The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-08-03

Lyk ,rrs uGtchfug hcm.
As ErIs found himself few minutes
later ~randIu. among group of cheer
ing whit. men. with his hand in that Of
Pierce. and hearing hIs own tongue
spoken by all about him. II seemed To
him ~ though ho had awakened from Il
dream PER-" WAS unchanged. These
were the same protane, adventurous and
armed wcst,ruer- with whom he war
familiar, their horses standing about III
dusty disorder giving the place the air
Of q camp OF mining town 1t all seemed
50 natural and civilized, especially the
profanity. that he had 10 turn and hOk
into his doorway upon Leila standing
there before he realized it all. Pierce
was Introducing Gale Whitley and the
sheriff, warmly pr.tIslng them and their
conduct Of TIN search He did not know
how Timely had been his arrival or te
would have termed it rescue
The eve, both Gale and the sheriff
had been rowing over the city and cal
culatiu2 it, strength and riches. To
them. from where they stood, It present
ed merely TIA" appearance Of pueblo,
were too familiar to expect u discover
much Of art or treasure. They were
somewhat disappointed with its com
mOnplace and in parts almost rulnous
appearance. and felt their hopes rather
dashed as they observed 10 golden doInes
and glittering palaces rising III the midst
of green gardens. But they had found
the object of their search and earned the
reward, which was a comforting retleC-
ton TO turn to after all. They gaZed
rather curiously upon the bearded man
IN the strange. un-Amerlcan costume as
he stood before them with the confused
lock in his eyes Of the sleeper awaking.
Leila was watching them with a wom-
ans curiosity. Already she had noted
all their faces and compared them with
her ideal Yet real lover, and much to
their disadvantage. She had been con-
fident that there We're no men like him,
and now she was assured. When Eric
invited tn, in within she greeted them
graciousIy and with the manner OF
princess. She spoke to them with
brave effort in their own tongue, with
curious blending OF modesty and pride,
and her voice fell upon their ears with
queerly foreign intonation unlike any
thing they had ever heard. Wearing a
white lambs wool gown, flowing freely
about her perfect figure and encircled
at the waist 10y wide gold belt, she
stood scanning each face and form,
picture Of queenly beauty and grace.
Pierce bowed before her in respect
and almost reverence, so surprisingly
lovely she looked in her archaic costume.
He noted her fair hair, blue eyes and
perfect mouth in sincere, unqualified ad
mirauon, marveling that this could real
ly be savage Five minutes later he
was willing to swear she was New
Yorker whom fate had buried here in
the wilderness for Gilbert to unearth,
and then some little action or accent
filled him with Il new feeling, and he
was wondering again.
The others simply realized that she
was a wondrously beautiful woman
Eric's wife, rs they supposed-and gave
no thought to the wonder of her appear
ance in that desert realm Besides their
thoughts were on revenue bent; they
longed to see the treasures Of Atzlan and
divide them. They felt rs Pizarro's fol
lowers must have felt as they saw the
lnca's treasures almost in their grasp
millions upon milions-fOr in spite of
PlerCe's caution some inkling of Eric's
message had circulated among the men,
and they dreamed of millions for all
hands. Their Impotence was so mani
fest in their looks and remarks that
Sc -.
called them together and addressed
them:
Nov, boys, our search is ended
What there Is in this place for US no one
knows Yet, but it will rest with Mr. Gill
bert rs to what we shall have He has
enough to pay you all well for your
trouble, but there will be no lOoting
this village, what You can obtain bv
fair trade is one thing and wholesale
robbery another. If any man is detected
using violence he will forfeit his pay.
These people are nervous and fright
ened; any overt act might precipitate a
conflict for which the United States
government will hold US responsible.
Therefore warn you all to be careful.
DisObedienCe to orders now means sum
mary punishment. No man enters the
city until permission is given. We will
go into camp here and await furthe.
orders from Mr. Gilbert"
The men withdrew. leaving Pierce
Whitley and the sheriff with Eric
Breakfast was prepared for them, and
they We're soon discussing the situation
over the table, at the head of which SAT
Leila, kulcan having departed, in sud
den accession of courage, to the city t
calm the people there. Eric explained
the state of affairs briefly. giving then
an insight into the polite. and religion
of the Atzlans, the recent effort of Chal
pa to obtain q hold upon the offices, anG
an account of his attempt upon Eric
and of Chalpas death, leading up to the
action of the previous night, when the
firing had attracted the attention of the
rescuers camped in the canyon
Knowing nothing of Gale or the sher
if he refrained from any description Of
the treasure he had found, but he stated
that he had accumulated considerable
gold and silver, which he thought per
haps had better be equally divided among
the men. This arrangement he fell
would reward them literally, in add
ton to their stipulated pay. 1t wa.
agreed by Gale and the sheriff that thi:
would be most satisfactory. and the
matter was then dropped
Pierce now RECALLED Eric-apd Leila a:
well-with a resume of political and
other events which had occurred il the
world from which Gilbert had been shut
out. and the noon hour was upon then
before he had finished. Meanwhile the
other two men had grown tired and
withdrew to the camp. Then it was thai
Eric took Pierce more fully into his con