight had fallen and | nelr rei | the talk had ¢ the lady had allowed 1 in | her book to drop in her lap as the darkne tig 8l Rathered, and had closed her eyes; he closed | the use | his own, and slipped away presently into a shooting- | dream in which he saw the profile again d fill my | he had seen it in the darkness of the hollow deuce [ Only that this time it changed to a full face ) (G0 PROH hiy don't [ Unlike the lady's or any one he had ever | JORE CHCh seer sme nigh | Seen. Then the window sesmed to open with | e i AR n t'other (@ rattle and he again felt the cool odors of | {0 FREH the forest, but he awoke fo find that the lady | (ETEe DI (HE Briver heeded | had only opened her window for a breath of | Drofetaiohal. fa ! fresh air. Tt was nearly 8 o'clock; it would | [0, JUPRCEIIE HIGH Sovh be an hour yet before the coach stopped al i joriin gur'lives by this spe the nmext station for supper; the passengers [ [LUCOS TH0 V€S Y (his 81 were drowsily nodding: he closed his eyes [ GrerG B and fell Inw a deeper sleep, from which he | g/t fORE, trom the driv e Skt ;‘IJ)‘NW"“, a =olid plateau before them, ope said ‘I find | much the profess \agine. hook, she as ‘and you ] coach forty | be- | it's kin boot th ylvan was havir fool T th gav W of t and Wi r for ® hoots and Ye one put hat whil a man's er thinks through a smile Kk 1 ierras n an entir ly changed in there st ~to Koy w, driv was seekl 3 1y all the next gnal, and by God you'll ant was, a miner | ‘s pretty | | swallowed up of a solitary invistble—still | Buns covering the driver. There momentary stir of voices within the coach, but an angry roar of “‘Silence! the darkness hushed it The breathless. the but holder muzzle n the darkness bull's eye—the showed t ef game all | ler | we'r | hese Then the the lev driver's ks of the forward The § a mom keep his seat Progress. A ended upon t a clea light suddenly lash_fe11 horses, simultaneons and the ch ased it later it in n wa the stil mor headlong fury 1 again the ¢ maddened horses, seemed to leap, stroke. Cries of began to come fr the driver heeded them reveln passed not the 1 lster in m a of ye CHAPTER 1V, t can't be Three Pines yet senger's in which the lazine still’ lingered, “or else we've snoozed over | now seemed to have a di five mile. 1 don't see no lights; wot are we [ its own. It ground scatter stoppin’ for?" he other passengers strug- | with its crushing wheels, gled to an upr position. One nearest the | on tickl'sh corners, rec window opened it; its place was instantly upied by the double muzzle of a shot gun! No one moved. In the mwe-stricken silence the voice of the driver rose in drawl ing_prote:tation. “It t'aint no business o' mi strikes me that you chaps a-playin’ a little too fine this time! It ain't three miles from Three Pine Station, and forty men! Of course, that’s your < out—not | mins ! The struck matic rocord “Your thoughtful consideration does you great credit,”” said a voice from the dark- ness, * shall be properly presented to our menager, but at the wish it understood thut we do not hesitate to take any risks in strict attention to our business and our clic In the meantime, you will | expedite maters and give your passengers o chance to get an early tea at Three Pin by handing down that treasure box and mail reful in handling that blunder- you keep beside it; the izef time it uiifortunately went off, and I regret to say | slightly wounded one of your passenge: Actidents of this kind, interferring as they do, with the harmony and pleasure of our chance meetings, cannot be too highly de- plored “By gosh!" ejaculated an ger in an audible whisper. hank you, sir,” said the voice quietly “but as 1 overlooked you, I will trouble you now to descend with the other The voice moved nearer, and by the light of a flaming bull's-eye cast upon the coach it could be seen to come from a stout, me- dium-sized man with a black mask, which, however, showed half of a smooth, beardless face and an affable yet satirical mouth. The speaker cleared his throat with the slight preparatory cough of the practiced orator, and, approaching the window, to Key's in tense surprise, actually began in the identi- cal professional and rhetorical style pre viously indicated by the miner. “Circumstances over which control, gentlemen, compel ight, stand in a row hold up your hands. You | tude not unpleasant after tion in the coach, while t confined air to the wholesome night bree: | of the Sierras cannot but prove salutary and refreshing will also enable us to releve | you of much so-called valuzbles and treasures in the way of gold dust and coin, which, 1 regret to say, too often are misappliel in careless hands and which the teichings of the highest morality distinctly denominate as | the root of ail evil! I need inform you, gentlemen, business men, that prompti- tude and celerity of compliance will insure | dispatch and shorten an integwtew which has been sometimes needlessly and, I regret to say, palnfully protracted.” He drew back deliberately with the same monotonous precision of habit and disclosed the muzzles of his confederates’ weapons still leveled at the passengers. In spite of their astonishment, indignation and discomfity his practicel effrontery and deliberate dis- play appeared in some way to touch their humorous sense, and one or two smiled hy: terically as they rose and hezitatingly file out of the vehicle. It is possible, howey that the leveled shotguns ributed or less directly to th's resuit Two masks began to search the passengers under the combined focus of the bull's-eyes the shining gun barrels and a ru but still carefuily prepared commentary from the spokesman: "It is to be regretted that busi ness men, instead of intrusting their prop- | erty to the custoly of the regularly consti- | tuted express agent, still contifiue to secr it on the'r persons, a custcm that, without | enhancing its security, is not only an in- | justice to the express company, but a great detriment to dispateh. We also wish to | point out that while we do not a rule | interfere with the possession of articles of ordinary personal use or ornament, such as simple Jewelry or watches, we reserve our ave been | yiont o fct b vulgarity alse that | 4ng unmanliness of enormous But he | 5, chains.” Y wemed | “Tho act of spoliation was apparently com- he roud | Dlete, vet it was evident that the orator was sonn "oad | restraining himself for a more effective cli- | ore seble. | Max. Clearing his throat again and step. y | ping before the impatient but mystified file | of passeng e reviewed them gravely Then In a perfectly pitched tone of pain and apology, he said slowly “It would seem that, from no wish of our ! ; | own, we are obligel on this present occasion | Wild llfe she had just quitted; it to suspend one or two of our usual ru Yyig:| PATADLY CHO MO R AT e not in the habit of interfering with the | i, MENE R0 TCTUREO SRR, PG aring apparel of our esteemed clients, but | eieit Mt BERREC 1O, APPOREITN, B rests of ordinary humanity we are | fi % R P 10ve the boots of the gentleman | own' An old Spanish mission | on the extreme left, which evidently give him | ystery college in a sle great pain and impede his locomotion. We | had even retained ts. ¢ also seldom deviate from our rule of obliging | Asmerican ment up their hands during tion. He well | this examination, but we gladly make an ex- | college cloisters, | ception in favor of the gentleman next to|years of his adv him anl permit him to hand us the altogether | spent to the long Alemeda too heavily weighted holster which presses | of ancient trees which upon his hip. Gentleman!" said the orator, | the convert of Santa Lulsa raising his voice with a depreciating | Yout evations,” It bad “you ueed not be alarmed! The|sery of his romance. He w I Dy movement of our friend just now | Whit scemed to be the jrony e to draw his revolver—for it isn't | IINKINg it with this folly of his matur He paused while his companions hood, and yet he uncasily conse holster, and with a still more apolo- [ M4% WIA & KrEICE SR Haa alr approachel the coach, where only | (o™ “ho “san Jose hotel and the lady remaned erect and rigid in her cor- | I'4" coFRer awalted the coming twice | ner. ‘“‘And now,” he sald with simulated | coacl,” His heart beat rapidly sional | hesitation, "'we e to the last and to us the | proached. She was there! But you | most painful suspension of our rules. On|gas she descended from the ¢ these very rare occasions when we have | mysterious horseman of tl been honored with the pres of the fair | Key eonld not mistake the well sex, It has been our invariable custom not | whatever doubt there Lad heen only to leave them in the undisturbed pos- | features which had beor car: fully sessiou of their property, but even of their | cealed. With tho ustonishment of th ofessional | privacy as well. It is with deep regret that [ discovery there flashed acrass him uga | on this occasion we are obliged to make an for | exception or in the present instance the cel | lady ont of the gentleness of her heart and still they sped with the cended ag along. spead of an avalanche in without drawing re'n. ty * sall a pas s holical it ht it o teams until the lights of Three began to glitter through the trees. strong and dominant outstrip even th Lesser I'ghts were presently to and fro and on the out settlement the stage p of wondering fi We've b three miles from whar here yawpin'! If thar's that hasn't got the il ller and close in upon chance to g into thus relieved himself ot forexd non-combatant responsibility to devolve fellow employes, he r taciturnity and drove to the station, where h bruisad and discomfited passeng; mingled with them he could ceiving that neither the late planation of his exemption from nor the driver's surly corroboration respectability had pacified them his amused him, particularly that they , but it sc it ol just | seen I evidently and phleg expostulation on audacity even the driver into of the thing had usually taciturn his first ye are a of men man s a the brush.’ his duty as same t we upon his 1 into not “orator he to them beside the mysterious as one of the masks. little pigued to find that appea his first esponse. sion of But the he was outside passen fair civility to her met i o anas e arding ance; but it strangely revived all vious suspicions and set him to orator in his search purely intuitive? | the passeng hoards? = communica 1 with the band? *thods of eely dis- ed’in the > had up | aly Iress t a ing the window for fr have easily then dropp: this were 50, and she r it was quite natural for her own safe air! some h d we have no to oblige you one side and finl the arti- amped pos hange from its | t on will ¥ and | absurd of himself! His few d to. abandc Three Pines her the suspicion interest revived he had half r |and turn back at determined to follow he did not indulg sgarding his duty, ye a | honor, he did not dream of re her by communicating his susp fellow passengers. When the o again he took his seat on the mained there until they reached in the early evening. Here a despoiled companions were obliged to communicate with their friends. the exemption that had made nant enabled him to coni with a full purse. But b ol | egan with t f us here but in | attacks liberately it is my in him cans the all_been will be f I have than you 4 myself bers who 1l wome: rule tand tion with foss, also kindness justly d cou ien 1 en- ky parcel for my and too nary lug- | charming Kindness to make was not | When 1 package s to a to claim my own, our fair most per- the road new se is ified ith | ach , o them top of the coach. On arriving at Stockton became less Y. It was the stage route and the dive by boat and rail. to dizcover which one the presence now would be more might excite her suspicion. circumstance, which he also providential, determined him. As gage was being removed from the the coach he overheard the agent expressman to check the “lady’s” San Luls. Key was seized with which seemed to solve the though it involved a risk of entirely, There were two routes Luis, one was by stage and direct, slower; the other by steamboat via n Franc 0. If he took there .was less danger of her him if she took the direct stage to a woman's avoidance of change nd transhipment for he would still arrive at San Francisco, an_hour before her. to take the boat; a careful a stateroom gers on the she had preferred the still the chance that in she might escape him small. And a_ trifling most unconsciously | his romantic and super this final step. He had been singularly moved heard that San Luis was the lady’ destination. It did not seem to relation to the mountain wildernes the lady m But Dbelieved 1 cor more and h the that Luis, H lady's other- | her and satisfied stuge. losing sight but the risk cireumstance fluenc'd him gangplank diamonds inary m'sslon from ex- ely? But | embranc 1 as he with the for such | W in the i obliged the law n accom- 1 World flavo and 1l Fr th the r had Juble the lady r satchel knew it wh m only turous yo yourself! d debtor said the and ank back elf to th s cheeks | rrassment on. And le 1o fol w0 longer bad no gntly gesture indignant was not there!" speedily min T was | | i ve ofe ours as at I I nce buil | masked cided' him not to go In the coacl presence there would have no doubt ator a man who lately foined us ston!shed 1Y manner, of I'd advise ralse uch as a rein or a whiplash, until you hear Know [ was energy 1 rocks to powder swayed heavily vering itself with the resistless forward propulsion of the str Pine s the politeness of her sex has burdened her- self not only with the weight but the re n her by and we be t most of you will agree WIth us that so scandalous and unmanly an violate the neve madam you for the satchel 1t will be returned to you | said the professional man, m you Is Koy returned the spokesman with Hollow We have spared him because we owe n at the dead of night you what He stepped back and seemed to be instantly the light himself of was a closed from moments crept slowly by all now were whistle rang from was extin lled muzzles vanished with it I the aped t nearly fhrew Key from the fop, but difficult of lash ¢ until the bound and protest ) th 10t hrottle from the driver and the renewed de trees appeared od, danced at their side, closed up again behind them, but Rushing down grades they and as of sleep [ if by sheor momentum, for the heavy vehicle ation Then a succession of yells broke from the drive seem speed of the unbated cattle running most fringe of the | led up before a crowd s and the driver spoke. n held up on the open road not his recklessly grimly set down his to sittin’ among ye skunk, 'm afore they he'll have Having an en and zllowed all further creant usual As Key their she should enourage the passengers in moments his Now further sophist tallating upon ions to and Jamestown number of his to Happily nue his journcy was content a modest surveillance of the lady from the this survellls termin gence of others If he were lucky enough took ked, here the tell trunk an difficulty, osing the' clue to the discov even if she chose the same conveyanc hurry choica via resolved rutiny window of the arriving pi Thers seomed had titious fashion, as to when probable sear was pastoral pla poseful in 1 fou. this ady rom fatefulness of the inspiration which had help per- ex fate of his For a time nov help remembering that he first appeared horse whom some one thought had been identified | nan not a unknown to participate in their feelings, and with a_chilling iven then, in the general disillu- her, would have been only a momentary annoy- his thinking. Was the singular sagacity displayed by the this pre- Could any one have disclosed to him the secret of Was it possible for her while sitting alone in the coach to have Suddenly the remembrance flashed across him of her open- She signal ally was the culprit could 1t that eir dying ag, quest he But his started wait indig witly of | his and a to be lug of the [ idea | al top San hough 1 rail, boat ring rusted ot | | san | from en- that was of her al after | | he ny the ap gruous have dis ith ded mon i i evolu quaint 1 { Rl sith | And a8t ar- " ide, the | i s | T figu 1 the | A the voice of saying “What's th ining | [ the stranger and so estopped this convineing | denomement. It was quite possible that her companion, by relays of horses and the ad- vantage of bridle cut-offs, could have easily followed the Three Pine coach and joined her at Stockton. But for what purpose? The lady's trunk, which had not been disturbed | during the first part of the journey, and had been forwarded at Stockton untouched before A could not have eontained booty be d of in this forgotten old wn The register of the hotel bore simply the name of “Mrs, Chive of Stockton, but ne record of her comnanion, who seemed to have disappeared as my lously as he came, | That she occupled a sitting room on the same floor as his own—in which she was apparently secluded during the rest of the day ~was all he knew. Nobody else seomed to know her. y felt an odd hesitation, that might ha been the result of me vague fear of implicating her prematurely, In making any marked inquiry or imperilt | his secret* by the bribed esplonage of serve ants, ( when he was passing her door he | heard the sounds of laughter—albeit innocent and heart free—~which se ed so inconsistent With the gravity of the situation and his own thoughts, that he was strangely shocked But he was still more disturbed by a later joccurrence. In his watehfulness of the me | ments of his neighbor he had been equally | careful of his own, and had not only re- | frained from registering his name, but had enjoined socrecy upon the landlord, whom he know. Yet the next morning afier his ar- rival, the porter not answering his bell promptly enough, he so far forgot himself | as to walk to the staircase, which was near the lady's room, and call the employs over the balust As he was still leaning over the railing the faint creak of a door and a singular magnetic consclousnes of being overlooked caused him to turn slowly, but only fn time to hear the rustle of a with- | drawing skirt as the door was quickly closed. [ In an instant he felt the full force of his | foolish heedlessuess, but it was too late. Had the mysterious fugitive recognize him? Perhaps not; their eyes had not met and his face had een turned away. He varled his esplonage by which his knowledge of the old easy. He watched the door, himselt un- seen, from the windows of a billlarl saloon opposite, which he had frequented in former days. Yet he was surprised the same after- noon her, from his coign of vantage re-entering the hotel, where he was sure he | had left her a few moments ago. Had she | gone out by some other exit—or had she been disguised? But on entering his rcom that evening he was confounded by an in- cident that seemed to him as convincing of her identity as it was audacious. Lying on his plllow were few dead leaves of an odorous mountain fern known only to the Sierras. They were tled together by a nar- row blue ribbon and had evidently been in- | tended to attract his attention. As he took | them in his hand, the distinguishing, subtla aroma of the little sylvan hollow in the hills ma to him like a memory ‘and a revelation! | He summoned the chambermaid; she knew | nothing of them, or, indeed, of any one who | had entered his room. He walked cautiously | into the hall; the lady's sigting m door was open, the room was empty. The occu- pant, said the chambermaid, “had left that | afternoon.” He held the proot of her identity in his hand, but she herself had vanished! That she had recognized him there w: now no doubt; had she divined the real object of | his quest, or had she accepted it as a mere | sentimental gallantry at the moment when he knew It was hopeless and she herself was perfectly safe from pursuit? In either event | he had been duped. He did not know whether to be piqued, angry—or relieved of his irresolute quest Nevertheless he spent the rest of the twi- | light and the early evening in fruftlessly wan- dering through the one long thoroughfare of the town, until it merged into the bosky Alamada or spacious grove that connected it with Santa Luisa. By degrees his chagrin disappointment were forgotten in the meniories of the past, evoked by the familiar pathway. The moon was slowly riding over- Dead and s'lvering the carriage-way bstween the straight ebony I of trees, while the | footpaths were diapered with black and white chequers. The faiut tinkling of a tram-car | bell in the distance apprised him of one of the few innovations of the past The car was approaching him, overtook him, and was passing with its faintly illuminated windows, when, glancing carelessly up, he beheld at one of them the profile of the face which he had just thought he had lost forever! | He stopped for an instant, not in indecision this time, but in a grim resolution to let no | chance escape him now. The car was going slowly; it was easy to board it now, but again | the tinkle of the bell indicated that it was stopping at the corner of a road beyond. He checked his pice—a lady alighted—it was | she. She turned into the cross strest, dark= | ened with the shadows of some low surburban | tenement houses, and he boldly followed. He was fully determined to find out her secref, | ana even, if necessary, to accost her for tha | purposes He was perfectly aware what he | was doing and all its risks and penalties; ho | knew the danger of following a possible ¢on- | fidante ¢ desperadoes, but he felt in his | right-hand pocket for the derringer that was equal to it. They were botl he was ready. He was nearing the convent and the oldest and most ruinous part of the town. He did j0t disguise from himself the gloomy signifis cance of this; even in the old days the erumbling adobe buildings that abutted on the garden wall of the convent were the haunts of lawless Mexicans and vagabond pesns. As the rosdway began to be rough and uneven, and the gaunt outlines of the sagg'ng roofs of tiles stood out against the sky abave the lurking shadows of ruined doorways, he was prepared for the worst. As the crum- bling but still massive walls of the convent garden loomed ahead, the tall, graceful, blick- gowned figure he was following presently turned into the shadow of the wall itself. Ha quickened his pace lest it should aga'n eseaps udd it opped and remained mo- He stopped, At the same mo ment it vanished! He ran quickly stood and found dispo subtorfuges town made forward to where it had himself before a large iron gate with a smaller one in the center that had just clanged to on its rusty hinges. He rubbed his eyes'—the plice, the gate, the wall, were all strangely familiar! Then b stepped back into the roadway and looked at it again. e was not mistaken. He was standing before the porter's lolge f the Convent of the Sacred Heart, be continued.) e VAV TV VEN §W§ET; SAVORY SAYISFVINQ SWIFT'S PREMIUM e e B HAMS - BACON Ay Think of the thousands of hams and bacon that go out tfrom South Omaha daily! Wo select but the best ones for the brand, “*SWIFT'S PREMIUM.” Smoked i trimmed nicely—oxtra salty. No miu could make them better. For Salo by all First.Class Dealers. « SWIFT AND COMPANY, : SOUTH OMAHA, NEB, /| / HARK Dr.D.G.GOLDING SPECIALIST. s ) the | His | rued | the Noxe and Throat, Private, and Chioale Dineases, Ual. Call or write. Offloe m. Sunday, 9 (o 12 Cone M4 Douglus Liock, 8. B, s, OMAHA. NEB, Disoases o Bi i houes wltat Skin, Consulia‘®