Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-04-23

would see in such an accident the won
derful machination Of an unrelenting
Ruler, who has said: Vengeance is
mine"
Never until now had Velasquez re-
Elected on the possible results of tho re-
pulsive acts of his life. His immunity
from discovery had only tended to
harden his soul and he had ever been
prompted by one impulse ouly-greed
for wealth-which when acquired had
never brought him any genuine pleas
ure. He had never once stopped to
think of the price his victims paid to
satisfy his own insatiate desires. He
had been absorbed in self and had lived
life in which none others shared
part But now that the hellish conceits
of his debased mind could only spend
themselves on four prison walls, he was
forced to think.
Leon Velasquez, running riot as one
of the most active Of the DEVILS en-
missaries. had never paused to think of
the eXactness with which Gods mills
grind all, had never thought it worth
his while to consider that those who es-
cape the mills the longest are in the
end ground more quickly and relent-
lessly. He was in the mills now and
the great stones were beginning to re-
volve; so closely, so surely increasing
the speed of their revolutions every mo-
ment, never to cease grinding until the
grist should be fine as the finest powder.
His nights grew restless, sleep al
most forsook him, and the little
snatches Of mapping which he did
sometimes secure were only fitful
slumbers disturbed by horrible dreams
which brought to his mind in turn,
like a moving panorama, the scenes of
his devi1ish acts. Bold as he had been
through life, he now shuddered under
the shadow Of the gallows, and so fear
| full was the mental torture that at times
| he wished that the end might be speedy.
When the bolts shot into their SOCK
cts across his prison door all hope fed,
| and he knew full we'll that he would,
after all these years of liberty, meet the
penalty Of his greatest crime. From the
hour of his arrest he had been moody,
and entirely ceased to speak to those
who approached him. He neither ex-
pressed hope of escape nor murmured
at his fate. Some imagined that the
| terrible visions of just punishment
were perhaps the cause OF his silence,
| though others avowed that he was only
meditating bold and final plunge for
liberty. Be that as 1t might, he per-
sisted in morose reticence.
While ne fingered in prison Mrs. De-
| laro and her friends were taking a rest
from the intense excitement at pretty
little English watering place. trying in
vain to forget for a time the final TRACE.
dy in which they must take an import
ant part.
Mr.. Blodger had been completely out
done by the scenes he had witnessed.
! He made hurried determination to re-
u turn to America and never again assist
at such exciting performances. He re-
ceived so severe a nervous shock that
all the poetry of his soul was crushed
out, and he was compelled to postpone
for an indefinite period the writing of an
ode to Father Thames, in which he had
avowed his intention of putting . vast
amount Of research, labor and thought.
The world was thus robbed Of another
literary gem.
He was true to his word, and weel
after Velasquez's incarceration Mr.
Blodger's little party of friends accom-
panied him to Euston station and bade
him ''God speed" on his journey home
About five weeks later Mrs. Delaro
Armida and Percy returned to Londo1
to meet the American detectives, whe
had arrived with the extradition papers
1t required but short space Of time TIC
perfect the arrangements for Velasquez's
removal to California soil, where the
law required that he should take his
trial TOR the crime of murder. Every.
body concerned was anxious to start az
soon as possible, and it was arranged
that the prisoner should be taken by
| 49, -, Ill I'D
one made any demur to this excep
Armida. When she heard the decision
she said: 1--WE must not travel on the
same ship with that man. I am sure
something dreadful will happen-be
will be veritable Jonah"
what nonsense you talk, my child
Such absurd forebodings never enter my
mind" said her mother.
Here Percy proffered suggestion. 81
you ladies would prefer sailing on some
other vessel, will secure passage TO
you. For my part, 1 do not wish t.
leave the prisoner again, until leave
him in a felon's grave. I want to know
all the time that he is safe"
Exactly my feelings in the matter,
, said Mrs. Delaro.
This seemed to settle the question
for Armida said: ''Then, since you ar
, determined, suppose must conside
myself overruled."
Consequently, arrangements wer'
completed and few days later tn
E party started for Liverpool.
The ship on which their passage ha
" been secured was the .Dunrobin Cas-
tle." 1t was an unpopular steamer an
Al llM\ll II