Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-08-09
VOL. 5O.--NO. 80.

we galloped hard to the byway
spoken of. Sure enough, all the tracks
left the road there The observant In
dian was right
81 had my pistols, he his machete
We pursued the abductors and caught
them before they reached the hacienda
AS ugly quartet as I ever set eyes
on. The prudent Don Manuel had di-
rected the business from safe distance.
His fellows showed fight, of course,
but managed to wing one at the first
fire, when they all turned tail. I took
my darling back to her aunt, with
whom she was quite safe. Don Manuel
did not show up. He knew better. :"
Mrs. Norman came i'll just then, and
Jack abruptly changed the subject. Half
an hour later Jack resumed.
X
"My darling was very fond of her
aunt and unwilling to hurt her, so we
said nothing of her sons villainy. But
when Pope and I got back to our ruin
Gus palace he advised me to barricade
the door Of my room. However, didn't
think it worth while, but at nightfall I
stretched myself on the hide bed and
fell asleep, with revolver close to my
hand.
About midnight was awakened by
a cut on the head, which, luckily, did
not stun me, Or I shouldn't be spinning
this yarn now. I started up with the
blood streaming down my face.
''Don Manuel stood over me with my
revolver in one hand and an uplifted
machete in the other. There's the ma
chete.
't'Now you shall die, robberr he
Kissed and aimed another blow at me,
which I avoided. Shouting loudly for
Pepe, grapplad with him and got hold
of his wrists. I was the stronger, but
loss of blood had weakened me- He
wrenched his right hand free and cut
me across the cheek. Tho blow dazed
me; I staggered and fell on the bed
Before I could rise his knee was on
my chest, the machete at my throat. I
felt the edge. With last effort flung
him from me. That instant the bed
heaved and tossed, the stout walls shook,
the sleeping city awoke with scream of
terror Dazed as I was, knew what
had happened. So did my enemy.
The earthquake shall not save you!'
he yelled, and rushed at me over the
quivering floor. But again the bed
heaved beneath me. Something fell from
above, There was dull, sickening thud
"a scream of agony-and Don Manuel
rolled over and lay still, leaving the
machete across my neck. All, that was
a close shave!
Il staggered to my feet and CROPPED
my way through clouds Of dust to the
street, which was full Of people, Shrek
ing, wailipg, praying to the saints. An
hour the earthquake lasted, shock fol-
lowing shock.
"When all was quiet and the people
had ceased to wall and pray, I returned
to the palace. Pope lay in his hammock,
bound and gagged Together we entered
the room where I had so narrowly es-
capped death.
1.-THE body Of Don Manuel, with the
skull crushed in, lay beside my bed.
Close at hand lay the Liberator in the
condition In which you see it. The
statue had toppled over i'll the nick Of
time, killed the would be murderer and
set me free. On such chances do the lives
Of men hang.
Don Manuel's mother never knew
the truth respecting his death. It was
attributed to the earthquake, as also
were the cuts On my head and cheek. J
left Granada as soon as I could, taking
my bride with me.
''Now you know why we treasure the
Liberator, and why we have not dared
To talk ahnnt il -AnSMerS