Arizona republican., 1902-07-20

had occurred.
The latter was quick to act, however,
and also sprang to his feet.
Morris jumped backward and pointed
the rifle at Marcella, saying, Nov,
you she devil. 1 will pay you for your
treachery to me-
The brave girl never faltered but
looked at him with a smile of disdain
parting her lips.
Blinkie gave Mortified cry and dart
ed between Marcella and the rifle. He
was just in time, for Morris pulled the
trigger and the brave soldier fell, but
he had saved the life of the Cuban girl
However, she was not yet out of danger
for Morris again raised the rifle and
pulled the trigger but no explosion fol-
lowed. for the cartridge missed fire
With a snarl of rage the treacherous
fiend rushed forward to strike her over
the head with the rifle. He had not
covered two steps toward her when
Ramon and Willie appeared at full
speed from the thicket. Morris thought
better of his plan to brain her and
turning at the appearance of the two
men he darted in the opposite direction.
Ramon was as fleet as the wind and
not stopping to see what had happened
he started in pursuit. Morris was no
match for Ramon. for the latter soon
came up with him. The fugitive
turned in his tracks and tried to strike
Ramon over the head. The latter had
drawn his knife and as the rifle de-
scended he threw up his left arm.
catching the blow but at the same in
slant plunging the knife into the side
of Norris. The wounded man reeled
and fell. Not stopping to note whether
Morris was dead, Ramon returned to
where he had passed the form of
Blinkie on the ground
When Marcella had seen Blinkie fall
she uttered a scream and taking no
heed of Morris further intention she
rushed to the wounded man and lifted
his head on her lap. unmindful that the
blood gushing from a wound in his
neck was staining her arms. The blood
was shed for her and the brave girl at
last showed her womanliness by burst
ing into tears over the lifeless form
she held. The weakness of the woman
soon passed and she once more became
the daughter of soldier.
She made an examination of the
wound in the neck of the unconscious
Blinkie and listened for signs of life.
She was overjcyed to hear the pulsa-
tons of his heart, weak and cratic,
but there was still life, and with deft
fingers she banGaged the wound SO as
to stop the flow of blood. By this
time Willie had returned from hasty
inspection of Morris and paid his at
tention to the inanimate form of his
friend and comrade. Marcella looked
up at his approach and treasured his
anxiety by saying that Blinkie was far
from being dead, and that if they
could reach the American camp with
him there was a chance of saving his
life.
CHAPTER Xxx.
Ramon had been dispatched by Mar
celia to a stream close by for water
and when he returned Marcella bathed
Blinkie's face and hands and it was
not long before there was faint f1ut-
tering of his eyelids and other signs of
restored animation.
Seeing that nothing further could be
done for Blinkie until he could receive
medical attention. Willie asked Mar
celia if she was capable of perform
ing another act of mercy. He told her
that Morris was also stabbed but was
still living, though the blood was gush-
ing from the wound, and unless some
! thing was done Immediately the man
would bleed to death.
At this intelligence the girl accom-
panied Ramon and Willie to where the
form of Morris lay on the ground with
the blood flowing systematically from
the wound at every breath.
| While they all conceded that Morris
merited death, they were humane and
while there was still life in his body
they We're bound in the name of mercy
to do what they could to alleviate his
sufferings Marcella made a critical
examina ton of the wound and stated
that the cut was not deep. the knife
having struck the ribs and glanced
upward. and there was every likelihood
that he would recover With proper
! treatment.
! While she bandaged the wound she
rela ted to Ramon and Willie what had
happened during the few moments they
were away. She carefully shielded
Blinkie from any imputati of care
lessness but stated that thsy had for
gotten to secure Morris again after he
had been unbound to eat his food and
that when the shots were heard near
by all had forgotten him.
| They were in a quandary how to dis
pose of the wounded men, for they were
still some distance from the America n
lines and moreover were almost be-
tween the opposing armies, though as
yet there was nothing but an artillery
duel in progress at that point. but
away on the right the sound of mus
kerry was continuous.
In a few moments they were rejoined
by the Cuban officer and he was dunn
founded when he discovered that Il
| tragedy had taken place during his alb
sence. He was made acquainted with
the facts and appealed to as to what
means could be devised to carry the
wounded men to place of safety and
where they could get proper attention.
| He solved the question by stating that
! they could improvise filters and his