Evening star., 1897-05-15

| governor when he heard of INV escape and
1 knowing that he had dangerous foe In
! me. he hed to the capital. When 1 was
| ready-not so very long sinee-I raided and
| destroyed his RANCHES. one after another,
| and in such quick, succession that there
was no time to prepare defenses. I killed
| haciendas and wrecked his mines. until on
the verge Of ruin. he was obliged to come
| here himself and attempt the rescue of his
| property. Then | tracked him from place
| to place. Finally l. captured him at the
Descanso. For years, Don Juan. 1 had ex-
/ ercised all my ingenuity in planning new.
! unheard Of monstrons tortures for this
man but when we were alone, face to face
| In the big hall of the rancho house-when
| after all these years, / saw him in my
| power-this man whom l hated with every
| fiber of my being-when it flashed over me
| what might have been but for him. what
I was because of him. by God, senor, 1
burst into tears!'
Soils paused moment He drew his
hand over his forehead-he had been talk
ing vehemently-his face was qulvering-
but almost Immediately he stood up and
said: II shot him down like cur.'
He walked away to the end of the porch.
see whether he had gone. No; he was APP
parently watching the men who were har-
Messing the mules. When he came back all
traces of emotion had disappeared, but he
something. 1 did not know what to say,
and he sat down again opposite me.
'Ah. Don Juan" he began again. that's
what a brigand is made of. Just a man
wrongly developed. Some day-who knows ?
you may hold me up. Come now, tell me
honestly, what do you think of me? A ras-
cal, eh? An embarrassing question: His
margin was so narrow between good humor
and the most violent passion that 1 hesi-
tated at passing judgment upon the fine
animal before me. could only admire.
You have been very unfortunate, Don
Eraclio,' l said finally. Il believe you
might have been a great man in your coun-
try" and put out my hand. Soils grasped
it eagerly, and he still held it as he said:
II thank you. Don Juan, shall not for
get you-will you take little thing to re-
member me? My end is not far off, senor
1 believe that I am on the down grade.
So far revenge was my right, but that Is
past now. and for the future what can 1
do? 1 am not a brigand by nature. If
had something to live upon, should prob
ably turn to my books again, for. of course.
l can never be public man now. But as
1t Is, l don't own 10 pesos in the world, be-
Sides I have a duty toward my men. l
must stand by them. as they have stood by
me-"
Il suppose you must Don Eraclio. unless
you were to leave the country-wouldnt
you do that?" / suggested.
'ImpoSSible. he said. mo, no, l can't
do that" but he did not explain. We sat
aWkwardly for a few moments after our
conversation, any other topic seemed out
of place-yet silence was embarrassing, so
it was a relief to see the horses coming
ready to start. 1 rose, frightened my straps
and Eraclio asked, You are going home.
Don Juan?'
Yes. by roundabout route but l shall
come back here
Il wish I were going too" he said, but
where? If you come back. we must meet
If not. far worse. Vaya" he cried, pull
ing himself together suddenly. To-day I
am at the zenith of my power. Come, drink
another glass with me-a big glass this
time-heres to lucki"
At the stage we shook hands again and
the mules started on a gallop.
The remembrance Eraclio gave me was
the little gold bel-thus it came into my
possession. Subsequent events proved that
Eraclio's presentiments were well founded,
his day was over and from that day for
ward his existence became more and more
precarious. His men felt he had lost his
grip, and they in turn lost their unbound
ed confidence in him.
One day the troops surrounded their
camp, and though the majority of the
bandits cut their way through the cactus
thicket. Eraclio remained behind. When
the soldiers came upon him, he was seated
or boulder beside the bodies oe two of his
men. Cautiously the soldiers closed around
the famous outlaw, but he neither moved
nor noticed them. Now that escape was
impossible many man among his captors
wished it were otherwise. for Eraclio was
popular hero. an ideal to many a Mexican
heart. He had often defended them
against the law, when it was unjustly ap-
piled. He had been kind to the poor, and
they loved him. Not few in the line of
troopers owed him thanks for some good
deed or timely help. But it was too late.
A young officer stepped forward and,
covering him with his revolver. called out:
'Eraclio Soils. In the name of the nation,
you are my prisoner
The highwayman raised his head,
gauged his captor and smiled. Then he
looked around at the circle of soldiers,
further attention to the lieutenant, he
spoke to them:
Friends" he said. gently, yet firmly.
the time has come. and / am more glad
than sorry; perhaps more glad than any
man here. Try henceforth to remember
whatever good 1 have done you. and to
forget the harm. You are all sons of
Mexico. and I charge you, let that be ever
uppermost in your thoughts. Because L
forgot the duty every man owes to his flag,
1 stand before you now euerly of my
country, which no man ever loved more
than l. Many of you are my friends. yet
I am your common enemy. The good of
the country requires that / should die, SO
let 1t be here at once. and at your hands.
l do not yield, 1 command, Salazar, and
you, the five next, step forward! Are you
ready? Good! Now, when l drop my arm
aim low and steady-this is my last re-
quest"
Eraclio looked up at the pale hard sky
overhead. and across the ragged line of
cactus brush-so typical of his country.
Above in the oven-like dome a buzzard,
the eagle of Mexico. arched slowly round
and round. He followed it with his eyes
until it alighted on a tuna near by. Be
yond, the sierra, purple and blue and
white, crowned the horizon. and while he
gazed with a far-away look over their
heads the men leaned on their Winchesters
and waited.
Their the outlaw raised his hat and the
locks clicked-a moment later the stimuli
taneous bark of the six carbines crashed
q all oCltn fol oil
alone had understood. The other five with
mistaken generosity had shot wild.
Responses.
Admit into thy silent breast
The n0tes of but bird,
And instantly thy soul will join
In tubilant accord.