The St. Louis Republic., 1903-01-18

| and drew short breath. IT wish he could
have known how he helped me- he whis-
| pered, how much just knowing him
| helped me-
| Clay bowed his head to the boy az though
he were thanking him. His was the
gentlest soul ever knew he said.
| That's what I wanted to say" Langham
J answered. I'VE will let that be his epi-
| taph." and touching his spur to his horse
he galloped on ahead and left Clay riding
| alone.
Iancham had proceeded for nearly a mile
| when he saw the forsst aopenins hetore
] them. and at the sight ne gave shout OF
| relief, but almost at the same instant ne
r,,l,e1 his pony back OH his launches and
, p,hi,,ins about spranG back to the carnage
with a cry of warning. .
..There are soldiers ahead OF u.s. he
cried. "Did you know ft?' he demanded OF
the driver Did you lie to me? iurh
He can't turn back" MacWiliiams an
swered They have seen Va. Ihey ate
| only the custom officers at the city hnii's;
They know nothins. Go on lie , reacheu !,
| forward and. catching the reins. urasseu
| the horses down into walk Then ne
handed the reins back TO the ofiNei' WIZ
u shake of the head.
'.If YOU know these roads as Well as you
say YOU do, you want to keep US out Oh 'he
way of soldiers" he said. If we fall INTO
! a trap you'll be the first man shot on eitner
side"
A sentry strolled lazlly out into the road
dragging his gun after him by the bayonet,
and raised his hand for them to halt. His
Captain followed him from the posthouse.
throwing away n cigarette as ne came, ana
saluted MacW iliians on the box and bowed
to the two riders in the background. In his
right hand he held one of the long iron
rods with which the collectors Of the city s
fo~ To bundles
packs and even the carriage cushions OF
those who entered the city limits from the
coast. and who might be suspected OF smug-
CLING
whose carriage is this. and where is it
going?" he asked.
As the speed OF the diligence slackened.
Hope put her head out Of the curtains and
as she surveyed the soldier with apparent
surprise. she turned to her brother.
What does this mean! she asked.
what are We waiting for?'
I'VE are going to the hacienda OF Senior
Palacio" MacW!lliams said, In answer to
the officer "The driver thinks that this Is
the road. but say we should have taken
the one to the right"
mo; this is the road to Senor Palacio's
plantation" the officer answered. but you
cannot leave the city without pass signed
by General Mendoza. That Is the order we
received this morning. Have you such 4
pass?'
Certainly not" Clay answered, warmly.
This is the carriage Of an American. the
president of the mines. His daughters are
inside on their way to visit the residence OF
Senior Palacio. They are foreigners-Ameri-
cans. We are all foreigners. and we have
perfect right to leave the city when We
choose. You can only stop US when We en-
ter it."
The officer looked uncertainty from Clay
to Hope and up at the driver on the box.
His eyes fell on the heavy brass mountings
Of the harness. They bore this arms OF
olancho. He wheeled sharply and called to
his men inside the posthouse, and they
stepped out from the veranda and spread
themselves leisurely across the road.
..Ride him down, Clay" Langham NUT
tered. in a whisper. The ofncer did not un-
derstand the words, but he saw Clay gather
the reins tighter in his hands. and he
stepped back quickly to the safety OF the
norch. and from that ground OF vantage
smiled pleasantly.
Pardon he said; there Is no need for
blows when one Is rich enough to pay.
little something for myself and drink FOR
my brave fellows, and you can go where
you please"
DAMNED brigands," growled Lansham.
savagely.
Not at ALL" Clay answered. HE is an
olcer and a gentleman. / have no money
with me- he said, in Spanish. addressing
tne 'Dut between SopdhSioS = WOTu
of honor is sufficient I shall be returning
this way tomorrow morning. and I VIII
bring few hundred soils from Senior Pal
acio for You and your men: but II We are
followed you will get nothing. and you
must have forgotten in the meantime that
you have seen us pass
There was a murmur inside the carriage.
and Hopes face disappeared from between
the curtains to reappear again almost i'm
mediately. She beckoned to the officer with
her hand. and the men saw tnat she held
mond ring of size and brilliancy- She moved
it SO that it flashed in the light of the
guard lantern above the posthouse.
my sister tells me you shall be given
this tomorrow morning. Hope said. 'if
we are not followed
The mans eyes laughed with pleasure.
He swept his sombrero to the ground.
Il am your servant, Senorita.'' he said.
Gentlemen" he cried. gayly. turning to