Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-04-20

lish the truth Immediately. so, my
father, when you kill me you merely
pull the whole ediice Of fraud down
upon your wise head. You will not be
so foolish. No, you will cherish Tepel
pee as your aid and assistant, who car
help you we'll You need faithful
trustworthy accomplice in the game you
are playing, for you cannot carry things
with such high hand against the peo
pie as you did against Quetzal-they are
too many. :Iklapel and Kulcan have
many friends-they will not all believe
10 readily our story that we saw Quetzal
20 up the cliff and disappear. They viii!
suspect you perhaps. and you need helE
to deceive them."
Eric could see that Chalps was con
founded. Full of ye1ation, he hung be-
tween his wrath and his fear for awhile
Then, assuming on air of unconcern, he
exclaimed:
$50, friend, you play the spy upon me
Well, so be it: know then that ] viii
stick at nothing to win the place and
power l covet. You can help me, and
you shall be repaid. Let Us now hasten,
for tomorrow is the day that will make
Or mar our fortunes"
Everything is ready and awaiting
only your orders. Kulcan, Iklapel and
Jan-ila are confined, as you commanded,
In separate rooms in lhe temple. The
old man is obdurate; he swears we have
killed Quetzal, but Kulcan may yet
yield to save his precious life.'
The cruel. hungry smile crossed Chal-
pas face.
"He will aot save it even then, the
coward! am sorry did not place him
beside the false QuetEal; they would liz
beneath the water together and cease to
vex Us"
"The maiden is at the house of her
grandmother, old Intzu, whom have
commanded to prepare her for her fate.
Sheis naughty and will not speak to rue.
visited her but now, but ! saw her not.
Still she is well guarded by men armed
with Quetzals axes. We can thank him
for that blessing"
81 will talk with her" said Chalpa,
his eyes Lighting with steely glitter in
the gloom. "She will listen to me!
Harki What was thatf"
1t was slight noise that made both
start, caused by Listah, who, returning
along the passage, stumbled over a
stone. He stopped at once, seeing Eric's
upraised finger, and stood motionless.
Chalpa and Tepelpec, like two alarmed
rats, peered in every direction in silence
for awhile. Then Tepelpec said:
SIT was n.thing-a loose stone per.
haps." They noiselessly ascended the
ladder and disappeared.
All the while Eric's hand had been on
his weapon, but he was loath to kill
them in cold blood, although he had
fully determined to slaughter Chalpa as
he would rattlesnake or rabid dog
simply to rid the earth Of vicious and
dangerous animal It had become sim.
ply 8 question of self defense, and al.
though he had been long In arriving at
such q decision he was resolved to carry
it ont. In this he was justified, mas.
much as Chalpa had twice attempted
his life, and would certainly kill him il
he had another opportunity. he could
not invoke the law in Atzlap with any
sense of security, and he would be hia
own law and rid the city Of base
Bcoundrel.
When the two had gone he stepped
down and related their conversation to
Listah. When he had concluded the
latter said:
."Tepelpec is right-there is much OBJ.
lection 10 the sacrifice. People are say
ing 1t is time to abolish it. They say
that QuetEal was averse to it, and they
believe he will return In time to prevent
it. But there is strong party in favor
Of It too. They seem about divided.
Some fear Chalpa and side with him."
"Did you see Rlapel7"
eyes," replied Listah. HE is guarded
by my nephew Aza, and he permitted
me to speak to the high priest. He was
filled with SORROW, for he thought you
dead. He did not believe that you had
left us, as Chalpa has said. but he feared
that you were murdered. When | told
him you were here he almost wept for
JOY. He frightened up and appeared
years younger. He has told me how to
get to the vault under the temple by the
secret door which you know, he says.
and we are to go there and be ready to
rescue Leila tomorrow noon. he thinks
|i.t,%ise to wait until then"
pr ssDid you see Lela2" asked Eric. his
patience giving way entirely.
limo; she Is with her grandmother.
But, Bar, my wife, is one of the weavers
,andiis allowed toisee hers you can send
hers message and comfort her.
"Let us do so at once;n cried Eric.
"She must be told, for that her heart is
breaking l know too well. Go to her
and tell her all. Giye her!this knife and
tell her to use it upon Chalpa il be be-
comes too dangerous, but also tell her to
be cautious and! keep our hsecfet well;
Go quickly; l:willewait here patiently
Listah turned of, Gilbert following
him along passage, but slowly. Tie
oldtman; accustomed toithe' dark ways:
could move rapidly, and he. soonyan-
ished. In less than thirty minutes he
reappeared smiling.
"She is happy" he said. "Chalpa has
been there, hut she taunted and defied
him, and he 'eared to touch her because
the people would know Of it and be
Ns6opked. She d now sacred I'M theit
byea. Jan-ila haS peen released, for they
ftbhk him not dangerous, suppose and
be will be here soon with food and your
long thunder tube, if he can bring it
without detection. Everybody is busy