Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-06-18

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clinging white robe she wore revealed
the loneliness of her tall and delicate
shape.
Bad as was the girls plight. that OF
the old man, her father, who was none
other than the Zibalbay we had come
to seek, seemed even worse. He was,
as Molas had described him, thin and
very tall, with white hair and beard,
hawk-Gke eyes, and aquiline features,
nor had Don Pedro spoken more than
the truth when he said he looked like
a king.
what shall we try him with now?''
said Don Jose. addressing Don Pedro;
''hot steel or cold? Make up your mind,
for 1 am getting tired. Well, if you
won't, just hand me that machete, will
YOU? Now friend" he went on, adj
dressing the Indian, ''for the last time
I ask you to tell us where is that tenn
pie full of gold of which you spoke to
your daughter in my fathers hearing?'
''There is no such place, white man, :"
he answered sullenly.
Indeed, friend. Then will you ex-
plain where you got those little ingots
which we captured from the Indian who
had been visiting you, and whence came
this machete?" and he pointed to the
weapon in his hand.
It was sword of great beauty, as
could see, but of hardened copper, and
having for a handle a female figure
with outstretched arms fashioned IN
solid gold.
The maehete was given to me by a
friend" said the Indian. 81 do not
know where he got it.
Really" answered Jose with bru-
tai laugh; perhaps you will remember
presently. Here, father, warm the
point of the machete in the lamp, will
you, while tell our guest how we are
going to serve him and his daughter"
IL.
sword held the tip of it over the flame,
while Jose, bending forward, whispered
into the Indians ear, pointing from
to time to the girl.
care you white men, then, devils?"
said the old man at length, with
groan that seemed to burst from the
bottom of his heart, land is there no
law or Justice among you?"
None at all, friend" answered Jose;
1--WE are good fellows enough, but times
are hard, and we must live. Now, once
more, will you guide us to the place
whence that gold came, leaving your
daughter here as hostage for our
safety?"
'sNever!' cried the Indian. "Better
times than that the ancient secrets of
my people should pass to such as you"
$50 you have secrets after all! Father,
is the sword hot?" asked Jose.
''One minute MORE" said the old man,
turning the point in the flame.
This was the scene that we witnessed,
and these were the words that as
toniShed our ears.
st is time to interfere" muttered
the senior, and, placing his hand upon
the rail, he prepared to drop into the
church.
Now thought struck me, and I drew
him back to the passage.
Perhaps the door is open" I said.
care you going in there?'' asked the
girl LuiSa.
Certainly" replied: We must res
cue these people or die with them.
''Then, senior, farewell. have done
all I can for you, and now the saints
must be your guide, for if 1 am seen
they will kill me, and I have child for
whose sake I desire to live. Again,
farewell, }" and she glided away like
shadow.
Now we crept forward and down the
stair. At the foot of it was little door,
which, as we had hoped, stood a jar.
For a moment we consulted together,
then we crawled forward through the
gloom toward the ring of light about
the altar. Now Jose had the heated
sword in his hand.
Look up, my dear, look up" he said
to the girl, patting her on the cheek.
81 am about to baptiZe your excellent
father according to the rites of the
Christian religion by marking him with
cross upon the forehead" and he ad-
vanced the point of the sword toward
the Indians face.
At that instance Molas pinned him
from behind causing him to drop the
weapon, while did the same Office by
Don Pedro, holding him SO that, struggle
as he might, he could not stir.
make sound either of you and you
are dead,' said the senior, picking up
the machete and placing the hot point
of it against Jose's breast, where it
slowly burned its way through his
clothes.
"What are we to do with these men?"
he asked.
kill them as they would have killed
u.s." answered Molas; 'or, if you, fear
the task, cut loose the old man yonder
and let him avenge his and his daugh-
ter's wrongs"
What say you. Ignatio?'
81 seek no mans blood, but for our
own safety it is well that these wretches
should die. Away with them!''
Now Don Pedro began to b1eat mar
ticulately in his terror, and that hero,
Jose, burst into tears and pleaded for
his life, writhing with pain the while,
for the point of the sword scorched
him.
You are an English gentleman" he
groaned; "you cannot butcher help
less man as though he were an OK"