Part 52 (1/2)
”But I didn't ask you, Eddie, and I don't want you--today,” she urged
”Sorry, miss,” he threw back over his shoulder as he walked back to rope a second pony; ”but them's orders You're not to be allowed to ride no place without a escort 'Twouldn't be safe neither, miss,” he almost pleaded, ”an' I won't hinder you none I'll ride behind far enough to be there ef I'm needed”
Directly he ca little beast, and co the two
”Will you pro hio or whom I see?”
”Cross ht, Eddie, then I'll let you come with me, and you can ride beside me, instead of behind”
Across the flat they rode, following the windings of the river road, onewhat the purpose of so steady a pace could be This was no pleasure ride which took the boss's daughter--”heifer,” Eddie would have called her--ten miles up river at a hard trot Eddie orried, too They had passed the danger line, and ithin the staround of Pesita and his retainers Here each little adobe dwelling, and they were scattered at intervals of athe river, contained a rabid partisan of Pesita, or it contained no one--Pesita had seen to this latter condition personally
At last the young lady drew rein before a squalid and dilapidated hut
Eddie gasped It was Jose's, and Jose was a notorious scoundrel whoe alone kept fro he ever had known--brigandage Why should the boss's daughter colove with every cutthroat in Chihuahua, or at least within a radius of two hundredherself from the saddle, and handed her bridle reins to Eddie
”Hold hione but a oin' in there to see old Jose alone?” gasped Eddie
”Why not?” she asked ”If you're afraid you can leavehome”
Eddie colored to the roots of his sandy hair, and kept silent The girl approached the doorway of the mean hovel and peered within At one end sat a bent old ure darkened the doorway
”Jose!” said the girl
The old man rose to his feet and came toward her
”Eh? Senorita, eh?” he cackled
”You are Jose?” she asked
”Si, senorita,” replied the old Indian ”What can poor old Jose do to serve the beautiful senorita?”
”You can carry a irl
”I have heard much about you since I came to Mexico I know that there is not another man in this part of Chihuahua who may so easily reach Pesita as you” She raised her hand for silence as the Indian would have protested Then she reached into the pocket of her riding breeches and withdrew a handful of silver which she perly, froo to the camp of Pesita,”
she continued, ”and carry word to the man who robbed the bank at Cuivaca--he is an Ae has been captured by Villa and is being held for execution in Cuivaca You e's friend so that help e before dawn Do you understand?”
The Indian nodded assent
”Here,” said the girl, ”is a paye in time you shall have as much more Will you do it?”
”I will try,” said the Indian, and stretched forth a clawlike hand for the money