Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1916)

130 Photoplay Magazine crept nearer and could see through a window that the six little Winthrops were eating their supper. As he watched, Johnathan, a bright youngster of six, ran out onto the veranda and peered in the direction of the pasture. "Daddie, Prudence," he called. There was no answer. He went in, reappeared with a big slice of bread and jam. and sat down to wait. Sepulveda lost no Then a peculiar thing happened. Winthrop 's private papers disappeared as if by magic. time conjecturing. He left the trees and sped toward the pastures. When he neared the ravine where he and Winthrop had talked earlier in the day he heard low cries of distress. At a bound he was inside and had dropped to his knees over the prostrate form of the man he sought. Prudence knelt sobbing, her hand on her father's still breast. "God," muttered Sepulveda as he bent to the clean hole over the dead man's heart, "that devil's bullet. How did he know?" A FEW hours later muffled hoof beats **■ broke the stillness of night on the trail leading from the Winthrop ranch. Sepulveda's horse led, carrying his master and two of the Winthrop children. Prudence and the American nurse followed with the other children in a light wagon. Silently as possible the little cavalcade wound its way toward the nearest stage coach town. It was morning before a stop was made. Then Sepulveda bundled the little Winthrops into the big carry-all going eastward with the gentleness of a woman. When the coach driver mounted to his high seat tears blurred the girl's tired eves so that she couldn't see. She waved a fluttering good-by. She did not try to look again till they were miles from their starting point. Then to her amazement, she saw Sepulveda riding along beside the coach. He staid till he was satisfied that they were out of danger. Then he saluted cheerily and rode back to look after the deserted ranch. Eventually Don Francisco appeared there. Simultaneously Sepulveda's right hand dropped into his hip pocket. Don Francisco smiled amiably. "So all of the coyotes are cleared out," he commented, looking about at the silent house, as if he had not seen it before. "Thou hast done well. As I have always said, thou art a good Spaniard — half of thee. But why loiter here? Thy work calls." Sepulveda considered for a moment. He knew Don Francisco knew. He patted the cold steel in his pocket, nodded as if nothing had happened and went to whip Don Francisco's work-hating vaqueros once more into good herdsmen. P\< )X FRANCISCO made a trip to Los *-^ Angeles "to attend to important business" shortly after Sepulveda again took charge of his ranch. He was gone several weeks. Before he returned the Santa Rosa house was as lively with the pranks of children as it once had been. Caleb Winthrop. a wealthy Boston ship builder, was the new master there. He had come for two reasons : to avenge his brother's death and to take out the gold he had learned was there through the same prospector. I.ongstreet. The wily prospector had sold his secret to Caleb too — for a consideration. The New F.nglander brought with him his lawyer, a mining expert, his brother's children, house servants, and enough Americans, picked up along the way. to man the ranch. He hated Spaniards and Mexicans alike. His first act was to get rid of all the "oily devils" around the place. His first command was that any dark skin that should present itself should be run off.