AROUND
th. HOUSE
O
CHAPTER IX—Continued
Friday, Auqust 9. 1940
SOUTHERN OREGON MINER
Page 6
"You'll like me less if you don't
move on pronto.”
The invader very slowly drew a
double-barreled horse pistol from
his belt The movement cost Bowie
his first tremor.
He wheeled his
horse back toward Carmen. "Seño­
rita," he said in Spanish, “ride
home.
This fellow is drunk and
might shoot wild. You're in danger
here."
"What will you do?” asked Car­
men coolly.
"I think I can handle the situation.
Go. do," urged Bowie.
He turned to face the threat from
the insolent horseman, who stormed
on. "I want you to understand I'm
Captain Blood, and I don't take no
back talk from any greaser.
If
you open your mouth once more I'll
blow your head off.”
Bowie felt suddenly angry with
himself. Perhaps for the first time
since riding inspection of the rancno
he had come out unarmed. In his
exhilaration at seeing Carmen in
the saddle he had forgotten his re­
volver.
His anger turned on the intruder.
"So you're Captain Blood!” he
called out rather contemptuously.
The doughty captain's only retort
was to make good his words. He
leveled his big pistol at Bowie. The
Texan spurred violently and ducked
in his saddle as Blood fired.
But he searched in vain for Ame-
lita. Beside himself, he searched
Despite the utmost care an occa­ every rift in the cave for Yqsco.
sional bit of rock would rattle down His frantic efforts were bootless.
the canyon wall; fortunately the dull His bloody knife in hand, he faced
ascending roar of the small water­ the beaten subchief of the savages,
fall muffled the noise. For the weary threatening instant death for all un­
"Only
rancheros this final climb on hands less Yosco were produced.
and knees, dragging their rifles with his squaws can tell you where Yos­
painful care, topped the hardships co is,” muttered the stolid Indian.
of the night. But just as the first
"Yosco is not here.” said the
faint streak of dawn lightened the swarthy, wrinkled woman.
"He
eastern sky Sanchez, with the ut­ started yesterday for the high moun­
most caution, turned the top of the tains."
trail and led his men into a second
“Where is Amelita?” demanded
recess in the precipice.
Sanchez, beside himself.
As each man crept around the
"He took two mission girls along.
corner he beheld with astonishment Amelita was one."
a small fire burning fifty yards away
with dim figures dancing and chant­
Late that night a weary and strag­
ing around it Sanchez did not al­ gling procession roused Santa Clara
low a word to be even whispered. Mission with resounding shouts.
He had achieved his surprise; what,
Despite the hour they were given
now, of the attack?
a joyous welcome. Padre Martinez,
"Dancing to keep warm?” asked for himself and his associates, or­
Bowie to Sanchez.
dered the slender reserves of his
"War dance." whispered Sanchez. fatlings brought from the cold room,
"Another raid tonight"
and at midnight the fires were still
"Maybe!" exclaimed Bowie men­ blazing and the kettles bubbling to
tally. “Call on them to surrender. fill a half-starved company with the
Sanchez."
best provender the mission afforded.
The high shrill yell of the vaquero
To the surprise of the savages,
broke loud over the empty gorge. who expected to be executed at
The dancers stopped, petrified. The once, they, too, were served with
squaws sprang up and scurried from an abundance and went to their
sight Sanchez called for surrender. quarters, filled both with stew and
The startled warriors looked about with amazement
in vain for a foe. They raised a
The Californians, after mutual
quick sharp yell of defiance. For congratulations, scattered for their
most of them it was the last. A ranchos. It was almost daybreak
burst of rifle fire toppled them over when Don Ramon, with Dona Ma­
like pasteboard men. The few who ria, Carmen, Bowie and his men
partly escaped the fatal hail stag­ reached Guadalupe. Lights were
gered or plunged, wounded, back to still burning everywhere in the
shelter.
ranch house.
Undismayed and sooner than the
Some moments passed before
Californians could reload, a fresh Bowie came into the living room,
party of warriors ran out; one limp­ After taking measures with the
ing savage pointed in the direction scouts and vaqueros for the guard-
of the gunfire. A shower of arrows ing of the corral. Don Ramon and
flew from the cave mouth. As these his wife were just retiring to their
struck the rocks hiding the attack­ rooms.
ers a yell and a volley came from
“You must ask Senor Bowie more
across the canyon. Three of the war­
about the fight itself," Don Ramon
riors went down before the rifles of
was saying to his wife. He had evi­
the Texan scouts and Pedro. The
dently been recounting the story of
savages had not recovered from
the day. "Because," he added with
their amazement at gunfire from a
a cold glance at the Texan, "he
new quarter when a second volley
kept me out of it—for which I do
was poured into them from the Cali­
not thank him.”
fornians hidden on the traiL
To add to the trouble of the cave
The early morning was gray with
men, boulders were tumbling down fog, but even the gray of a Cali­
on them from above. As warrior fornia morning is an inspiration to
after warrior, yelling defiance, is- the young.
When the mist floats
sued from the cave he was struck lazily in from the sea, when the
down. The ledge was soon covered valley lies green in the soft light
wih dead.
Still Sanchez waited. of dawn, when the cattle and the
He waited till the patience of Bowie horses in thousands shake off the
and that of the shivering rancheros torpor of the night and turn peace­
"Had enough?” demanded Bowie.
was exhausted. But the patience of fully to the lush grass of the hill
an Indian surpasses the patience of slopes, when the curtained bay lies bullet missed its mark. Bowie’s po­
a white man.
asleep in the distance, not even the ny plunged. The Texan rode nei­
"Sanchez,” protested Bowie at sun is needed to inspire youth with ther toward nor from Blood, but
headed sidewise, loosing his reata
length, "it has been half an hour strength and hope.
since a buck has come out—”
But the Texan had an added in­ from its coil as he rode. The bel­
"Yosco is waiting to ambush us,” spiration that early morning when ligerent captain was confused by
said Sanchez quietly. "If he can get he rode up the field to the house, the tactic. He whirled his own horse
us to attack he will fight”
in the spectacle of Carmen in the about to keep face to face with the
"No matter, We can’t lie behind saddle. The two wheeled together flying Texan and get in his second
these rocks all day, ," continued Bow- and loped down the valley on the shot to better purpose.
But a racing horseman is a no­
ie. “When the sun gets high enough major-domo’s daily round of inspec­
toriously slippery mark for an ene­
they can pick us off with arrows, tion.
my in the saddle with his own horse
You say there’s a 1 hole at the other
Carmen, animated by the brisk
In point of
end of the cave, They can crawl ride, slowed down after a few miles. Jumping under him.
fact. Bowie already had his foe at
through there and get above us.
"Senor,” she said, turning to
When they do, we’re done. Sanchez, Bowie. "I wanted to thank you for his mercy. Even the captain, so­
bering rapidly at this unexpected
we’ve got to rush the cave.”
your protection of my dear father.
“Señores?” Bowie called quickly It meant so much to me. I am shift in the fight, sat alertly await­
ing his chance to shoot So vividly
to the men lining about him. He sorry he did not understand.”
intent was he on getting a bead on
explained the situation and whit he
"I hope his resentment will pass,” his adroit antagonist that he saw in
purposed. He asked for five or six
said Bowie.
t
his field of vision only as a remote
volunteers.
"I know it will. He has the high­ danger the long snakelike coils of
Bowie, moccasin shod, crept down
est opinion of you, and rightly, since the deadly reata now circling above
toward the cave, followed closely
you saved his life.”
him.
by Sanchez and the picked Califor­
He looked at her to disclaim. But
When he perceived his peril it
nians.
the vision of her face, the depth was too late. The great loop set­
As they drew closer to the cave
and splendor of her eyes bent full tled gracefully over him. Pistol in
entrance they heard within the low
and with perfect poise on his own. hand, he tried to dodge, flung a wild
wails of the squaws in death song­
confused him.
Just the faintest shot at Bowie, and the next instant,
mourning their warriors; its one
flush crept to her cheeks.
caught like a rat, he was jerked
advantage for the men advancing
He looked down and could utter violently from his horse and, with
was that it helped absorb the slight
arms pinioned, dragged headfirst
noises of rock fragments underfoot only a word or two. "It was noth­
and bumping violently at the heels
Bowie was thus able, by hugging ing. really nothing. Shall we go a
of his captor. It was rough treat­
bit
faster?"
the wall, to gain the side of the
No man could have lived
Her spirit attracted him; It was ment
opening itself without discovery.
so brimming with fire. And all the long under it But Bowie was thor­
He paused only long enough to
time she was sinking deeper into oughly angry and hardhearted. It
signal his followers, then, whirling
was not consideration for the im­
his life.
to the right, threw himself, knife
pudent bully that checked his pace,
He knew she could ride, but now
in hand, into the narrow cave open-
but as he dragged his captive down
she surpassed even his idea of her
ing.
the slope whom should he see
daring.
An ear-splitting yell burst from
watching him but Carmen.
The race was cut short by the
within. Using only his knife and
Instinctively he checked his pony.
pushed closely by Sanchez, Bowie appearance of a horseman gallop­ He seemed to realize that this would
grappled the first warrior, a tall ing smartly around the hill ahead be too unpleasant a scene for her
supple fellow, not heavy, but with of them. He was swinging his hat approval. He was pulling the strug­
muscles of steel. For a few swift •in his hand as he rode. Heavily gling
man
toward
outcropping
minutes a deadly encounter was bearded, tall in the saddle and rid­ rocks. In five minutes more their
waged for possession of the mouth ing free as he came on, Bowie jagged edges would have torn him
of the cave.
The floor on which placed him as an American, and to pieces.
they fought put the Texan at a dis­ as he drew closer the verdict was
Bowie halted within speaking dis­
advantage, but he managed to strengthened.
tance of Carmen, He was still un-
"Hello, greaser," shouted the der the influence of his anger and
dodge the knife of the Indian until
stranger in Yankee fashion.
he could bring him down.
spoke sharply.
"Who are you and what do you
He cut and jimmied his way in­
"I asked the Señorita to ride
side, dodging as best he could knife want?” asked Bowie in curt Eng- home.”
thrusts and ax blows, but he gained lish.
She spoke without resentment, "I
“Looking for some ■tray horse«, disobeyed.”
the entrance.
"You have exposed yourself to
The struggle was too furious to greaser. What are you doing here
last long. Once they saw inevitable with a pretty girl?—I’d like to get danger,” he said bluntly.
"Don’t kill that poor man, if he
defeat, the surviving warriors re­ acquainted with that shy one my­
x
isn’t dead already. Please."
treated behind their squaws into the self."
"He tried to kill me, didn't he?"
farthest recesses of the cave and
Bowie felt sure the man was ly­
ing about stray horses, and, early asked Bowie tartly.
begged for quarter.
“Yes, but let him go, senor—if
Bowie stopped his Californians as it was, he was evidently drunk.
and took stock. One of the ranche­ A nearer inspection of his features he’s still alive.”
“It’s hard to kill such vermin.”
ros was seriously wounded, Sanchez did not better Bowie’s opinion of
"Please let him go.”
was a mass of bloody bruises and him.
“He’ll make more trouble anoth­
"Look here. Yank,” said the Tex­
Bowie had suffered a vicious knife
slash across his bared chest and an. chopping his words sharply, er time," grumbled Bowie.
“Please let him go.”
"bridle your tongue before you get
half-a-dozen lesser cuts.
Bowie rode back to him. His eyes
You’re on Rancho
The enraged Californians were for into trouble.
The quicker you get were staring wildly and he was
extermination. The Texan would Guadalupe.
have none of it Sanchez, wild to off It the better it will suit me. And panting. “Had enough?” demanded
reach the stolen girls and Amelita, don’t make any more remarks about Bowie sullenly.
found the frightened
neophytes my companion."
The captive could not raise breath
where they had been hidden by the
"Greaser, I don’t think I like enough to speak but he nodded fee­
squaws.
you."
bly.
|
CHAPTER X
Grip the screw top of a Jar with
a piece of emery cloth or sand­
paper, and you will soon have it
loosened.
• • •
'A Items of Interest
to the Housewife
If you have been painting wood­
work, the best way of removing
the smell is to leave quarters of
a large onion In the room until
they have absorbed it. Be care­
ful Io throw away the onion im­
mediately it has done its work.
Bowie, dismounting and stooping
to release his captive, heard the
One
tablespoonful
of
sirup
clatter of hoofs. He sprang up, ex­
sweetens as much as two of sugar.
pecting enemies. It was only Pe­
• • •
see
dro and Sanchez, galloping in hard
Store
chocolate
and eocoa In a
after the report of the two shots.
Put a basin of cold water in the
cool, dry place to prevent impor­
"Sanchez." said Bowie in Span­
oven if you want to cool it down.
tant oils from deteriorating.
ish. “ride fast back to the house
It rcducea the heat and helps
and fetch me my gun. Pedro," he
This Is an attractive way to with the cooking.
added, "loosen this fellow and set
aerve onions. Peel and slice six
him up. Then pick up his pistol—
large onions crosswise. Separate
Wooden spoons are desirable for
it’s over by that hill somewhere.
the rings and use only the larger cundy-making been use they do
And bring in his horse—it’s proba­
ones, while saving the rest for not become uncomfortably hot to
bly grazing back of the hlU.”
other use. Cover the selected rings
handle.
A moment or more passed before
with milk and soak one hour. Then
the doughty captain sat up, stag­
e e e
dredge the onion rings with flour
gered to his feet and shook himself
seasoned with salt and pepper and
You can bring up the shine on
to see whether he was all apart or
fry in deep fut for two minutes. highly enamelled surfaces, if they
all together.
Hatlcss, hair awry,
Drain on soft paper to remove any are dulled after cleaning, by rub­
breathless and covered with dust
excess
grease.
bing with a soft churnoia leather.
and dr?
he was a sight. Bow­
ie, remounting, eyed him with little
sympathy. “So your name’s Blood?”
he snapped.
"Ben Blood," answered the man.
"You’ll pay for this. I’m a scout
from General Fremont's expedi­
tion "
"What are you scouting down this
way?”
"Horses—three hundred head.”
"You've come to the wrong place
for horses.” «
"Give me my horse and pistol,
and I'll be going.”
"You’ll be going. Blood—with an
escort. This vaquero will take you
to the presidio for trial. You're un­
der arrest."
"You'd better not arrest me! Give
me my horse."
"You’re headed for the presidio.
Blood. Climb into your saddle.”
Bowie then spoke in Spanish to
his vaquero. "Ride this wretch well
away from the rancho—far north;
and lose him somewhere along the
Meiena de Leon. Let him think he's
escaping. We don’t want to bother
with him.
When he gets away,
chase him and give him a good
scare"
When Carmen and Bowie reached
the rancho Don Ramon and Dona
Maria were on the porch with a
group of house servants huddled
close at hand, and Dr Doane. After
the story of the morning was told,
the surgeon engaged Bowie and with
some effort extracted from him a
story of the fight at the cave.
The event of the morning Jas
passed over briefly by Bowie. "But,
Don Ramon," be added, "do not de­
Corrupted la Time
i so sure established, which In coo-
ceive yourself.
Half-drunken ras­
There was never anything by tinuance of time hath not been
cals like this one we encountered
the wit of man so well devised, or I corrupted.—Archbishop Crammer.
this morning will be back. We must
always be prepared for them. Their
leaders are unscrupulous—the rank
and file are worse.”
Bowie tried all next day to catch
Dona Maria alone in order to lay
a momentous request before her.
But an itinerant painter had •P-
peered at the rancho and for that
day and next few. the family was
busy having their portraits painted.
Even Bowie was included in the
paintings. One day the artist took
his leave and Bowie appealed to
Dona Maria, asking that he might
have a word with her.
The lovely mistress of the rsncho
was, as always, gracious,
"You
certainly may, Senor Bowie, " she
said in her gentle Spanish, "and
as many words as you like, Come
with me.”
She led him to her sitting room.
"Speak freely," she said.
"I am a stranger to you. Dona
Maria," he began.
"Not wholly,” smiled Dona Ma­
ria, "but let that pass.”
"Thank you; yet I am—and to
your people.
My stay under the
roof of Don Ramon has been a very
happy one.”
"Surely,” exclaimed Dona Maria,
alarmed, “you are not leaving us?”
"That is the last thing I’d like to
think of. Dona Maria. I have come
to love Californianos and Califor­
nia, I can honestly say, as if it and
they were my own.
"I am a Tejano. My own people
are from Maryland and France.
When Don Ramon asked me to take
charge of Guadalupe I hesitated, as
you know.
The presence of your
daughter, Señorita Carmen, made
me fear, from the first time I ever
saw her, that my feelings might
carry me beyond my depth.
"They have done so. Dona Maria,
I am obliged to confess. And I am
painfully conscious that I have noth­
ing to offer her. She is an heiress
of large possessions.
Yet—here I
am, asking you for her hand. I am
not worthy of it What will you do
with me?”
I>na Maria listened with varied
feelings, nor did she seem shocked
at the confidence, though -her ex­
pression was grave, as seemed to
her to befit the situation.
"Your words do you honor, Senor
Bowie,”
she
responded
evenly.
"There are, indeed, as you say, un­
usual circumstances to be consid­
ered. Yet after discussing it with
Don Ramon, I shall not hesitate to
lay your avowal before Carmen.
From him I do not anticipate any
serious objection. As to her feel­
ings, I am not, much as you might
so think, in her confidence. Carmen
is mature beyond her years and
much reserved by nature. She has
been delicate—”
"She seems in perfect health
now,” suggested Bowie.
"So she is,” declared Dona Ma­
ria, "in perfect health—have no mis­
givings on that score.”
(TO BE CONTINUED)
e o o
...
TEMPTING
HEALTH AIDS!
Oranges give you refreshment
— piss vitamins you need I
Nothing else is so delicious ind
as
f»r fta as orangesl
,
They give you vitamins and
minerals needed for the best of
health. Fully half our families get
sm link of these essentials, says
the Department of Agriculture!
So make »rttnguyout family's
summer refreshment. Peel and
eat them. Keep a big pitcher of
fresh orangeade handy. Or bet­
ter yet-
Have 8-ounce glasses of fresh
orange juice for breakfast daily.
This gives you e// the w/.tum C
you normally need each day. Adds
ritamifu A, Bi, and G and min­
erals m A mms , pbuphtnu and free.
8unldst is sending you the pick
of California's wonderfully juicy
oranges. Buy a supply next time
you shop.
Sunkist
CALIFORNIA. ORANGES
Best loi Ioice — ////</
//sc f