The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-10-27

found letters at the home of one OF his
subordinates- They incriminated the
subordinate, who was arrested and put
IN the little adobe Jail across the plaza.
The chief strove in vain to find one
word OF those epiStleS which might
give ground for the arrest of STREE.
! But the Americans tracks were yet
covered The chief shed maudlin tears
of evaporation
The third night Otilia came knocking
at his door at 10 O'Clock. She was ad-
mitted; the chief sitting in a gown on
/ his beds edge.
This subordinate. the arrested one"
/ said She steady-voiced, when is he TO
be shot?"
AT sunrise. 1 am writing the order
/ for the soldiers who viii arrive tonight
] Oh. you failuret"
Come, keep these ratings for an
other Give me the order. but leave
the name blank.
Her manner was cold. stern, and she
was pale and sick.
tWhy?" he growled.
She put one hand on the footboard
and leaned close to him. II may 90
that which your secret soul longs for"
whispered she. DO not know that it
IS his gold that you want? Think,
They say it is stacked to the roof -
But l should be called to account
Tor baseless execution, you FOOL
Il have a fading ink. l write the
name and show it to the captain. He
executes the order. The ink fades.
You substitute the rightful name, and
on the captain lies the blame"
He fell back Ia bed with a choking
noise.
IT'S on the table" - he said, weakly.
She brought him the blank He flled
1t out-all save the name. She left him
staring stupidity at her, and presently
heard him call for three more quarts of
Duloue.
OtiHa was not 50 villainous as he
seemed She was lettering. She HAD
scarce an idea ,lrat she should execute
50 dreadful plan. 1t was the warning
between those two different selves of
hers that drove her on to make these
preparations In these ugly hours, too.
was the Dlayfulness yet alive in her
She thought that to threaten him in
play, with this CHASTITY thing would be
sweet mischief's way to win him back.
II he would but smile at her once
more! And deep in her the other self
said: '"Killi"
She could not rest. She wrapped her
self in her black rebozo and went out.
She walked by the Jail and paused and
scanned It. The plaza was dark and
the palms ruStled. She went down a
street and sadly walked to and fro be-
fore the Americans house, recalling the
day he kissed her as the dusk came. -
times hate raved in her. Memory
drew her at length to the alameda, and,
beyond it, Under these trees had she
rested in his arms. Beyond, where the
neidS were rOcky-yOnder in that lone
ly spot beside the gorge-was the tall
iron post to which criminals were
chained TO be shot. Out of the mango
grove, out of the days of love she
might lead him here to this iron post
and her fingers held the paper of death.
The night was very black. She shud-
dered
suddenly she heard crying out.
Women and men were shouting back
there by the town. She walked in thar
direction. The shouting was increased,
and there was a scurrying about near
two matched huts.
The ants. The warrior antsi" was
the shout
She came nearer to a hut. Men in
sandals went leaping with torches
There was a strange cracking in the
thatches. Behold! the ground was
black with marching millions. Scor-
pions. lizards, spiders. ran terror
stricken from that army. The matches
were being pierced by thousands of I'M
seen marauders. Human beings, seiz-
ing all things Of value, fled crying into
the night.
These ants march in terrible battal-
ions. There is no way known to man
TO stop them. They have their officers.
They select a goal. On they come, and
all things flee before. A house is over
run. Every living thing or niece Of
food, vanisheS. All other insects are
devoured. Men must absent themselves
till the ants depart. Returning all is
bare The army has conquered, de-
vastated, passed on
Fascinated. she stood with some san
daied labOrers, who. on the outskirts
Of this scene of ruin, watched it by
tOrchlight.
Where viii they go next?'' cried one.
Wonder, yonder. in this direction.
see! The vanguard is already advanc-
ing thither,"
She beheld the leading battalion
forming in tours. and heading away
across the barren field. She looked I'M
A strange chill ran over her. That iron