Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-01-16

| AAcAAstAesS N%sSoAhVs AVA Az Al OEtVCl ~
take risk than to perish by inches In
this hole Of starvation, or perhaps 10 be
discovered and murdered IN cold blood.
Also we have Travelled far and under
zone much to End the Indian, and II we
lose our chance Of doing 80 we may get
40 other"
Now one by one we climbed through
the false panel, and by the light Of tho
moon Tulsa led US across the chamber
10 the spot between the beds where
hangs the picture Of the abbot. This
picture, which Is on painted slab Of
wood, proved to be nothing more than
cunningly devised door constructed
to swing upon pivot.
| Resting her knee on the threshold,
Tulsa scrambled into the passage be.
yond, and when the rest Of us stood by
her side she closed the panel, and bid.
ding us to cling to one another, and bc
silent, she took me by the hand and
guided us through various passages till
At length she whispered:
BE cautions, now, for we come to
the place whence you drop into the
chapel, and there Is . stairway TO your
right"
We passed the stairway and turned
tho corner, Luisa still leading.
Next instant she staggered back into
my arms, murmuring: Mother Of
heavenl the ghotsl the ghostsl" In
deed, had not held her she would have
fed. Still clasping her hand, | pushed
forward to find myself standing IN .
small recess that was placed about ten
feet above the floor Of the chapel, and
like other places In this house, 10 ar.
ranged that the abbot or monk In
authority, without being seen himself,
could see and hear all that passed be.
meath him.
OF one thing I am sure, that during
oil the generations that are gone by no
monk Watching here ever saw stranger
sight than that which met my eyes.
The chancel Of the chapel was III up by
shafts Of brilliant moonlight that
poured through the broken window,
and by q lamp which stood upon tho
stone altar. Within the circle Of strong
light thrown by this lamp were four
people, namely: Don Pedro, his nm
Don Jose, an old Indian, and o girl.
On either side Of tho altar then, as
now, rose two carven pillars Of sapote
wood, the tops Of which were fash.
Toned into the figure Of angels, and to
these columns the old Indian and the
women were tied, ono to each column,
their hands being Joined together q
the back Of the pillsrs In such . man.
ner a. to render them absolutely help
less. My eyes FIRST rested upon the
woman, who was nearest 10 me, and
seeing her, even as she was then, dis.
hevellcd and worn with pain and hun.
ger, with her proud face distorted by
agony Of mind and impotent rage, no
longer wondered that both Molas and
Don Pedro had raved about her beauty.
She was an Indian, but such IN In.
dian as had never known before, foi
In color she was almost white, and her
dark and waving hair hung In masses
TO her knee. Her face was oval and
small.featured, and In 1t shone pair
Vt wonderful dark blue eyes, while the
| 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. lie was,
as Molas had described him, thin and
very tall, with white hair and beard,
hawk-like eyes, and aquiline features,
nor had Don Pedro spoken more than
the truth when he said he looked like
king,
what shall we try him with now?"
said Don Jose, addressing Don Pedro;
'hot steel or cold? Make up your mind,
for am getting tired. Well, /! you
won't, just hand me that machete, will
you? Now friend" he went on, ad.
dressing the Indian, "for the last time
ask you to tell us where Is that tenn.
pie full Of gold Of which you spoke to
your daughter in my fathers hearingp"
There is no such place, white man"
he answered sullenly.
Indeed, friend. Then will you OK.
plain where you got those little ingots
which we captured from the Indian who
had been visiting you, md whence came
this machete?" and he pointed 10 the
weapon in his hand.
1t was q sword OF great beauty, as |
could see, but OF hardened copper, and
having for o handle a female figure
with outstretched arms fashioned In
solid gold,
1.-THE machete was given to me by a
friend, said the Indian ~ do not
know where he got It,"
Really" answered Jose with q 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 ore
going to serve him and his daughter.
Don Pedro nodded, and taking the
sword held the tip OF II over the flame,
while Jose, bending forward, whispered
into the Indians ear, pointing from
to time to the girl.
Are you white men, then, devilsT
said the old man at length, with .
groan that seemed to burst from the
bottom Of his heart, land 10 there no
law or justice among your"
None at all, friend. " answered Jose;
I'VE 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?"
"Neverl" cried the Indian. Better
that we two should perish . hundred |
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.
zone minute more" said the old man,
turning the point in the fame.
This was the scene that we witnessed, |
and these were the words that as.
tonished our ears.
ut IL time TO Interfere" muttered
the senior, and, placing his hand upon
the rail, he prepared to drop Into the
church.
Now . thm~ht st-rck me. and drew
niu, uacA W tnc passage.
Perhaps the door Is open" said.
Are you going In there7" asked the
girl Tulsa.
Certainly" I replied; We must res.