The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-08-14

my back like SHINY repJileS. II any One
dies tonight it will be me, mark it,
Valentino"
''Ugh!" shuddered the other. I'VE
are both growing superstitious."
AVE, superstitious, but not coward
ly. Never, as far back as the Cespedes
can trace their pedigree, has there been
found a coward, and now"
Hist, Pedro!"
Valentino had suddenly thrown him.
self upon ore knee and raised his hand
as a sign of warning. He listened at
tentively for a full minute, then eau
tiously approached his companion.
"a sentinel" he explained in whis-
per. 81 have plan; to overpower this
guard and force him to betray the posi-
ton of the confined spy"
Good! Here are the chips-once,
twice, ah, three times, 60" Pedro
crept away and disappeared in the
gloom
With taxed nerves the waiting Val
entino crouched upon the earth with
his stiletto barred ready at the least call
to lend his comrade assistance. Slow
ly, almost with the hardness of hours.
the minutes passed by.
1T is accomplished" Valentino NUT
tered, as a low whistle was borne to
his ears.
Stretching his limbs to give them
their former strength and suppleness,
the insurgent hurried off in the direc-
ton of the sound. He had not advanced
far before he discovered Pedro bending
over the PROSTATE form of the sentinel.
Have you killed him, senor?" he
asked.
mo, the fellow is only scared AMI
has already given US the desired in
formation. The one we are in search OF
is confined in a tent just outside the
generals headquarters up on the hill
yonder where you see the three rel
lights; help me bind and gag him.
senior"
It took but a moment to make the
prisoner secure, and the two were on
their way again. The generals tent
was less than a quarter Of mile dis
tant, but the greatest preeaution was
necessary in lodging the seDtinels.
There, at last believe we are safely
inside the lines, senior"
Not yet, Pedro"
"Artoi" (halt) cried low firm voice
of command.
Both came to a dead stop. but the
quick-witted Valentino was equal to
the emergency. The oarabinero' who
had so suddenly changed the tide of
events stood with his gun at his shout
der dozen feet to the right.
eve are friends, senior"
"Give the countersign."
THAT we cannot do; but we must
see the general tonight, as we have
important information. Here is a per-
NIT that has passed us thus far-see
for yourself that it is not a'fraud," and
the Cuban held out the letter.
Taken off his guard by the apparent
frankness of the man before him, the
unsuspecting carabinero allowed the
butt of his rife fall to the ground, and
stretched forth his hand for the paper.
There was a bright flash of steel as
it passed swiftly through the air.
"The night has its victims" muttered
Valentino as he wiped off and sheathed
his blade. "'Tis some poor mothers
son, hardly beyond the limits of boy
hood yet, and still it had to be done"
"And a mastery stroke that did it :
right to the heart, senior, without q
doubt"
Come"
The captain could say no more; tears
were in his eyes and he wished that
the hellish work were undone. He
could hardly suppress a sob as he
thought of the aged mother on the
other side of the sea, waiting and pray
ing for son that would never return.
Oh, the anguish of that moment!
Suddenly he halted, for ahead of him,
not a dozen rods, was the tent for which
he was searching. Pedro remained G
few steps behind to guard against sur
prise, and alone the brave rebel cap
tain crept up to the canvas flap.
There was light inside; he peered
in-there upon bundle OF blankets
with hands and feet securely bound
lay-not a man. but the form of {
beautiful girl.
For moment he.could hardly believe
his eyes. Was she the spy?
"Ah!"
Like a fash of lightning the truth
dawned over him; he had solved thu
mystery.
'Senorita!" he called, softly.
There was a stir among the blanket
and a pale sweet face, with soft darl
curls clinging about it like veil. wa
raised from its hard pillow.
"a friend to aid you; one who ha
your welfare at heart"
The girl raised herself still higher
but not a sound escaped her lips. /
was not necessary, the soft eyes alon
told the story.
Swiftly Valentino crossed to III
pallet-swiftly he severed the cord
that bound her tender limbs-and swift
" he caught her lovely form in his arm
and dashed into the open air.
1t was all over in minute, for the Gu
ban had thrown caution to the winds