The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-16

Il suppose you must Don Eraclio, un-
less you were to leave the country
wouldn't you do that suggested,
'ImpOssible!' he said: mo no. 7 can't
do that" but he did not explaip. We
sat awkwardly for few moments after
our conversation, any other topic seemed
out of place-yet silence was embarra.s.
ing, so it was a relief TO see tho horse.
coming ready to start. l rose. frightened
my straps and Eraclio asked: "You are
going home, Don Juan?'
Yes, by a roundabout route. bur
shall come back here
Il wish l were going. too" no said
but where! III you come back, we must
meet again, you may find me better
manor If not. far worse Vayar he
cried, pulling himself together suddenly.
To-day L am at the zenith of my DOW.
er. Come drink another glass with me-
big glass this tirne-here's to luck"
At the stage we shook hands again and
the mules started on gallon.
The remembrance Eraclio gave me was
the little gold bell-thus it came into nv
possession. Subsequent events proved
that Eraclios presentiments were
wen founded, his day was over and
from that day forward his existence be-
came more and more precarious. His
men relt he had lost his grip, and they
III turn lost their unbounded confidence
in him.
One day the troops surrounded their
camp, and though the majority of the
oandlts cut their way through the cac.
xIS tiiicket' Eraclio remained behind
neh 'he soldiers came upon him, he
was seated on boulder beside the bodies
VI TWO OF ms men. Cautiously the sol
u'ers Closed around the famous outlaw.
put ne neither moved nor no.
tlced them. Now that escape was i'm
possible, many man among his CAP
tors wished 1t were otherwise, for Erac-
ITO was popular hero, an ideal to many
a Mexican heart. He had often defend
ed them against the law, when it was
.unjustly applied, he had been kind to
the poor. and they loved him. Not a
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 ma
Liou you are my prisoner.
The highwayman raised his head.
gagged his captor and smiled. Then he
looked around at the circle of soldiers.
drew himself up and without paying any
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 / have done you, and to
forget the harm. You are all sons of
Mexico, and | charge you, let that be
ever uppermOst in your thoughts. Be
cause forgot the duty every man owes
to his flag, l stand before you now an
enemy OF my country, which no man
ever loved more than /. Many of you
are my friends, yet l am your common
enemy. The good OF the country re-
qulres that l should die, SO let it be here
atonce and at your hands. l do not
yield, | command, Salazar, and you. the
five next, step forward! Are you ready?
Good! Now then 1 drop my arm, aim
low and steady-this is my last request"
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 buzzard.
the eagle of Mexico, arched slowly
round and round. He followed it with
his eyes, until it alighted on a tuna near
by. Beyond, the sierra, purple and blue
and white crowned the horizon, and
while he gazed with PARKWAY look over
their heads, the men leaned on their win
chesters and waited.
Then the outlaw raised his hat and
the locks clicked-a moment later the
simultaneous bark of the six carbines
crashed through the silence-Eraclio fell.
Salazar alone had understood The other
five with mistaken generosity had shot
wild