The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-05
JUAN'S SLAYER.

AAC NAOlu ever! DOGs iihcdS 1iau bCcu AOuho
dead at his own door. Where was the
murderer and who could he be that would
kill such a good old man, and rob him
too? That was the worst of It, There was
no clew by which they could work, and
the officers who came up from Guaymea
went home again at the end Of a week,
weary of their useless task.
The good padre, who buried the muir
dered man out in the desolate graveyard
of sand and cactus, where the sun was so
hot it cracked all the wooden crosses, said
q prayer that the villain might be brought
to justice. But he had little hope that he
you'd be.
'.He has disappeared so completely the
Cevil must be protecting him." said the
old women as they Lied cut through q
broken space in the crumbling wall that
did duty as gate. Poor old Juan is de>d,
and he who murdered him is enjoying the
blood stained gold he took from his peck
cts. is what they thought as they slowly
walked home after the last sad words had
been said. They passed the house where
the dead man had lived for so many years
and .huddered when they saw the dirk
spot on the ground-stained with the
blood of Juan that flowed from the ghast-
~ knife wound in his back.
Far away from Ortiz, in beautiful viii
lage of the Sierre Madre, young man had
been trying for weeks to forget something
trying to convince himself that he had
not committed great crime.
He had plenty of gold and the love of q
beautiful maiden if he could only forget
yes, forget that he had killed his father.
He could forget if it svas not for that
strange whirring sound like the Tapping
of wings that constantly haunted him.
He first heard it just as he struck the fatal
blow, and since then is has never ceased
day or night.
What was that Surely not the wind
And, if it was not, why should Leonard
Perea be afraid of a sound-he who had
faced wild beasts and fought Indians'
But he turned over In bed and pulled the
clothes over his head to keep away the
sound-that awful sound that first whir-
red like flock Of pigeons and then died
away like an infants wall.
I'm sure it has nothing to do with the
killing of the old man," said Leonard to
himself, but somehow the whole scene
would come up before him. Again he was
riding along the road to see the father he
had deserted years ago. He was not going
because he wanted to see the good old man,
but because he wanted money. Money
he must have at any cost. 1t was long
past midnight when he knocked at the
door and his father came out to greet him.
His father was glad to see him, Leonard
remembers distinctly, and when he asked
fer money took out bag and gave him a
good quantity of gold. But it was not
enough-he must have it all 1t was such
an easy thing to do. Only a thrust with
the knife as the old man turned to go
back into the house after bidding him
farewell, and the gold was his But what
was that whirring sound? The village
was in darkness, but it followed him as
he sped down the street to his horse and
kept near him as he few over the country,
farther and farther away from his crime.
No. he never got away from it. The sound
was always with him.
Ughi There it was again, and Leonard
pulled the blankets over his head.
Morning came But the whirring sound
came with it. At night it was nearer than
in the daytime, but it never ceased.
II won't pay any attention to it today"
said Leonard to himself as he went for
his breakfast. II am sure it is nothing
and has nothing to do with me-
1t was beautiful day, and the sun had
nearly reached the zenith. Leonard threw
himself down on the ground in the shade
of a tree to get little sleep that he had
been deprived of in the night. but had
scarcely closed his eye
"Whir-fap, fap-whir.
Ugh"
'|Whir. Flap"
Leonari felt cold breeze fan his check
as he jumped 10 his feet, but there was
nothing near him. He was alone.
By night Leonards brain was in q
whirl. The sound was everywhere. Sure
~ it was his fathers ghost. Angels had
wings, and the old mans spirit must be
passing through the room.
''Whir, whir.'
Let me out of this. / don't want the
gold, ard Leonard flung the bag of yell
low coin out of the window. Over the hills
md mountains he sped, he knew not
where. But the sound was with him.
Again he was in the street before his
iather's house. Oh, If the old man were
sply alive, he could surely prevent the ter
,ible sound!
Somebody was coming, but Leonard hid
IN a shadow until they passed. ANY
how they don't know did it" he thought.
''Whir, whir-hap, flap"
This time il was closer than it bad been
before. Surely that was dark form fly
ing through the air. I'm not Bit fright
med, - the murderer thought, trembling
n every limb The dark form in the air
irew nearer and nearer, and the Tapping,
whirring sound was fast and furious.
d" Keep away, fiends!" yelled Leonard, and
he thought he saw a dark, wicked form,
with cloyen foot aid spiked tail. He COW
cred his face with his hands and screamed
In agony. The dark form s-came nearer.
Mercy, mercyn' he howled. Awful
forms Of darkness, keep away 1t was not |
who killed him!" The Tapping and |
were close TO him, and Leonard |
,ould see a pair of dark wings spread as IL |
10 Unfold him. He struck out with his |
hand and struggled wildly, but the wings /
,ame closer and closer. He felt claws |
scratching his face and heard wings beat |
ng the air. Surely the devil had him.
A pain shot through his eyes, every |
hing grew black, and ii seemed as if the |
lanes of hell were seething around him
he ceased struggling, fell 10 the ground |
md Law still in death. The next morning
he people of Ortiz found him lying in the
anne spot where his fathers dead body
lad been discovered. The people were al
most crazy with fear. The old padre shook
lis head and crossed himself. Itwas while
hey We're carrying the body into the house
hat old Manuel noticed poor murdered
Tuan's pet black eagle, that had been miss
ng since he was killed, sitting on wall
ear by His feathers were torn and rag
ed. and he seemed interested in what was
ding on. But Of course the eagle had
othing to do with the death Of Leonard
{ least that is what the padre said.-San