The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-01-27

xT" .
was dressed like a priest, in a long
black gown aud had a hood over his
head.
"Peace upon ynn,'' he said Colby,
and Don Xav:'r Marcia turned in his
chair.
"Who are you, and what do you
want?:'"
"Do not talk too loud" said the Wis
itor. pushing back the cowl from his
face. WHO am /? Sec for yourself"
The captain general gave a start of
terror, and his face blanched. It was
Berceo, the insurgent chief. who stood
before him.
"Listen to me, senior and I'll tell
you what 1 want. You have offered
$40, 600 for my head. See, l have
brought it myself and claim the money"
Berceo stepped nearer and drew from
under his cloak a long native knife.
81 can't very we'll carry Mexican
dollars. Twill take Spanish bank notes.
Hurry"
General Marcia ground his teeth in
rage, but dared do nothing except obey.
He knew we'll the character Of the ma
he was dealing with. From a desk near
by he counted out the equivalent Of
$40. 900 in Bank of Spain notes and
handed them to the rebel leader, who
began to back toward the door. GOOD
day, senior, :" be said politely and sprang
out. A guard at the end of the hall
tried to restrain him, but Berceo cut
him down with the knife, and then,
throwing off his monks garb, he reach
ed the street and made good his escape.
That same night grandfather sat
smoking on his wide veranda, which
looked out upon the bay. One or two
acquaintance from the n%eighboring
compounds had dropped in for a chat,
but by 10 O'Clock he was alone again.
AS he sat dreamingly gazing out at the
twinkling lights on the ships at anchor
be heard a step on the stairway behind
him He thought it was his Chinese
servant. Soon. however, a familiar
voice spoke:
"Senor, excnse the intrusion"
He turned around. and there stood
his former clerk, Juan Aguado.
why, Juan, what q p%leasurel But
how you startled me! Come, sit down
and tell me all about yourself"
Aguado smiled. "Are we quite alone,
senor?' he asked, glancinl around fur.
lively.
eyes, entirely SO; the servants have
gone to bed"
well, then. you want to know all
about myself. l can tell you in a word
II am Berceo."
My grandfather was a cool man.
Come inside. It's damp here, = he said
and led the way to a room back of the
veranda.
Briefly Aguado told him what had
taken place in the last two years. Tn.
that had called upon him the day
he left brought evil news. His homt
village had been destroyed, and his ia.
Their, a petty official up country, had been
imprisoned on some trumped up charge,
and his two brothers had peen killed in
a fight with their Spanish guards. He
had long known what Spanish rule was
in the ont provinces; but, alas, his revo
luton did not succeed.
Next he told how he had just braved
the captain general in his very palace
and wrung from him the price set upon
his own head.
by the grace Of God I escaped, but
will not be for long unless, senior,
you help me-"
"Not knowing what I should have
done in your place, JUAN" said grand.
father slowly, "I'm not the man to set
you handed over to General Don Xavier
Marcia anyway. Let me think"
After awhile grandfather said: II
think l have it. A captain friend OF
mine sails for Hongkong on the morn
ing breeze. If I can get you on board
ship, you are safe. Come, put on
some of my clothes. l don't think thu
authorities will be looking for you here.
They don't know that Luiz Berceo il
such a dear friend of mine, and I think
we can get out to the ship all right"
Talking English, they made their
way quietly to the harbor front and
called a sampan. They looked like two
belated English captains going out to
ships.
A half mile out in the bay lay the
John Dorset, ready to weigh anchor.
My grandfather hailed, and when the
appeared he climbed on board,
Aguado below in the boat.
drew the captain below
and told him who the man was in the
sampan and what he wanted.
Captain Higgins of the John Dorset
an old sea dog Of the genuine
Yankee type. He liked a man who had
what be called "sand for ballast" as
Luiz Berceo evidently had.
"Shiver my mainmast, but I'll take
him!" said Captain Higgins. "He can
have my cabin till we are we'll past
and out to sea-"
This is about the end of the story.
Aguado escaped safely to Hongkong. A
year or two afterward, just before
sold out his business and
home, he received a package
a Chinese port. It contained