Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-06-11
HEART OF THE WORLD.
BY H. RIDER HAGGARD.
Strsnse Story, Taken From Manuscript Be.
queathed by an Old Mexican Indian to His
Friend and Comrade, an English
mAA Named Jones.
Copyrighted. 1904. by H Rider Haggarc
CHAPTER VIL-CoNr1NUED

Copyrighted. 1894, by H Rider Haggard
q CHAPTER VIL-CONTINUED.
ruins, Senior Strickland! Decidedly
you Englishmen ore strange. Supper
will be served shortly; till then, adios.
Girl, go with them, he added, address
ing the woman who had been engaged
in swinging the hammock; water may
be wanted and other things"
The girl bowed and went away and at
the door we found her standing, lamp
in hand, to light us down the passage.
''Well, when you are ready" said Don
Jose, will you come to supper? You
will not lose the way. for you can fol-
low the smell of the food and he left
the room.
''One moment" 1 said, addressing the
girl, who was about to accompany him;
perhaps you will see that our scrv-
ant and I pointed to Molas, has
some meat brought to him here, since
your masters will not wish him to sit at
cable
''Si,'' answered the girl, whose name
was Luisa, searching my face with her
eyes.
BY this time Don Jose was through
the door, which the draught pushed to
behind him. / watched it close, then a
thought struck me, for l remembered
that among our order there are women,
associates of the outer circle, and L
made sign with my hand. She started
and gave the ancient answer, which is
taught even to children, whereto l re-
piled with another sign, that of the
Presence of the Heart.
''Where?'' she asked, glancing at each
of us in turn.
''Here," answered, and, drawing out
the symbol, held it before her eyes
She saw and made obeisance. and at
that momentwe heard Don Jose calling
her from the further side of the door.
81 come" she cried in answer, then
added in whisper: Lord. you are in
danger in this house. I cannot tell you
now, but if possible will return. The
wine is safe, but drink no coffe, and do
not sleep when you lie down. Search
the floor and you will understand the
reason. l come, senior, I GOMEZ" And
she fed from the room.
SO soon as the girl was gone the senior
went to the door and locked it, then he
returned and said:
''What does all this mean, IgnatiO?"
did not answer, but, pushing aside
one of the beds, searched the floor be-
meath it. 1t was discolored in several
places. Next pulled the blankets off
the beds and examined the webbing
that formed the mattresses to discover
that this also was stained, though
slightly, for it had been washed. Then
I said:
'Men have died in these beds, senior,
and the stains were made by their
blood. It would seem that the guests
of Don Pedro sleep we'll, first they are
drugged. then they are murdered. and
1t is for this purpose that we have been
2ured to the house. Well, we expected
nothing else"
do not dcspond," answered. eve
are warned in time and therefore, L
think, shall escape by the help of that
ri1.t. nd l.n nth 1rH in ho
since in an hour every one of them will
know who we are, and be prepared to
risk their lives to save us. Now let us
make ready and go among these men
with a bold face, Tor of this you may be
sure, that nothing will be attempted
till late at night, when they think US
sleeping. Have you understood, Mo-
las?"
Eyes" answered the Indian.
'.TheIl watch here, or in the outer
room until VIC return, and should the
girl come, learn all you can from her as
to the whereabouts of the old doctor
and his daughter, and other matters,
for when she knows you to be of the
order she viii speak. Have you been
recognized by any one?''
~ think not, senior. When we en-
tered it was too dark for them to see. "
''Good. Then keep out of their way,
if possible. do the best you can with the
Farewell. :
When re reached the end OF the din
ing hall Don Fedro slid from his
hammock to the ground and, taking the
senior by tie hand, said:
Let me introduce YOU to my over
seer, the senior Smith from Texas He
san American. and will be glad to
meet one VINO can speak English, for,
notwithstanding much practice, his
Spanish is none oE the best"
The senior bowed and the American
desperate spoke to him in English,