We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
128
Photoplay Magazine
But Longstreet, that wise prospector, says the nearer the bone the sweeter the meat. I know not of a certainty but it is always well to be informed. So take care — when shooting coyotes. 1 wish again to see the little Prudencia. Her eyes are of the brightness of jewels."
Sepulveda pocketed his account book and swung into his saddle. He knew that he had received a command. "I go over the hills to the south," he said.
Don Francisco looked long and searchingly after the disappearing man, horse and rider loping as one. There was both envy and hatred in the look. He envied the youth of Sepulveda. He hated and distrusted the half of him that was American. Sepulveda's mother was the daughter of a New England sailor who, early in the century, had left the sea at Monterey. Finally he turned and went leisurely northward.
At Santa Rosa, the Winthrop ranch, Prudence Winthrop was diligently shelling peas. Her demure face glowed as six little Winthrops, yelling and dancing like Indians celebrating a hard wTon scalp, circled about her. "The next one for me. The next one for me !" they shouted in chorus. For Prudence was delivering into their red mouths the tenderest pods, filled with juicy balls, too tiny to use. Suddenly the shelling stopped and Prudence held her head as if listening. "Here, grasshoppers, you may have all the rest," she said and held out the pan. "I've enough." And she walked swiftly to the kitchen.
"Here are the peas," she told the Indian woman cook. "I think a calf is lose out there and I must hurry." She sped toward a clump of trees beyond the garden.
When well in the depths of the shade she gave a low call. An immediate answer, soft as her own, came back. She made her way gingerly through the thicket. A strong brown hand caught hers and helped her through. And the next instant her little head was snuggled comfortably almost under Sepulveda's chin.
"I heard your whistle above the racket of the children," she told him. "Wasn't it careless to be so unguarded ?"
The answer was not in words.
'But how could you come to-day?"
Again Sepulveda's only reply was to clasp the slender shoulders more closely.
Prudence now looked into his face more earnestly and was startled at what she saw there. "What is it?" she asked.
"You must go back to your East," he said solemnly. "There is danger here for you."
Prudence looked down admiringly at the muscular arms holding her, then up at the alert face above her. "Cannot you and mv father take care of so little a person as I ?'' she asked.
"Your father is in danger also. And I — soon will be. You must go East and I will come for you soon I hope. Your father will agree about the danger when I have seen him."
"Indians?" asked Prudence, trembling now.
"Worse," answered Sepulveda. "White men."
Prudence looked about fearfully.
"Not now. There is yet time," Sepulveda assured her. "But get the children ready and pack your things. I must help you all to get away to-night. Longstreet. the fox-nosed prospector, has discovered gold on this ranch. He has sold the secret to Don Francisco. And that man never stops at anything when he's once smelled treasure."
Prudence was convinced. She had heard about Don Francisco. "I'll hurry," she said. "but what about vou? What will that
Prudence knelt sobbing, her hand on her father's still breast