Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-03-02
TAURMONT Frederick County, Maryland Thursday March z |399


"Who are you and what do you want~
"Do not talk too loud" said the visit
or, pushing back the cowl from his
face. "Who am II See for yourself"
The captain-general gave q start of
terror and his face blanched. 1t was
Berceo, the insurgent chief, who stood
before him.
"Listen to me, senor, and I'll tell you
what I want. You have offered $40,-
600 for my head. See, have brought
It myself and claim the money.
Berceo stepped nearer and drew from
under his cloak long knife.
II can't very well carry Mexican dol.
lars. I will take Spanish bank notes,
Hurry"
General Macia ground his teeth in
rage, but 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 $4,000 in bank notes and hand
ed them to the rebel leader, who be;
gan to back toward the door. Good
day, senor," he 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 of his monks garb, he
reached 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
acquaintances from the neighboring
compounds had dropped In for chat,
but by 10 o'clock he was alone again,
As he sat ireamily gazing out at the
twinkling lights on the ships at anchor,
he heard a step on the stairway be-
hind him; he thought it was his Chi
nese servant Soon, however, a fam
iliar voice spoke:
"Senor, excuse the intrusion"
He turned around and there stood his
former clerk, Juan Aguado.
"Why, Juan, what a pleasure! But
how you startled me! Come, sit down
and tell me all about yourself"
Aguado smiled. "Are we quite
alone, senor7' he asked, glancing
around furtively.
Eyes, entirely so; the servants have
gone to bed"
"Well, then, you want to know all
about myself. can tell you In word
I am Berceo."
My grandfather was a cool man.
"Come inside, it's damp here" he said.
and led the way to room back Of the
veranda.
Briefly Aguado told him what had
taken place in the last two years. The
man that had called upon him the day
he left brought evil news. His home
village had been destroyed, and his,
father, a petty official up country, had
been imprisoned on some trumped-up
charge, his two brothers had been kill
ed in a fight with their Spanish guards.
He had long known what Spanish rule
was in the out provinces-but, alas!
his revolution 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, escaped; but
it will not be for long. unless, senor,
you help me-"
mot knowing what I would have
done in your place, JUAN" said grand
father slowly, I'm not the man to see
you handed over to Gen. Don Xavier
Macia, anyway. Let me think"
After a while, grandfather said: Il
think I have 1t. A captain friend OF
mine sails for Hong Kong on the morn.
ing breeze. II l can get you on board
his ship you are safe. Come, put on
some of my clothes. l don't think the
authorities will be looking for you
here; they don't know that Luiz Berceo
Ia such dear friend Of mine, and
think we can get out to the ship all
right"
Talking English they made their way
quietly to the harbor front and called
q sampan. They looked like two be-
lated English captains going out to
their ships.
A half mile out in the bay lay the
John Dorset, ready to weigh anchor.
My grandfather hailed, and, when the
captain appeared, he climbed on board,
leaving Aguado below In the boat.
Grandfather drew the captain below
and told him who the man was In the
sampan, and what he wanted.
Capt. Higgins Of the John Dorset
was an old sea dog of the genuine
Yankee type. He liked man who had
what he called sand for ballast" a.
Luiz Berceo evidently had.
"Shiver my mainmast, but I'll take
him." said Capt. Higgins. HE can
have my cabin tin we are well past
Coregidor and out to sea-"
This Is about the end Of the story.
Aguado escaped safely to Hong Kong.
A year or two afterward, just before
grandfather sold out his business and
started home, he received package
from a Chinese port. 1t contained
beautifully jeweled Malay kris, with
the name Juan Aguado" upon the
blade.