The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-12-14
HEART OF THE WORLD.
Er II. RIDER rIAGGARD.
Story, Taken From Manuscript Bequeathed by a Old
Mexcan Indian to His Friend comrade an
t. EngIishman Named Jones.
A Strange
Copyrighted. 1904. BY q. Rider B.gsard

Not far from the ruined temple where
Zibalbay and his daughter sojourned is
the hacienda Of Santa Cruz. and there,
as you may have heard, dwell gang
of men under the leadership of one
Dom Pedro Moreno, who are by profess
sion smugglers, highway robbers and
murderers, though they pretend to
earn living by the cultivation of coffee
and cocoa.
''As it CHANGED in journeying home
wards, fell into the hands of some Of
these men. They searched me, and,
finding Jumps of gold in my pocket,
handed them over to Don Pedro him
self, who rode mp when he saw that
they had the fish in their net. He ex-
amined the gold closely, and asked me
whence it came. At first refused to
answer, whercupon he said that I
should be confined in dungeon at the
hacienda until 5ach time as chose to
speak.
''Then, beirg .ad to get back to my
village and learn the fate OF my wife, I
found my tongue and spoke the truth,
saying thai the gold was given me in
exchange for food by an old Indian
in ruined temple in the forest.
8" Mother Of Heaven" said Don Pedro,
i have heard of tn man before; but,
now | know the Kind of merchandise in
viii h he trades, think that must
pay him a visit aRd learn what mill it
was stamped at
Then, having plucked me bare as
fowl for the over, they let me go with
out hurt
I, Ignatio, sat late that night ponder
ing over these tidings that filled me
with strange hone. l threw myself
upon my bed and strove to sleep, but
could not. Then remembering the
scroll that my friend had given me, I
rose, purposing to change my thoughts
in studying it and so win sleep It was
hard task, bat at length mastered it's
meaning, and found that it dealt with
mine near Cnmarvo, eni described
the exact position of the mouth of the
tunnel
This mouth. it would appear, had
been closed up in the reign Of Guate-
moe, and the scroll was written by
the cacique who had charge of the
mine in those days, in order that rec
ord might remain that would enable
his descendants to reopen it, should q
time come when the Spaniards were
driven from the land. That the mine
was very rich in free srold was shown
by the Weights Of pur@ metal stated in
this scroll to nave neen sent year by
year to the Coz Of Muntezuna by this
cacilue, and also by Tho fact that it
was Thought worth hiding from the
Spanlarrls.
Early or the morrow I went to the
room Of Ssnor Strickland and spoke to
him with heavy heart.
':senor, Il said, tvou will remer1 Der
that ai,ac' entered your service told
yon that might 7are to leave it at
any ~" ,oe Now 20 here to say
that the time isscou,e, fcs q messenger
has arrived to summon roe to the other
end of Mexico upon business of which
] may not speak, and tomorrow must
start upon the journey
Il am sor~v hear it, Ignatio," he
answered FOR YOU have been a good
friend to me. Still, You do well to sep
arate your fortunes from those Of an
unlucky man"
''And You, senior, do i'll to speak thus
to me- I answered; "still, / forgive
you because J krow that at times,
when the hear il sore, the mouth ut
senior: When u1u hare eaten your
breakfast, wiz yo,: cake ride with
me?"
Certainly. if you like. Bat where
do you want to ride top
'To another n'inc Shat is, or should
be, about two hours on horseback from
here, in valley At the foot Of yonder
peak.
An hou, later we were riding among
the mountains, having left message
for Molas to say that | should return
before dark. After a lard journey and
long search, by good luck, we discov-
cred hole Immediately beneath a
rock, lnrge enough for man to creep
into.
''Was this made by coyote, or is
1t the mouth Of mine?" the senior
asked.
THAT we can only find out by enter
ing it," answered. Doubtless when
they shut down the mine the antiques
would have left some such place as
this to ventilate the workings. Bring
the pickax, senior, and we will soon
see"
For ten minutes or more we labored,
working in soft ground with pick and
spade till we barred the side of tun-
mel, which examined.
"There is no need to trouble further"
said, "this rock has been cut with
copper chisels, for here is the green of
the copper. Without doubt we have,
found the mouth Of the mine Now
give me the hammer and candles, and
bring the leather bag for samples, and
we vii. eater
t!TAPTE;. ".
THE LaG&a;r. OF Tgg HEART
When had gone a feyy races down
the hole It widened suddenly so that