The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-03-02
The United States Official

Nothing. But the bones of the
Carlist captain and of Antonio want
company. You must come back"
For the second time within twenty
four hours Ramon found he could not
speak. He looked at the men with a
silent horror in his eyes, allowed the
head of the mule to be turned toward
the town, and was ridden back like a
sack of meal going to market. The
shrill voice of Dolores and the crying
of Pepe mingled along the route. In
front of the posada was group of ex-
cited villagers, and when the party
rode up they greeted Ramon with
cries of:
Here he comes, the assassin"
kill the man who killed Antonio,
who never even harmed cat" and
''Ah! the murdererI'
Ramon would have fallen from his
seat had there not been a guard on
either side. He was taken to the Jail.
while Dolores and Pepe went inside
the lonely inn and the mules were
taken to the stable and unpacked.
While the guards were taking Ramon
away Dolores stalked up and down the
vacant rooms and and wa " allied He'd: :------
why have they dene thisP OF
what great crime is Ramon guilty?"
Her question was answered sooner
than she thought, for she had scarcely
taken dozen turns about the weeping
Pepe when Padre Vinciente, the good
priest, entered. He told her tnat Ra-
mon was accused of killing and rob-
bing the Carlist captain and later of
killing Antonio.
"They say" he went on, 'that Ra-
mon strangled Antonio because An
tonic knew of the death of the captain.
But. perhaps - reassuringly, 'it's not
true"
That night there was maniac at
the jail, madman who shrieked and
cursed and who at intervals covered
tremblingly in corner of the cell and
begged the good captain, the kind cap
tain, not to nurt him.
Il did rot mean it, Antonio my
friend. did not mean to choke thee
so hard. Go back, l tell thee, 90
back. there! Oh, holy mother, save
me from him." Thus he went on all
night and thus. bit by bit, he told with
the ring of truth in his frenzy the
story of the murders. At one time he
seemed to be dragging body into the
fireplace of the inn.
You'll be nice and safe here" he
muttered, land warm, too, for in the
winter you'll have plenty of fire.
You'll never need money now, Anto-
nio, and you'll never drink my wine
again and tell me to take the dead
captains money for the pay. There
| you are now. Antonio. close by the
captains side. All, you rogue. don't
steal his red cap. Good night, dear
Antonio. good night and if your
friends call I'll tell them you have
gone away for your health. Ha! hal
away for your health, Antonio, away
for your health"
Then he changed suddenly and
shrieked out:
''It was not I! did not do it! I'm
poor innkeeper, gentlemen, who sells
wine. Upon my soul l did not do it.
I am ruined, do you hear? Ruined!
Please let me CO."
In the morning there was change.
Ramon was lying on the stone floor
when the guard came in with the
padre. He was mumbling and was
very near the end.
Have you anything to say to me,
my son?" came the soft tones of the
priest.
Ramon sat up and glared at him.
He fell back stiffly and his hands
clutched at his throat. Don't. An
| tonic, good Antonio. don't. Padre,
padre. he is strangling me. cannot
breathe. Let go, Antonio, let go.
curse you"
He writhed in last convulsion,
there was hoarse scraping sound. and
the innkeeper was dead. Not by nat
ural causes, but by his own hand.
| Under his vest those who searched
found his keen navaja stuck into his
body between the fourth and fifth ribs.
N. Y Herald.