Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-08-23

complaint, the boy guided them to the
hacienda, where they speedily biyOuack-
Cd The officers, three in number, occu-
pied the dining room Of the mansion
5 nora Ximenes eXcus,nF her absence
on the plea or sickness, and sending Ra-
mon to take her place as host. Unwil-
lingly ct first the lad played the part;
but when part of the night had sped a
chance remark from one of tn officers
caused him to alter his whole demeah-
or.
The remark was a decided hint that
the expedition was intended for no 9TH
or purpose than to capture by treachery
the very Cuban general whom Ramons
mother had entertained that day. 1t
Was only a hint so far. but the boys
quick intelligence grasped it. slight as
Il was Thereafter he surprised the
young Spani3rds Gike most Of the gov
eminent subalterus they were hardly
cut of their ;eensl by his cordially.
He piled them with vine led them on
90 talk Of their deeds on the battlefield,
and in every way tried to extract from
them some furJler information regard
ing the plot against the general-h.s
general. But in vain! After their first
chance slip the officers tongues Wero
tied They had evidently been given
severe warning, and even the desire to
brag could not unseal their lips on the
subject
Then Ramon crafty changed his tao
kics. He feigned drowsiness, yawned,
nodded his head heavily, and ended by
pretending to fall into sound slumber.
us the yOungster asleep?' querled the
Spanish captain.
One of the subalterns arose. and, going
to Ramon's chair shook MIN lightly.
The boy merely let his head drop for
ward against the table, thus, at one and
the same time convincing the Spaniards
that he was certainly asleep, and effec-
| tually screening his face from their
gaze.
"He is asleep sure enough said the
subaltern. "SAall we have him taken
to his room"
mo. let him stay BY and by he
will wake up 10 get us more Of that
good vine. In the meantime let us get
our business settled
They resettled themselves; and Ra-
mon. with his head on the table, heard
the whole dastardly scheme by which
the general was to be captured, and
| for his capture meant certain execution
put TO death
A message had been sent to the pa
! triot chief, purporting to come from his
only DAUGHTER. It was carried by
waiting msid Of the young lady, the
! Standards having bought this woman's
| LOYALTY. The message implored the gen
| eral 10 leave all else and meet his child
ar a certain spot near the borders Of the
! nrovince Carried as il was by the
hftherto trustworthy servant, the gen.
eral would not hesitate to attend, prob
ably with a small guard. At the place
of tryst he would meet, not his daughter,
but the strong Spanish detachment. The
outccme meant an unavoidable arrest.
Ramon heard all this with the blood
tbrobblng in bis veins; but he managed
10 simulate sleep through it all, until
the officers had carefully gone over and
arranged their portion OF the treachery.
Then the captain woke him no, and sug-
gested that more wine would not be
amiss.
eve shall not retire tonight" he ex-
blamed, "as duty calls Us to tie borders
Of the province at sunrise tomorrow
At surrisel So little time then re-
mained in which to warn and save the
| general
Ramon rose staggeringly from his
seat-a fact set down by the SpaniarGs
to hI-- drownsiness. and gave tie order
for more wine. Then he babe the three
officers good night; and hurried forth
but by no means 20 seek his bed.
A. thought had come to him that per,
! hans the chance to-help his native lanu