The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-02-18

off like this said Dolores. The
| mountains are not pleasant places 10
| sleep on when one has been used TO q
| bed
He glared at her, yelled at the mules
! and the little train had started. They
went down the narrow street toward
! the south, and when they had passed
the last gaping villager and left the
last adobe house behind Ramon picked
/ up courage. He whiStled cay cham
| son and drove his heels into the sides
! of his mule as if TO urge him to faster
| gait.
I'VE will go to the south" he was
| just saying, when Pepe, who had sharp
ears for q boy, exclaimed:
Here comes the guarjia ciyile. We
shall have company"
Let them come" returned Ramon
reckIessly. Who cares? But may
the blessed madonna save US from the
brigands.
The hoof-beats sounded nearer and
nearer, until before long the leader of
the rough-looking troop was neck and
neck with Ramon's mule. The cap,
tain reached over and with Il dexterous
touch twisted the rope bride from
Ramon's hand.
Not SO fast. good friend. One
would think you were going to leave
u.s." and he laughed.
What do YOU mean?" asked the
inukeeper.
Nothing. But the bones of the
| company. You must come back"
- .
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
shril 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 parry
| 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 murdGrer!'
Ramon would have fallen from his
seat had there not been guard on
either side. lie was taken to the jail.
while Dolores and Pepe went inside
the lonely inn and the mulo' we re
taken TO the stable and unpacked.
Whiic the guards were taking Ramon
away Dolores stalked up and down the
vacant rooms and walled:
Why have they done this? OF
what great crime is Ramon guiity?"
Her question was answered sooner
Il,
taken doze n turns about the weeping 9
Prpe when Padre Einciente, the good
priest, entered He told her that Ra-
mon was accused of killing and robs
Jing the Carist captain aud later OF
killing Antonio.
They say. - he went on, that Ra-
mon strungled Antonio because An
tonic knew of the death of the captain.
But. perhaps" reassuringly. its not
true
That night there was mapiac g.
the Jail. madman who shrieked and
cursed and who at intervals covered
tremblingly in Il corner of the cell and
begged the good captain the kind cap
tain, not to hurt him.
Il did not mean it. Antonio. my
friend. | did not mean to choke thee
50 hard. 10 back. | tell thee, 90
back, therel Oh, holy mother, save
me from him" r uS he went on all
night, and thus, biz hy bit hc told with
the ring Of truth in his frenzy the
story of the murders. At one time he
seemed to be dragging a body into the
fireplace of the inn.
You'll be nice aud safe here" he
muttercd, land warm, too. for in the
winter you'll have plenty of fire.
You'll never need money now, Anto-
MO. and you'll never drink my wine
again aud tell me to take the dead
captains money for the pay. There
YOU are now. Antonio, close by the
captains side. Al, YOU rogue. don't
steal lis red cap Good night. dear
Antonio, good might. and if your
friends call I'll tell them you have
gone away for your health. lla! ha!
away for ycur health. Antonio. away
for your health"
Then he changed suddenly aud
shrieked out:
1t was not /. IdiI not do it! I'm
poor innkerper, gentlemen, who sells
wine. Upon my soul | did not do it.
| am ruined, DO You hear? Ruined!
Please let me 90
In the morning there was Il change.
Ramon was lying on the stone floor
when the guard came in with the
padre. He was mumbling aud 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 stifIlE and his hands
clutchcd at his throat Don't. An
tonic, good Antonio, dom't. Padre,
padre, he is slrangIing ne. cannot
breathe. Let 80, Autofio, let go,
curse you.
He wrlhed in a last conyulsion.
there was Il hoar>e scranin~ 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 navaji stack into his
body between the fourla and iiftil ribs.
~ J. Herjd.