The Delta independent., 1899-05-05

into the room. at the sans time slip
ping the bolt again into its placs. He
was dressed like . priest. iu . hong
black gown and had 4 hood over his
head.
Peace upon you." be said eoldly.
and Don Xavier Marcia turned in his
cL.ir.
"Who a.o ycu. and what do You
want:"
"Do rot talk too lond. 4" said the vis-
itor, pushing back the cowl from lis
face. "who am !? See for yourself
The captain general gave . start Of
terror. aud his face blsnched. II was
Berceo, the insurgens chief. who stood
before him.
"Listen to me. senior. and I'll tell
you what ! want. You have offered
$4,000 for my head. See. havo
brought il myself and claim the money"
Derceo stepped nearer and drew from
under his cloak long native knife.
II can't very well carry Mexican
dollars. Twill take Spanish bank notsA
Hurry"
General Marcia ground bis teeth In
rage. bot dared do nothing except obey.
He knew well the character Of the man
he was dealing with. From . desk near
by he counted out the equivalent Of
$40. 600 in Bank Of Spain notes and
handed them TO the rebel leader. who
began to hack toward the door. "Good
day. senior. !" he said politely aud spInag
out. A guard st the end Of the hall
tried to restrain him. but Berceo cut
him down with the knife, aud then.
throwing OF his monks gsrb. hs reach
ed she street and made good his escape.
That same night grandfather sat
looked out upon the bay. One % two
acquAintsnces from the neigbboring
compounds kad dropped In for chat,
bus BY 10 O'Clock be wss alone again.
As he sat dresminsiy gazing ous as tho
twinklipg lights on the ships ~ anchor
he heard . step on the stairway behind
him He thought 1t wss his Chinese
servant Soon. however. . familiar
voice spoke:
''SenCs, excuse the intrusion."
He turned aroond. and there stood
his former clerk. Juan Agusdo.
why, Juan, what pleasure! But
how you startled mel Come. sit down
and tell me all about yourself
Aguado smiled. "Are We quite slone.
senor:" he asked, glancinR around fur
lively.
"Yea. eTtirely SO: the servants have
gone TO bed
"Weli. then. you want to know al
about myself can tell Jon in . word
Il am Berceo
Ny grandfather wss . cool man.
Come inside. It's damp here. he said
ard led the way 10 . room hack Of the
veranda.
Briefly Aguado told him what had
taken placs IN the last two yeass The
man thss had called upou him the DAY
be isfs bsosshs evil sswa His bone
village bad been destroyed. ard bis f.
tbss. . prssy ofseisI sp eoantry. had been
impeisonsd on sone irsmped sp chsssc.
aud bis two bsoshess had Ueen killed In
. fight with their Spanish guards. He
bed loea known what Spanish rule wss
10 tbs out provinces; bot. alas. his revo-
lution did not socoeed.
Next he told how he had just hrsved
the captain reneral In his very palace
and wrups from him tho price set upon
his own head.
"By the grace Of God ! escaped. bus
Il will not be for long unlesA senior.
ypu help me-"
'Not knowing What ] should hnve
done in your place. Juan. A." said grand
father slowly, "I'n, not the man TO see
you handed over TO General Don Xavier
Aureia anyway. Let mo think" +"
After awhile grandfather rnid: ~
think bnve IL. A captain friend Of
mine sails for Hougkobg ON the morn
ting breexe. II l eau get you ON board
his ship. you are safe. Come, pot nD
eorne Of my clothes ] don't think tho
authorities will be looking for you here
They don's know that Luiz Eereco In
such dear friend Of mine. and ! think
we csn get ont to the ship al right
Talking English, they made their
way quietly to the harbos front and
cslied sampcn. They looked like two
bslated English captains going out TO
their ships.
A half mile out 10 the hay Isy the
John Dorset. ready to weigh snchos.
ny grandfather hsilsd. sud when the
captain appeared be climbed ON board.
leaving Aguado below in she boat.
drew the captain below
md told him Who The man was In the
uasnpan anil what be wanted.
Captain Higgins Of tho John Dcrsst
wss M old sea dog Of the genuine
Yankee type. He liked mnp who had
y hat he called "sand for ballast, ~
Luis Bercoo evidently had
"Shives my mAinmsst, bet I'll take
himr sid Captain Higgins. "He can
have my cabin till We arc well past ,
I,orregidcs and oct 10 sea"
This IL shout the end Of she atosy. !
Asusdo escaped safely to Hongkoue. A
rear or two afserwari. Just beforc
her sold ous bis business aud