Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-03-12

As Don Xavier N ia turned in his chair Who are you aid what do you want ?g
 Do not talk too l0ud.H said the visit or, pushing back tue cowl from his face. .Who am 1 ]? See for yourself"
 The captain-ge general gave ! start of terror and his face blaneaed 1t was Bereeo, the insurgent chief, who stood before him.
 %'Listen to me, senor. and I'll tell you what 1 want. You have offered S40.- poe for my head. See, have brought 1t myself and claim the money.
 Berceo stepped carer and drew from under bis cloak a long knife.
 T can't very well carry Mexican dol- lars. l will take Spanish bank notes, Hurry"
 General Naeia ground his teeth in rage, but dared do nothing except obey, He knew well the character of the man he was dealing with. From a desk near by he counted out the equivalent of S40,000 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 cut A guard at the end of the hall tried to restrain him, but Berceo cut him down with the knife and then throwing eff his monks garb, he reached the street and made good his escape.
 That same night grandfather sat smoking on his wide yeranda, which looked out upon the bay. One or two acquaintances from the neighboring compounds had dropped in for a chat, but by 10 o'clock he was alone again, As he sat dreamily gazing out at the fWinkling 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, 3 fam iliar voice spoke:
 ''senor, excuse the intrusion
 He turned around and there stood hi9 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, senorg9 he asked, glancing around furtiyely.
 Yes, entirely so; the servants have gone to bed"
 Well, then, you want to know all about myself. I cgn tell you in @ word -I am Berceo."
 My grandfather was q cool man. "Come inside, it's damp here,n he said, and led the way to a room back of the Yeranda.
 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, lad 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 brayed the eaptain-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 would have done in your place, Juan," said grand. father slowly, "Im not the man to sec you handed over to Gen. Don Xavier Macia, anyway. Let me think"
 After a while, grandfather said: 'FI think 1 have it. A captain friend of mine sails for Hong Kong on the morn. ing breeze. If can get you on board his ship you are safe. Come, put on some of my clothes. don't think the authorities will be looking for you here; they don't know that Luiz Berceo is 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 a 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 as Luiz Berceo evidently had.
 "Shiver my mainmast, but I'll take him., said Capt Higgins. "He can have my cabin till we are we'll 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 a package from a Chinese port. It contained a beautifully jeweled Malay kris, with the name Juan Aguado" upon tho blade.