The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 16, 1901, Page 9

lonies go \ '/(4f/ il I? 2l Wil west who know conclusively that men who are “wanted” and wanted badly by a o v se urely in the fact that are almost all, if mpathy habitants, inciuding’ the auinentic information regard- illicit community was unearthed t sersonal_enterprise of the George Insley of Los An- up to the time of his death years ago, w regarde hed and eff dark c plexion, had no di ., when cceasion demanded it, ng himself off as a na e v several years the captain } vored to dévise some pian of inform- himself concerning the community beyond the Lower C: boundary linz, but the probiem pers:st- ently fled him. At length he determin- upon novel pedient. A certain tle ranch in San Diego county jed by unknown lost stock had - California line, ably vanished. ¥or this ed nuch o to the Low invari i Captain been employed to work up the case. and he proceeded to do so0 in his characteristic wa taking no one, not even his own ciient, into the secret of his methods. Going to San Diego one dav the detective donned the garb of a nati vaquero, struck out into the hilis for the s ene of the attle raid. As evening approached he came to the top of = high hill overlooking the ranch of his client. at which point he paused to adjust the little p.an he had concel Fromw his on valley herds of Sirgling out n leisurely down the trail, and s darkness fell, deliberately cut them off from the main herd and started them on 4 mad stampede for the had covered half the di of yells far in his re wae being what he had both cxpected and on he raced, the half dozen in num- a whirlwind under of his 3 acted tearing ahe influe; ing i oy, Iy t was an irrelevant undertaking on the of it, and as perilous as it seemed d, for there is but one summary ishment meted out to rustlers in the juthwest and, when taken red-handed, nations don’t go. little did George Insley care for the danger; he keenly relished that ele- ment in_his work, and as for the seem- ing of the act—we shall see st before reaching the line, ted a steer from the fly- 1 to making away with hi ¥ in an oblique direction across natioral boundary. The result was that pursuers missed him in the darkness and continued on after the scampering, bellowing animals he had abandoned. Ail this was transpiring within a few miles of t little exican pueblo f Jacumb: . as the detective antici- pated rode the enraged cow- punct with the bulk of their recovered £tock to invoke the assistance of the in apprehending the miscreant perpetrated the theft. As for the uutcome of their, importunities, it the same old stor§—a request to be shown their requisiticn papers, and finally the @ rieved horsemen were forced to ride rd, vowing. the while, they would swirg that rustler, extradition cor no extraditon, if lucky enough to en- counter him on their way. Mcanwhile the latter individual had ariven s purloined steer up to the very hmits ¢ the same pueblo, and having 1 his. captive, rode up to t as the vind.ctfve “punch- the act of withdrawing. notwithstanding Jacumba's rather nieal ler police force, it is un- questiona one of the most iniquitous ever exuded the perpetual sky and viler mescal. percentage of its popu- rtain drifting character riy for the moral tone of and it is a rare interval However, @ lation { a ¢ despera not to be its wa ' THE SUNDAY CALL. | was the circumstance of Detective Ins- ley’s nocturnal Visii thereto uny excep- tion to this rule. On the cov.ary, the occasion in question witness an un- usually la. sachermg of this character, Ko ve supoosed, the aii-a was ihe latest unsuccesstul raid across the boraer, involving a nveiy specuiation as to who the prouable ot- tender might have been. der such circumsuinces it took the e but a short ume to determine which members of the assemblage were In sympathy with his recen. © capaue, 51ing out one of the most Laese scoundrels he caled side and confessed himse.f as the fugitive, staiing, moreover, that he had a une steer at least to show for b effort, whi pose of {o advantage. neen intuition wu rikingiy iuustraied in the seiecung of his man, ror nbt onty did he readily consent to attend to the matter of Lhe steer, Lut, vefure Lue trans- 2. tion accomplished, he admitted ember of the ironwood fra- ternity and invited the detective to ac- detective's company him to their distant stronghold. - Capiain Ins.ey, of course, promptiy ac- cepted the suggestion, as 1t was precisely what he had desired to bring about, and in wider to uu'uml;l.sh which it had been necestary first to brand himseif as a des- perate criminal. ‘The journey to the mountain rendezvous was an ordeal which the detective, inured though he was to hardship, never forgot, for although the first half of the distance was traversed during the night the ris- ing sun found the party in the very midst of the dreaded alkall desert, which, as the Jose V. § | THE LATE 7 / \Z3 TAPLGEOT 1 Iy A k S INSLEY. 7 long day wore on, came to be Velilabic brazen furnace. At .ength, now- ever, the weary expanse haa bLeen tra- Versed, and having threaded a tortuous 4l over the jungle-clad Cucapas, the barly entered the fumous {ronwood for- €st. For upward of an hour thereafter the detective’s umbrageous associaie contin- ued to iead the way through the dense bristling timber growth. 'Then, suddenly urging his horse up the side of a slight elevation, he finally emerged into a smail glade at the summit, in the midst of Wwhich stood a rude hut constructed of ironwecod logs and roofed over with a thatchwork of paim leaves. As the horse- men approached this rustic abode there appeared in the open doorway a burly evil-faced Mexican with a repeating rile resting conveniently in the hollow of his arm. At the sight of this ferocious-look- ing individual the newly arrived bando- lero hastily drew rein and proceeded to introduce his strange companion to the custodian of the premises, whom he in turn announced as EI Capltan Chavez. the head of the outlaw community. This formality having been disposed of the horsemen dismounted, and after caring for their jaded animals accompanied the wicked-looking chief into the interior of the ironwood castle. At first the decective was puzzled at the limited proportions of the nefarious or- ganization, the membership of which he had always believed to be of a most formidable character, but which now ap- peared to be rectricted to Chavez and one follower. Howaver, in the course of the evening, which had now set in, the seem- ing mystery wus. cleared by the appear- ance of additional members of the band. who dropped in singly or in couples, un- til at length a company of twenty as viclous and uncompromising villains had assembled as it was poisible to band to- gether in a sirgle frafernity. To each of these the stranger was duly introduc- ed as the hero of the latest rustling ex- ploit in the stock country to the north- ward, and, as a reward for the inglorious role he had assumed. was regaled with mauny a boastful narrative of a similar character, invoiving the most damag.ng admissions possible against the various craftsmen present. The leader. In partic- ular, was reveaied as an especlally choice scoundrel, for not only had he planned like a De '@HGVAQ/; I THE DESERT % / BEYOND THE BORDER . <- 7, rV ALY L\ 51 - il "l MOUNTAIN and directed various thieving enterprises executed by his followers, but had also, from time to time, perpetrated numerous villainies on his own account, in all of ich accomplishments he took an exces- sive pride. -But most significant of all his vaunted achievements was his boast- ed participation in the recent encroach- ments on the very cattle ranch belonging to the detective's client. The face, more- over, of the newcomer's single-handed raid in this same connection won for him the most enthusiastic admiration of the swarthy bandit chief, who shortly pro- posed another excursion of a like char- acter into the same promising district. The detective, nowever, while heartily approving of this arrangement, argued for a postponement of the undertaking ostensibly that he might rest, but in real ity for the purpose of first thoroughly ac- quainting himgelf with the bandits’ re- markable desert stronghold: For a week, therefore, he continued in the locality, riding about from one to another of the robbers’ camps in the ironwood forest. T he various retreats were scattered about over a radius of a dozen miles, each so located as to command a view of the grove for miles around, and at the same time remaining practically inacces- sible excepting to those entirely familiar with the environing jungle. At length when the detective felt that he had suffi- ciently master>d the situation, he slgni! fled his readiness to accompany the im: patient Chavez on his prospective raid. The latest plan of this enterprising worthy was to import a number of calves into his mountain domain, thus establish- ing a nucleus for a cattle-raising indu: try ‘of his own. Now, as previously ex- plained, the mere feat of crossing the intervening desert waste was a sufficient- ly harassing ordeal, and the additional task of transporting a colony ef calves over its ninety-odd stifiing miles struck the detective as being littie short of ap- palling. However, it was not for him to dissvade the ambitious Chavez from his undertaking. The bandit's scheme was to first steal the calves and then hold up some unsus- pecting border teamster, deprive him of his conveyance and utilize the same in transporting the living plunder to his desert stronghold. These border teams- ters, he argued, always carried a liberal hat cover in the pur- ng of the noto- | lier annals of of the incendlaries. hern ion 1 ve point for| The red sun had sunk behind the clouds e who, having | ©f smoke: Decebal, wounded and dispir- * ot his tether, | it2d, followed but by seven of his war- - necessity of hastily | tiors, had found a retreat in the xemplary com- | Cave of Cozia. He is seated by a stone proportion of | table, watching the blood trickling from all e from time | his wounds; the others are leaning against snccessful- | the moist stone—moist with the blood of yanifold obstacles that | their chief. Decebal's voice is heard un- ir flight, the greater | der the vaulted roof, growling like the 2g been captured be- | plaint of a lion In its death agony— - "line, or accomplished| *Omnly you? Only you left of the liv- perish from hunger and |ing?” v pitiless desert beyond. But| *“We only. aratively small minority | ‘“Where is Bicills?"" sally contrived to reach| They looked at each other In mute | alarm. “1 ask you, where is Bicilis?”’ “With the Romans,” said one at last, with a hesitating voice. /ith the Romans? A prisoner?” No, it is he who leads them. “This is more bitter than death,” cried Decebal. *“And we, what is there left for us to do?” *To die togelher,” cried they all. “And Andrada, my daughter,” he sald, though desolate goal in the Sierra de los Cucapas the present period, a col- diminutive proportions—as such that the evidence relative to ‘s existence is regarded in ] sources as too slender cufficiently vigorous move- = extirpation. Be that as arc officers in the far South- be with a trembling voice, ‘“‘they have not captured her?" No, father; Andrada is no easy cap- tive,” "cried she, entering the cave with a rapid step and a torch in her hand. “Tra- Jan is coming, and Bicills leads the way! Bicilis who opened the gate for him! Bicilis, your friend!" “I know full well—all is finished—for the last time give me the cup, my child.” Andrada’s hand shook as she filled to the brim the jeweled flagon. Without hesitating Decebal raised it to his lips and took a long draught. “It reanimates one,” said he as he passed the cup on to the others, who, in turn, all drank of it in silence.’ Soon a gentie lassitude penetrated their power- ful limbs and weighed down their heavy eyelids. ““The rest for me,” said Andrada, once more filling the goblet. “My father, 1 drink to the noble hero—Trajan—the van- quisher of flames and corpses”; she put the cup to her lips, but a rapid movement caused it to fly from her hand. It was Fausta, who, with an air of mocking triumph cried, “To Rome, Andrada—to Rome.” But the words died on her lips as Andrade ouickly drew a dagger from her waist scarf apd thrust it into Fausta's throat. A jet of blood spurted out as she withdrew the stylet and plunged i, red and reeking, into her own fair breast, mad with grief, flung himself on =s body of Fausta. “Fausta, cried hé “for your sake am I a despicable traitor.”’ Andrada was supporting herself by the side of the rock, the blood welling from her wound. She raised her foot toward Bicilis, as if to crush a serpent. At the same instant Trajan stood before her. She smiled feebly at him. ““Thou art still living, noble daughter ot Decebal—living for me! Thou shalt be the_adoration of my life.” “Yes,” said Andrada, “it is I, the daugh- 'S DAUGHTER ter of Decebal, and you—you are the great hero, Trajan.” 8o saying she drew the polgnard from her breast, her eyes closed and she sank fainting to the earth. Trajan caught her in his arms and kissed her discolored lips. while a tear fell from his eves on the pale face of the daughter of his enemy. Arcund them in a circle were seated the Dacian warriors leaning on their swords, their lifeless eves turned toward their statue-like chief. “Decebal,” cried 'l’m?nn. “‘Decebal, let us, be friends. I weep with you, I deplore the sacrifice of yon noble maiden.” But no answer issued from the mouth of Decebal. “Do_you not see that they are dead?’ said Bicills. ‘‘Andrada gave them their last sleeping draught.” an turned with contempt upon Bicilis. “You here, miscreant?” cried he. C‘Dex;urt hence; your breath is a profana- on.” But Trajan's followers said, “Show us where are the treasures—the mines of gold —the kets of preclous stone Bicills led them to the ban! of th river, turned aside the water and disco cred to them the deep fosse in its bed, Which was speedily disemboweled. # % '{nv throw the traitor into the pit! cried Trajan. B“'h that to be my recompense?’ asked cllis, “Thirkest thou that I will suffer near my triumphal car a wretch who has been trampled under foot by Andrada? Go to thy death!™ in_ vain Bicilis protested, entreated. Trajan was immovable, and Bicills was seized and thrown into the fosse: the earth covered him, and the waters of the Ister flowed over his narrow tomb. ne bright teauty of the intrepid virgin was never effaced from the heart of Tra- jan. She and her father were interred with regal honors. The ducuments which might have given us more Information as to Decebal's daughter have not been found: perhaps they were burned in the fire of Saramise- gethusa, or perhaps they disappeared in the great stream of the Ister. - *The Danube. FOREST BEYONDf o \| THE DESERT. [ffl==— ~Up~—¥ PG T —pbut a few yards further on. supply or water tanked along tne sides of the.r and this woula enable them 10 accorupl e with the ut- most lacility. S sion was ar- ranged enurely a the lines of this unscrupulous rasea caoning, and in aue tine, accompa nly by his newly enlisted cuntecerate set out for the nerth. Now, the detective had plans own about s little expedition, which were widely dive from those com- ceived by his resourceful companion. His inten.on was to wait only until he had his man safeiy across the line, when he woula promptiy place him under ar- rest ana a. once convey him to the jail at San Diego. But even the most careful- Iy siudied e cieverest of de- tectives are otten doomed to miscarry. Anda so it proved in the present instance, for as the two horsemen neared the bor- der tne robber chief suddenly drew rein and proceeded to arrange the programme as fullows His compa ana accomphsh the calves; which he was to convey to a deserted cabin which stood immediately beyond the boundary line on the Califor- ma side. Meanwh his contemporary did not propose to be idle, volunteering to ride fortn aiong the border in searcn of the transportation facilities of which he had so cunfidgently dreamed. In vain the uetective demu d; he had experi- enced quite enough of this outlaw busie ness. ‘Though temporarily, frustrated in his project and keenly disliking the idea of losing sight of Chavez even for a brief interval, the detective had no alterna- tive but to ride on and bide the oppor- tunity afforded by the return of his man. But he dispensed with that part of the programme allotted to him oy Chaves, and rode straight for the abandoned structure indicated by that worthy. It was late in the evening when he arrived here, and he waited until far into the night without any sign of the bandit's approach. At length his fatigue arising from the long ride across the desert overpowered him, and he fell into a trou- bled sleep. How long he had remained thus he ‘aid not know, but suddenly he became conscious of a low, rumbling sound outside the cabin. Springing to his feet, he listened intently. The sounds were growing fainter. He hurried to the door and peered into the darkness, just tinged by the gray dawn of morning, in the faint light of which he discerned a great, bulky object moving away from the cabin in the direction of the line. A grave apprehensiveness seized upon him. Could it be that Chavez had returnéd, and, finding him asleep without having performed the part assigned to him, had decided to return in disgust to his desert retreat? The 'line was less than 1000 yards dis- tant, and the prospect of the bandit's escape was little short of maddening. Raising his voice he shouted after the fast vanishing figure. By way of re sponse a curse was hurled back at him out of the gloom. He recognized the voice beyond a doubt as that of Chavesz, and his worst fears were, therefore, con= firmed. But he would not give over at this stage of the affair without a despe ate effort at the bandits capture. Spring ing forward he hurried at the top of hi speed after the retreating vehicle. As he came up behind, he perceived the suiiaw standing upright in a great lumbering cart of Mexican design, drawn by a yoke of oxen, while his own saddle horse foi= lowed in the rear. Evidently he did not ropose to sully his reputation among his ollowers by returning to them altogether empty handed. By the time the detective reached the end of the cart, the lin marked by a dry arroyo, or river bed, w: Without moment’'s hesitation the officer sprang into the jolting cart, and as the bandit faced luhenl{ about he looked Into the muzzle of a leveled revolver. “You are my prisoner,” exclaimed the officer, “stop your team immediately." For 'an instant the bandit falled ta grasp the true situation, and he stood as if petrified with amazement, whils the ox team plodded steadily onward. The next instant the wheels grated on the stopes in the bed of the river. The ne- cessity of decisive action was imperativa if the arrest was to be legal. Both men realized the situation. The bandit deferred stopping the team, yet the detective could not shoot down an unresisting man, even though he were a branded crimina. But ne must act quickly, if at all. W a sudden movement he reached forward, and grasping the outlaw about ‘he body hurled him through the open :nd of the cart, landing him fairly on hiz tack in the bottom of the arroyo. In another in- stant the detective was upon him, and be~ fore the prostrate man could recover him- self a pair of hundcuffs were snajped about his wrists, and he was a rrs-mu' on United States soil. The remainder of the detective's work was comparatively of his of T to ride on ahead abduction of the nicn w easy, and by noon that day the captive bandit was safely lodged behind the vars San Diego.