In Partnership.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2093, 5 December 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

In Partnership.

• Jnck Martin and Pedro Valencia stood beneath a fragrant buckeye by the roadsir'u awaiting tl>o amvul of tba ntage, thrn £>:o at the village of Campo Seco. It wns the twilight of a warm suinmer'fl day, and tlie 000 l breeze that had sprung up seemed to have frcuhened the perfumeH of withering wild llowers and drooping grasses. Tuo air was scented with the fragrance of tho balsamic pine and the odor of the buokeye blossom. Tho two men stood silent and watchful under the shadow ot the overhanging foliage, occsaionally glancing impatiently down tborond which, from their position, fllopcJ precipilounlyfor a considerable distance, making an abrupt turn fit tho foot of the hill and then descending a deep canon, into the bottom of which tho huh never penetrated. It was out of thin canon that the stage must emerge' beforo begmg the last ascent, at tho Bummifc of which Btood the two men who awaited its coming. It was a long, weary climb for tho horses, nnd a flow, tedious interval for the pa'jsonßero. The Bof t winds of oveuing rustled the sombre pines, and far nway in tha grey chaparral the mountain quail called to his mate. Out of the cannn aroso the murmurs of turbulent waters, nnd a great yellow j»okrabbit hopped lazily down the dusty road. The brown hills arose on either side, their bases grown thick with yreasewood and tar-graßS, while to the eastward, through tha twilight lm/,e tho loftier peaks ot the Sierra reared their dark, bastion-like slopes against a darker sky. It waa a boone that would havo impressed any observor, whether artist or layman, but for Juok Martin and Piwhro Valencia it had no such charm. They were bimply and Holely waiting for the coming stage. It was ft mutter of business with them, and thoy were not prepared to sacrifice business for sentiment.

Theirß was a rnsroeimy partnership, a partnership that admitted of no other considoration than mntn&l loya'iy in the tranaaction of tlifir nl'fiii,'. cmr&#e in the pxeontion of t'ri<- ,W^,'i<?, f..vl nnh>«",t division of the* profits of fchiir oaterpripe. "Thsmaho comes I" Tt was Martin who ppoka. Pedro bfint forward aud listened latently. Up throngh t'no mnrmnring oanoa floated the erp;\ldtn; of wheels Mid il»« jingUng of Inrnpai. Then Vao i?harp oraok of n whip j w,B beard, followed by tho hoarna voioa of IhB I Oliver ni ho nr^d his hnrcea to ronewed c-xortinn. Peilro inrnftl and frund blrusolf face to faofl with a hooded form armad with a doublf-barr^d nhot-Rttfl. Ho •xprossed no surprise, bat julyanoing to whore tho roots of the buokeju rn»k info th« red earth of the bank by the road«ida, Mid lifting a panny-pack nimilir to that whioh ooTerad the nppqr portion of hi 3 companion's body, draw it over h'fl head. Drawing a «hot-gan from tho underbrush, ho cosfiad the road and disappeared in the chaparral. Martin itood clobo in tho sha low of tho buekeyo. Trie stage crawled laz'ly out o! the canon. Only the driver and a nofllo passenger oooupied the box, and thepiedengpr was a woman. When the vehiol* 1 had oenroaohed wifchin ten yardu of the buokeyd, a Hhrill whistle Bounded and two mon with iov*l!*d shot-guna etood in the roadway. The lender* of t'je Htnc '-team pprang away to tho fi/lit, and would have dnshed down the bank in thoir fright i! the driver had not skillfully roincd th«m io. " Halt I " 11 Halt it i«," tho driver replied; "tnt yon might as well put down them Gatling— thoy'ra dangerous, an' might go off ; besidea they pkser this young lady." " Shut yer jaw an' throw down that box," commanded Martin, advancing with bis gun levelled, wbil<» Valencia graiped *h« reini of tho nigh leader. " Whioh box do yoa mean ? " inquired the driver. " Well? Fargo's ; an' if yoa give as the wrong one you'll never drive over this road a^ain." Tho threat produced the effeot intended, «'h! a heavy blno box, bound with iron, and padlocked, was flnng into tho road. Martin examined it oloecly, an-i wa* apparently eatis-fi-d, for ho motioned Pedro o-vray from the hort-efj, aud ordered the driver to ll Go ahead, an' be d— d quick about it, too." When tho stage had disappeared, the partners pioked op the box and ntruok into n narrow trail leading across tho canon. " Party heavy box," remarked Pedr*. 11 Y<;g. I reckon we've oalted the tnrn this time. If it'd over ton tlvjufiand I'm goin' to quit the businesa," Martin answered. The two men struggled in silence through tbo chaparral, eroeaing precjpitona gdlcb«s ard climbing st"ep ridges, nntil they reaohed tho hor.d of a gloomy canon, thickly overhung with yonng pinea and chemisal. Hero they deposed their buiJan.and tearing away a huge boulder from the hillside, revealed a cavity that had evidently been prepared for the reception of tho booty. They haBtily thrust tho box into the cave, and rollpd the atone back into ila place, carefully effacing every trace of their work. , On their return-to Crunpo Ssco, they fonnd tha town in a f«ver o£ excitement over the bold robbery that had occurred almost at ] their very doora. Tne sheriff and a posse of determined oitizans were scouring the country in sciioh of the robbers, and the peoplo were anxiously awaiting tho result of the search. Not tho least sußpicion attached to the partners, vfho were regarded by the aititena of C»mpo Stoo simply ns gamblers of tha ordinary charaoter. They retired thai night woatry with their labor, but exulting Jn the knowledge that their enterprise had yielded them the handsome proit of twenty thousand dollars. Podro Valencia, Wi»«. ! "A pretty good night's work," muttered fedro Valencia, as ho ourkd up in hi« bank, after parting with Martin— "a pretty good ni?,ht'fl work. Twenty thousand dollara t Jly Mhsro is ten thousand 1 That'll take me back to Durfin^o, and plantations are cheap enongh there. Santa Maria! but I'll lire easy after this. I'll pass for a rich gold-hnnter, and I'll marry Homo rich ranchero's daughter, and I'll ride tho finest horses in M«xieo. Twenty thousand dollars, and half of it is mine. Tan thousand dollars ; That's a good deal, but it isn't as muoh as twenty thousand. TThy shouldn't I have it all ? R<j'« only & d— d Gi-ingo anyhow, and if ho gets half & ohanae ho'll ohcat me out of my share. Suppcrae I ; 7/ulk off with the box ? Tw«nty thousand dollars in Mexico is a big pill. I*et me nee. I can fool this Yankee thief, and I believe I'll do it. I'll take the box out of the oaohe and hide it Bomowhcro the. When the row about thia robbery cools down, and the Gringo talks about dividing, we'll go to tho place where wo hid the box, and we won't find j it. Then I'll flay some d— d thief has watched us find stolen out money. Tue Yankoe wort know any different. Then, whon the time corner, I'll dusuppcar. I might aa i wHI lmvo twenty thoimnu as ten thousand, an'l I will have it— thia very night. ; And tho robber arose, and dreaaiDg himself, placed a revolver in his belt, and stole forth into tho night. Jack MAimv, cnffila?/s. j " It's the best job I ever did," thought Jaok Martin, as he flung himaelf, half undreasel, on the bed in his cabin. "Twenty thousand dollars I My sbarc ie ten thousand, j Ten thousand dollara. I'll quit carda ; I'll bfl an honest man ; I'll get out of the State ; I'll go back to Mijaoiu l , buy a farm, and settlo down. I'll live easy the rost of my life." The vision that rose before the robber's imagination was bo vivid, so easy of realization, that he beonrae restless with exoitement — the firat omotion ho had shown sinco the inoident at the buckeya, on tho summit of 11 Two-mile Hill." Ho npiang from the bed, relighted his oandle, and paoed to and fro ooro'fs tho narrow cabin. Then he threw a pine-knot on the smouldering embers in the Greplace, and, lighting hia pipa, seated himaelfbefoio tho fire, watohing the flames as tbey ourled greedily around the roainous wood. , " Yea, I'll go back to Missouri, buy a little farm, marry the ptettioat girl in tho country, anct settle down." A smile of satisfaction overspread his countenance as these thoughts flashed through his mind. " They'll never suspeot me. They'll think I raado my money in the mines. Well, I did make it in tho mines, didn't I ? It don't mako any differonoo how I made it, and I don't oaro how honest my neighbours think I've be«n. Ten thousand dollars ! It won't be long before I make it twenty thousand. I wish I hadn't t»kon that d — d Greaser in on tho speo. I covrid have handled the job just as well without him. Besides, what does he want with •o muoh money ? It'll nover do him any good. He'll only buck it off at monte. I wish " Jaok Martin rose and went to tho door. He lookrd out. " Starlight," ho muttered, returning to his scat, he puffed at his pipo with renewed vigor. "Now, that Greaser," he thought, '• wouldn't think nothing of cutting my throut for that money. I'll bet ho won't rest until he gets me in the door, ios he oan get away with tho swag. I won't trust him. If ho docs tho square thing I'll divide— if he don't I'll keep the twenty thousand and he oan wliihtlo for his share. I'll hide the box in my own cuche, and I'll hide it t«-night." In a few moments Jaok Martin was creeping through the pines of Lame Hog Gulob. Ho was armed to tho teeth, and he knew ft

•tfiort oo t to tho canon whoro the stolon treasure was burled. Jiok Mama omwled noiselessly through tho brn'h on hi« h/inds and knca. Tb« pines, through vrh'fib tho ni^ht '7iu<l* sighed in ghostly oidence?, shut out tho dim light of the uteri, and tba vicinity of thn oavo »ii us dark cm 4h« liitirirtr of & courier/ vault. Tho robVr had Almost reached tho plane whera (ha box wn buried, when his qniok pftr dereotod thn prf>=;enoo of anoth r porio«. Ho pauaprl and lay flat npon ihn 0.-rtli. 11 Somebody in aftiT mat box," he mut« tared. A cam tnd the peculiar grnnt of a »»* who ii er<U«?oru y to lift ft htavy barJm brskt thoitHneia. •* It'« that i— d Orca3er," thought Martia. " Wall, if h« thinks he in £o;ng to iwmc'lo a« b« i« mtrtak^n. His We ain't worth tt • f owdtr I'll bnin to eend him to htll." At thi»? moment the man in the bush gava » otj of satisfaction. Tne bowlder Mad bee* displaced. Fie dreggod th« b<.x oat of tho cavo. Martin drew Jiis rpvolvpr *>:t,l cooked it* There was the pound of oracklin« twig« and the noise of jingling coin tin tho box wai dragged through thr bti^h. Than n rtark form orawlod out of tho Ihfukct and alru^led do?ra tho canon, dragging the box bfJunA him. Stfll Mtr'.in did not firo, nlshouga tlia mark was a fir ono. Ho ftven put ir,i !u« pistol and followed his doubly ilfahnucr partner. It was & long tramp— the iixel ctpi« wert sinking low on th«i horizon when tho M*xioa» reached the spot whoro he ii tended to hid* the ill-gotten treasure, lie hud t-s-ircely 'hiappeared over the summit of the ridge after placing the box in the now cache, when Martin nprang from his placp of concealment and disinterred it. In another hear th« tre&snre had been reburi n d and i^l.-utin vrai apeakicg homeward in the gr»>y diwn, ox« hanstod aad satisfied with hia ni^h/a work. ****** A month rolled by. The excitement engendered by the robbery of tho Cainpo Bee» stage had gpbsided to a still hunt by Well, Fnrgo * Co.'s detectives. The p*rtnpr», witk hypocritical earussdness, were talkir>R of s division of the rpoil. A night h i id been named, for nnearthing tho treafcure. Both toon waited imp-ttienily for t-be 6?not\nient, and whoa, on t)ao ni^ht eoleeti d ict the division, thoy efcood before the cavo at the head of tho canon, eaoh was prepared to pl»y hia part. Tbe boulder rolled away, and the Mexican thrusting his hand into the cave, gavo vent to a well Btiranb.ted cry of dismay. *' The box is cone !" he crieS. "Gone l" echoed Martin. You lie, yofl d — d Greasor, you lie. It must bo thora." " yecl for *yourBe!f," the Mexican ftniwowd. Martin, apparently trembling with agitation, threw himffilf on hia knees and reached into the cave. Then ho arose, and, grasping the Mexican by the arm, exclaimed: " Where is tbo box ? You know where it i«. Don't go back on me, Pedro— we'rt partner* — we've risked our neokn together tt get this money, and it ain't ri^ht to beat me this v/ay. It's a joke on me, ain't it ?" " I've played no joke on you, Jock. Somo< body followed us whin we carried oil the bo*, lhab'a all, and they'vo stolen the money— that's all there is about it. We'll have t$ stand up another sta^e, Jack. Maj be we'll have better luck next timo." This explanation seemtd to satisfy Marlifl, and the partners returned to Campo Seoo. For a weak they pretended to plan together, preparatory to robbing nnoth<»r bt<iye. Ihe«, one dark night Pedro Talencia left town, II h« thought, foretar. Ho had mad 9 every prt paration for fleeing the oouitry with th« twenty thousand dollars. It was nearly midnight when he retarned. WLea ha entered the gambling hell where Martin w.%3 playinf, his swarthy face filled with rage. 11 Jaak Martin, I want to bpo yon outside," he hiagjd between hia £ct teoth. Martin exchanged his faro chips for money and aro«e. Tho earth had arrived. The da* parfcor* of tke two men was aoarcsly notioei by tho other players. Suddenly they wer« startled by a pistol-shot, followsJ »lmo«t J»ctantly by another, that raug out on tht night air with deadly distinctness. As th« orowd rushed to tha door, a inau Bta' s 'gorod into the ro»m and fell headlong to the floo*. The blood was pouring in to;r"nta from hi! side, and tho pallor of donth was creeping over his dark face. It waa Pedro Jutmcn, " Who 6hot you, Pedro ? " inquired one o! the gamblers. " I did." All eyes were tinned to the door, in which stood Jack Martin, a cmoking pistol in hia hand. " That knife, ho conthmad, " !• proof that I shot him in eelf-defonco." Aa ho spokt 1 , he pointed to a murderoni bowie-knife which Pedro clutched in hid right hand. The dying robbor raieed hitn?elf by ft mighty effort on hio elbow, and regarding hit partner with a look in whioh l.upotent ragt was mingled with hate and malieo, gasped hit denunciation : " Jack Mp.rtin — and mo — robbed the — 'robbed the stago. Ha stolo the — Jioney from-* from mo. Twenty thoua " With a gnrgling groan, the Moxban sank back on the floor, the blood gushed f/*oru hit HUM and mouth, and in another insUnt ht was dead. The partnership wa3 dipsolved. On the trial for tho mutdor Jack Martin told the whole story, and he told it truthfully, notwithftanding the advice of his lawyer*, who expooted a heavy feo in tho event of his a«« quittal. Ho confessed the robbery, detailed thi double play of himself and Pedio, and testified that when the latter on that fatal night accused him of removing the treasure from the place where he (Pedro) had h'.ddon it, ha admitted the fact. Whon ho refined to divido, the Mexioan hud attacked him with tho knife, and in self-defenoo ho hid killed hi« partner. This vpraion of t!:o affair could not bo disputed, and a verdict of not guilty was rendered. But Martin hau not rovrilod the hiding* placo of the twenty thousand doJlara. Oa hid trial for robbery he pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to ten years in tho St»t3 prison. Ha carried hi? secret with him, and although his term has long siooa exphed, the spot where the monay waa buried has never been discovered, notwithstanding the faut that hundreda of men have searched for it iv every ditection for mile» around Cimpo Seoo. After his releaHC, Maitin disappeared, and is supposed that he quietly and secretly unearthed the treasure and lied with it to aomt diatant retreat, where he may ba living at tha present time a highly r.'Hpacted ailizen. Bat his name ia not John Martin. E. 11. OLooan.

Dk NEovr&r<rc, the French painter of military scene*, recently deceased, carried his love for the realistic so far as to Human the windows of his studio, tear the doors oil, und riddle the walls with bullet*. Ilia models, moat of them soldiern who had marie the campaign, w_ere often noarly Buftocated by beiug yil.'d upon one another ; the horses that caiad to bios from the knaokcr'.3 #ard still alive wove slioi in the workhouse itself," so that they might fall naturally. All this waa to tho (iroat oilmay of his neißhjjorn, who, in tho beginning, not knowing what to m^co of all this noise, freqacntly ran to the polico. The guardians of the lavr in their turn invaded tho promises, in order to prevent w!nt they ima<]inoi to bt wholesale slaughter. They only found D« Neuville with diahevolkd lock?, pistol in hand arranging his acsne, and retind wiih a hand* oome pourboire to wash down tire smoke of the gunpowder, with which they were almost choked.

443.