Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-05-17

ure Of COnchita, as she disappeared eI
route to her dressing room. He wait
ed to have another copita before join
ing her, however, thinking that sh'
would thereby have more time to gel
wrapped up, and be ready for hin
when he did come. He was going tt
take her home afterward and talk tx
her for an houror so-longer she would
not permit. So, after tossing of tn,
copita of brandy, he lit a cigarette and
moved off toward the dressing room.
A strangled shrek of "Dios Moi
Help!" reached him as he turned tn,
corner. Thinking it came from tn,
dancing room he paid no attention
It was repeated, and he recognized
Conchita's voice. He ran to her room
She was struggling in the furiou,
grasp Of Antonio, who was swearing
by ell tie saints that she should never
marry Gringo; she must marry him
Antonio, who loved her. To the devil
with the Americana!
Infatuated beyond all control, Hew
lit flung himself upon the drunken
Mexican and slammed him against the
wall, shaking him as a terrier would
rat. Painting, with his eyes cleaning
murderously, Antonio made no resist.
ance whatever for a moment. Sudden
ly, however, he made spring forward
and Hewitt felt something cold and
sharp just Craze his coat-a machete,
the Mexican dogl And though he
never knew howit happened, and could
never account for ~, in the twinkling
OF an eye, that same machete was in
his own grasp, and he was thrusting
1t straight home to the heart Of the
would-be murderer. There was onlys
sickening gurgle, last dying curse
and Antonio, IN a limp, bloody heap
fell dying on the floor. 1t was over 90
soon, and Hewitt, as he stared at ~
dead man, could not grasp what II
meant-that he had really killed An
tonic.
Concha had crouched, trembling and
sobbing, watching it all with terror.
stricken face. Now she moved, and
came forward weakly to Hewitt
throwing her arms around his heavina
shoulders.
you must 60, querido mio," sh.
whispered, brokenly. ut is dangerou.
they will kill you. Then go, por. Ell
amor de Dois. But quickly rum" Sh.
knew the danger, as Hewitt could not
His first thought was to brave II
out. He had not meant to kill Anton.
io-he could get of free. But how
could be prove it? Concha loved him
her testimony would not be taken
Besides, he, an American, had killed 4
Mexican, and whether rightfully Of
not, would never be considered. As h
b san to realize what it meant, Hewitt
shivered! There would be no trial
no show whatever. The "ley de fuga'
a lynching party, or perhaps stab In
the dark. Because vengeance is Of tn,
Mexicans.
There was no time to lose II b,
meant going. Now they were all
drunk, as Concha whispered, and would
know nothing. He would have time K
escape. But in the morning it would
be different. Oh, he must coffee!
AS they embraced for goodbye
Concha murmured, weeping that sh,
would always be faithful-waiting fol
him until he came. And wrought w
to l..gh pitch, as he realized how tn,
girl loved him, Hewitt swore that h,
would return. And then, with last
kiss, he went.
Then Concha knelt down by the dead
Antonio, wetting her skirt in the
blood. Because she caught the sound
Of approaching footsteps-soon II
would be known, and Hewitt would b,
pursued, caught-killed! They should
never take him-her beloved novio-
first they should take her-her life il
need be.
It all came out as she had thought
Hewitt got safely out of the way, but
she was tried and convicted for tn,
murder of her coAsin, Antonio. Il
means hanging, or life sentence
generally, but in the view of the cir
cumstances, and her youth and here
tofore perfect character, Concha goi
only rs years in San Juan. She &C
cepted it gladly-for the Americana
And before Imprisonment, she was al
lowed to write Hewitt, telling him thai
she would love him always, and would
wait for him and marry him in 2.
years. She knew that no answer
would come to her in San Juan, bu,
she wanted to write him of her con
stancy. Hewitt, of course, would haw
understood had he received her letter
which, being addressed simply to "Sen
Or Hewitt, los Estados Unidos del
Norte," never got to him. But concha
believing that everybody in the United
States, from the president down t.
the train porters, must know he'
sweetheart. and would deliver her let
ter, went gladly to serve out her pris
on term, believing firmly that in .!
years he would come. And that h
what has kept her alive-and sane. Fol
that, however, few women die in Sal
Juan, in spite Of the yellow fever
more often they go mad.
Hewitt in the meantime, his will
BATS sown, has married mis- sweethear
with money! and is most exemplar,
husband. At rare intervals he think