The Cook County herald., 1902-12-13


moreover as obstinate as a pig, SO he
said:
THE Sonora may trust me to know
a traitor when I see one. The man
has been tried and legally convicted
and must die in a little while. In
deed, it is now time that he were put
out CT the way. wish to spare the
me by going inside and shutting the
door. No? Then I must call my men
and use some slight force.''
He had turned to beckon his fol-
lowers when Lois, seing that further
argument was useless, closed the door
and bolted it, standing in the dim
light, secluded and trembling With
hands clasped and head bent, upon
the verge Of swooning yet kept up by
her supreme courage, she listened for
the charge of the calvarymen, or the
single shot which should tell her that
Weston was no more. She did not
then believe that Jocosa had reached
the rancho and the very air seemed
tiagd with blood
Weston was brought from the hut,
his arms bound behind him and walk
ing in the midst of his guards. He
was grave, and unconcerned. Save
for one long look, behind which, he
seemed to know instinctively, his
sweetheart stood, he apparently took
no note of anything A more equable-
man never went to death. The party
marched to a point on the far side
OF the little prairie and halted. One
of the Mexican, at sign from Va
vara, produced scarf and began to
bind the condemned mans eyes, but
Weston shook his head impatiently
and the chief remarked shrilly, "Let
1t be! Let it be! I prefer that he
should see me- The prisoner con-
temptuously stepped aside also when
one of the men stopped to bind his
ankles.
what are you afraid OFF, he asked.
Il shall not attempt to escape. would
not give you the pleasure of thinking
that you frightened me-
The guard fell away from him at
these words, leaving his arms still
bound. Vavara advanced and took
position six feet in his front, holding
a revolver loosely in his right hand.
The little mans face was set in an
expression of tigerish cruelty. He
seemed literally to gloat over his VIC
time. Indeed, as with bent knees he
appeared to crouch, his resemblance
to a predatory animal was so marked
that it evoked wondering comment
from some of the heavily breathing
men. Like tiger, too, he seemed
disposed to play with his quarry.
Are you ready, Senor Weston - he
asked, cooking the weapon ~and pre-
senting it full at the broad chest. r.
"Quite ready The dark gray eyes
did not close, nor was there any blanch
Of cheek. Vavara smiled and lowered
the weapon.
II have to tell you frst,' he said,-
that you are a traitor
"You lie, you dog!" The retort was
prompt and clearly delivered, but with
no emotion. Vavara flushed and again
raised the pistol.
Il kill you now for that" he said
furiously, held the weapon level for
moment and lowered it. He let down
the hammer, whirled the cylinder
around and said: ... ~<,>..,..... .....
!. "I'like not the look of that cartridge
It would have missed fire ant then the
Senior Weston would have tainted"
-, No response. Indeed, the prisoner
was looking steadily over his head
giving him no sort Of. attention what
ever. This time, in raising the .<weap-
on, Varara jammed it against Weston's
breast with such force that he stag
gered slightly and once more the ban
dit permitted it to fall by his side. A
mild glance of inquiry greeted him
from the man he intended to murder,
and there were murmurs of protest
from the men behind him. =" ,.G
"You-you," he said, the avowal
wrung from him In spite Of himself,
you are brave man.
By God! I am a brave man"
The words were simply and quietly
spoken without trace OF boasting.
AACy WCAS AoISIy d statement OF a
fact. The leader of the Scontrabandis-
tas stood stock, still. Plainly he was
bafled by his inability to inspire fear.
AS he stood irresolutely swinging his
pistol to and fro and endeavoring to
conjure up something sufficiently bru-
tai and biting to cause emotion in the
bound man before him, there was a
crash In the underbrush not twenty
feet away and slightly to his left. AS
. he glanced up, startled but with no
thought more definite, than that some
one of the loose horses mad become
frightened, Captain Harding and Allyn
zsprang5 out of the wall Of mesquite and
dashed. Ci between him and i his prey.
Next instant the barrel OF. a. pistol,
strongly and scientifically swung,
crashed down upon his heavy som
brero and he fell as If stricken with
an axe.s In: another second, before one
OF the startled Mexioans had moved a
foot toward the aid I Of their. leader,
the space was filed by the horses and
men r Of the Seminole troop. The
smugglers, unarmed, were surrounded
and stood sQuietlVs l0okings ~ sfl1afr can.