Arizona republican., 1902-06-29
Willie Jones, Trooper
....e v.
Rx WAH.TER T. GREG Q RY.
CHATTER NIV.


 The two men were awakened in the morning by clattering at the cell door. They awole with start. for they could not realize al first where they were. Ore Hook at their sur roundines convinced them. that they were not dreaming. In the dim light that streamed through the grating Willie caught lock at Blinkie's face and laughed outright. The latter's face. was covered with dried blood and the slime on the floor and what clothes he nad still on his back were libereliy covered with an accumulation of filth. 5liniie did net appreciate the mirtn displayed by his cUmrade and stu5te.- ! ingiy demanded to know the cause of go much hiiarity. especially as he coujd discover nothing n the vicinity of the cell to laugh at
 The man at the door groWled out something in spanish. tu which Willie responded with alacrity. f0: h. had been told that il he would tGse the trouble to gu IO the grating he would tEi something ta eat. Blinkies face lost its sour look at this intelligence. and he expressed his approval in the most emphatic manner. and conceded that the Spaniards Were net entirely harbarians and did not intend leaving theI1 to starve to death.
 Willie approached the door and was handed a plate containing victuals and a can filled With some liquid which was called coffee by courtesy. Not Withstandins that the fare was coarse and hardly it for dogs. the prisoners ! most laNished. After the meal their spirits roso and they began to specu- late as to the fate in store for them and to r!an means Of escape. They had nc hope that escape could be ac- complished. but nevertheless they ;acled their brains to thinl; Of possible methods. About two hours after they Were fe-l they were again interrupted i by the approach Of a file of soldiers and t3id t@ leave the cell. They if,- aSined that they Were to ne brought be4ore q court martial and condemned to be shot as spies. but what vas their surprise when they were conducted to an inclcsure surrounded by high stone iis and told that they might enjoy tEe air for d short time They were 2i-tt iui for this small get, and felt much refreshed at being able to preathe Gnt1iltcd air There was trough in enc corner of tha inclosure partly filled with water an3 the pris- ouers scrubbed jteir Faces to remove the dirt that had come from the cell Thes were allowed about an hour Of ! liberty. and when they were conducted back to the cell they were agreeably surprised to find that q change had taken place during their absence Clean s--;tW iittare,. the floor and there was C ! blanket for each of them. At th:s ., change 1T tho appearance of lheii. prison they felt duly thankful. From the preparations that had been made T Willie feit certain that they were not t9 be it,l that cay. lie was right. and several days passed before there was z change in their affairs They Were allowed the freedom Q1 rhe yard for an hour each day, and although they were fed bat twice day and the most unpalatabre food at that. they thought they were being reasonably well treated for prisoners held as spies.
 On the fourth morning of their cap- tiNity an officer accompanied the file of the guard to the cell door and asked if either one of the prisoners under stood Spanish. Willie answered in the affirmative. when the officer told him to get ready tG accompany him. as they were to be brought before the cominandante. Willie related 10 Blinl.ie what had been said, ard tre hearts cf both men beat rapidly-at l9st they were To iearu the fate in store for them.
 Outside in the inclosure ne men were told to wash and make themselves as presentabl as possible. They obeyed with sinking hearts. They were op- pressed with the direst forebodings and in imagination they saw them selves standing with their backs to :, stone wall and facing a line of Ieveled rifles. Willie shook off the oppression and determined that no matter what his fate he would meet it like q man and let the enemy see that though q despised Yankee he was not afraid tc die. iie knew that Blnkie would alsc show his courage in the face of deatt and he felt sorroWful over the fact that if il had not been for the others devotion to him Blinl:ie might now be 6 free man and with his comrades be- , meath the standard of his regiment
 They were conducted to the head quarters of the comma nd;inte ant Ushered into room. Seated around | table extending half way across the rocm sat several officers. who al looked up when tne prisoners entered Willie cast his eyes around the grou1 and read curiosity and hatred in every face. His eyes rested on one face q the lower end Of the table, and h. could hardly believe his senses. for tht face he locked into was that O Morris. whom he had last seen wheI