The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-04-11
CHAPTER I.
low THE PLOT FAfLxD

year, was born Ina village among the
mountains that lie between the little
towns of Pichaucalco and Tiapa. OF
AL that district my father was the
hereditary cacique, and the Indians
there loved him much.
When was lad perhaps nine years
old troubles arose in the country and
my father was made prisoner. ! re-
member that he was shut up In dirty
place, SO hot that II was difficult to
breathe. and that there were some
drunken Mexican soldiers outside the
door, who now and again threatened TO
make an end OF us Indian dogs.
My godfather, the priest Ignatio. con-
fessed my father in a corner of the cell,
and took something from his hand.
Then my father called me TO him and
kissed me, and with his own fingers for
few moments he hung about my neck
that thing which the priest had taken
from him, only to remove II again and
give IL to Ignatio for safe keeping, say
ing: "Sce that the boy has IL, and its
story with IL, when he comes of age"
Now my father kissed me again,
blessing me In the name Of God. and ~
he did SO great tears ran down his face.
Then the priest lgnatio took me away,
and never saw my father any more,
for the soldiers shot him next morning
and throw his body into the hole that
they had dug 10 receive II.
After this my godfather, cousin and
namesake took me and my mother 10 the
little town OF Tiapa, Of which he was
priest, but she died OF broken heart.
When / was about fifteen years of
age, of n sudden desire took hold of
me to become priest.
On the morrow 1 went into my god
fathers room, and told him OF my de-
sire. He listened TO me nttentively, and
answered.: ~ would that IL might be
80, my son. holding, ns / do. that the
things OF the world TO come outweigh
those of the present earth ten thou
sandfold, but Il cannot be, for reasons
that You shall learn when you are
older. Then, when my trust Is ended,
You may make your choice, and, II you
still wish IL, become priest
Five more years passed away, during
which time / grew strong and active,
and skilled In all manly exercises, and
studied much under the teachings of my
godfather, who sent even 10 Spain TO
buy me books.
At length, on my twentieth birthday,
my godfather, who was now grown very
old and feeble, called me into his cham
Der, and, having locked the door, he
spoke 10 me thus:
my son, the time has come when I
must deliver 90 you the last messages
of your beloved father, my cousin and
best friend. who was murdered by tho
soldiers when you were little child,
and tell you of your descent and other
matters.
First. then, You must know that you
are of royal and ancient blood, for your
r.. al
temoc, the last of the Aztec emperors,
whom the Spaniards murdered, which
descent / can prove TO you by means of
old writings and pedigrees; also II Is
known and attested among the Indians,
who, even now. do not forget the stock
whence sprang their kings"
"Then, by right, i am emperor OF
Mexico" / said, proudly, for in my folly
IL seemed n fine thing 10 be sprang
from men who once had worn crown.
"Alasl my SON" the old priest an
swered. sadly, Sin this world might Is
the only right, aud the Spaniards ended
that OF your forefathers long ago by
the aid of torture and the moose. Save
thnt IL viii earn you reverence among
the Indians, IL Is but q barren honor
which You inherit with your blood.
yet there Is one thing that has come
temoc. and the monarchs who ruled be-
fore him. Perchance you remember
that on the night before he died your
father sat an amulet upon your neck,
and, removing IL again, gave IL to me to
keep. Here Is that amulet"
And he handed me trinkct made OF
the half OF hcart-shapcd emerald,
smooth with wear but unpublished, that
II joined to Its missing section would
have been large as doves egg. This
stone was not broken, but cut from the
Top TO the bottom. the line of the cut
ting being so cunningly sawn that no
ono, unless he had one half before him,
could initiate the other. This charm
was bored through so as 20 be worn
upon chain. and engraved upon It's
surface were some hieroglyphics and
the outline of half n human face.
"What Is it?" / asked.
The old priest shrugged his shoulders
and answered:
"A relic that had TO do with their
wicked heather magic and rites, / sup
pose. know little about IL except that
your father told me that Il was the
most valued possession of the Aztec
kings. and that the natives believe that
when the two halves OF this stone came
together the men OF white blood shall
be driven from Central America, and
TINT a. Indian emperor shall rule from
sea 20 sea.
And where Is the other half, father"
II am priest, and therefore your
father told ne little OF the matter. since
Il II not lawful that should belong 20
secret societies. STILL some such society
exists and. In virtue OF the ownership OF
that tnlismnn, you will DO head Of II,
as your ancestors were before YOU.
though, SO far as can learn, II has
brought them but little luck.
II know no more about it, but
will give you letters TO certain Indian
who lives in the district OF which your
father was caelquc. and, when you
show him the stone, doubtless he will
initiate you into It's mysteries, though
/. counsel you TO have nothing TO do
with them
Listen, IRnatio, my son, you Are
rich man; how rich cannot tell you,
but for many generations your fore
fathers have hidden up treasure for an
nhtnrt which I will Qxulafn nod fho