The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 121: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE GOLD surreptitiously, and hung it from the ~ nail on the wall. She was not angry with the manager now, but worried and apprehensive. ; He had gone to hunt for the thieves; perhaps he had found them, and per- haps—perhaps—— But she did not want to think. All she cared to do, just then, was to lose herself in the hills and forget that Senor Whipple was in danger, or ever had been. So she went to Ysabel’s. It was late in the afternoon when she left the house, and when she started back from Gualterio’s, having failed to distract her thoughts from the manager as she had fondly hoped, the big, round moon was shining and flooding the hills with a golden glory. Ysabel walked with Teresa a little way, and then Teresa came on alone, walking slowly, for she was not afraid. As she drew near the camp, the ore dump at the shaft of the old mine rose darkly on her right. The moonlight sifted brightly over the flat top of the great heap of rocks, making such a vivid contrast with the black shadows beneath that Teresa paused in pensive admiration. As she stood looking upward from the dark of the little valley, she was startled at seeing a black blur on the side of the rock-pile, climbing steadily toward the top. What was it? A coyote? No. A little gasp escaped her when, as the form drew nearer and nearer the lighted crest, she made it out to be that of a man. Swiftdy, as the man pushed farther into the moonbeams, the outlines of his form became more and more dis- tinct to the girl. At last he was at the top of the pile, the moon shining full and clear upon his face. It was Henderson! As she realized this a stifled cry rose to her lips. The man on the ore-dump did not hear, and she watched until he disappeared in the yawning mouth of the shaft. Then she turned and hurried onward _down the ravine, breathless with excite- ment. Henderson, one of the robbers, one of the men who had made that murderous attack on Senor Whipple, had taken refuge in the old mine! e OUgle GLEANERS. 117 What should she do, Teresa ques- tioned herself? Go to the padre with her news? No, that would not do. The padre could do nothing, and if she made too free with what she had learned, Hen- derson might discover that his hiding place was Known and take himself off. It would be best, she decided, to keep what she knew to herself until Senor Whipple returned. He must be back soon, now; one of the men he was trying to find was there at the Golden Eagle. And if Hen- derson was in the old mine, might it not be that Jeffries and Chombo were with him ? The longer her thoughts dwelt on the matter the more portentous it grew. Yes, it was better to tell no one until she could talk with the manager. He would know exactly what to do; if any one else at the works tried to do any- thing, there would be trouble and blood- shed, and the robbers might make their escape, after all. In turning to ascend the hill and reach the house, she saw the padre’s lantern, and half changed her mind about not telling him of her discovery. He would tell no one—she would make him promise before she breathed a word. She felt as though she must unbur- den herself of her secret to some one, and if to any one why not to the padre? She started swiftly in the direction of the tanks, and as swiftly checked her- self. No, it was better to do as she had planned. She realized, even then, what a jov would be hers in communicating soie- thing of such great importance to the senor with her own lips. It must not reach the manager from the padre, nor from Amy, nor from any one else but herself. Facing about once more, she hurried up the hill and into the house. The madre was waiting for Teresa. fretting much over her strange ahsence at that late hour. “Where have you been, little one? ” she asked, so relieved at Teresa’s re- turn that she failed to notice her flushed face and excited manner. “At Ysabel’s, little mother,” an- (COL ElOOO COL