Bisbee daily review., 1903-03-03
THE INFORMER
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dent sat behind mahogany desk Be- fore him stood a man with hook nose, glittering black eyes and a stepping 6gure. ..ia-,r ~
 Well" said the president. tell me about this conspiracy"
 First, your excellency, I desire tc come to some agreement with regard to my own treatment. I wish to be surprised with the rest, tried with the rest and executed with the rest"
 "Executedv' ...ur. .5 ,
 "Yes. I must go through all the forms or they will suspect I have be- trayed them"
 ''I understand Co on" -'t -'.'-
 '"The plan is to ask an interview with you in order to submit certain proposed refOrms-reforms that are ins- practicable. From amicable discussion they will come to angry words, and then they will rush upon you and mur- der you.' .s..,..t.
 The president winced. The plan was not unlike that by which he had re. moved his predecessor.
 "Then?"
 @Then Jose Burtado will be proclaim. ed president"
 "Burtado?
 Yes; Burtado'
 ~And what are you expecting to res eeive for this revelation?"
 'T leave that to your excellency"
 "Very well. I will take care of you"
 A week later a deputation of citizens waited on the president to propose cer- tain reforms. Among them was the spy. They were admitted to the pres ence of his excellency. who sat behind the very desk at which he had received the information of the intention of the cOnspirators. They began in a very respectful tone to urge their plans, and the president quietly showed them why they were impra acticable. whereupon they pretended to be unconvinced and clamored for their acceptance. The din growing apace. the president touch ed bell on his desk. and several doors communicating with the room opened, and in second it was full of armed men.
 The president had not stipulated with the informer for evidence. Might was right in the republic, and, being himself convinced of the guilt of the deputation, he ordered them out to be shot without even a pretense to a trial. But before the execution he directed that the infOrmer be conducted to his presence.
 Your reward" he said, twill have tn ha iI tO vony- ho;rS VIII 1o,, name them"
 But, your excellency, why not pay It to me?'
 You especially stipulated that you were to be shot with the rest''
 But" paling, @this was to be merely pretense."
 "Then why did you not say SOP"
 q supposed your excellency under. stood" ,-t- 2
 Nothing is understood with an in- former, spy. Had I been obliged to grant your terms I doubt if I should have availed myself of your informa- tion"
 Have I not saved you from mur. der?"
 ''Yes. and for gain. The others acted partly for what they considered the welfare of the republic. Come; name the person or persons to whom the re- ward of your perfdy shall he paid"
 ''I have no heirs. I impIore you"-
 ''Guardr called the president, and the man was taken away. =
 At sunrise the next morning the con spirators were led out into the jail yard and placed with their backs against a wall. They stood ten feet apart, and opposite each man was a soldier with a rifle. The signals were given to aim and to fire. A report came from every gun. Some of the conspirators stood as erect as before the fire; some swayed, but recovered themselves without falling, and one, the spy, fell on his face. He was car ried away. Then the officer in com mand read a communication from the president, stating that they had been punished punished with blank car tridses and what they had endured without fiinching showed them to be brave men. If they would hereafter support the republic under his adminIs- tration. he would be glad; if not, they were welcome to seek homes in other lands.
 Every one of those who had man. fully stood the terrible test gave in his adherence to the existing government.
 When the spy recovered from the shock of fright, he was conducted to the president.
 There" said the executive, pointing to a bag standing on his desk. lis S10,G00 in gold. Since you have not died you may appropriate it yourself. It Is the reward of your treachery- If you ars found within the limits of the republic tomorrow. ball cartridge will fnisa your career"
 The conspirators knew well that ono Of their number had given up their plot and rightly judged that he was the coward of their ring. When, therefore they saw the spy fall after the mock execution. they decided that he was the Judas. From the moment they were at liberty they kept a watch on his movements, and when he started to loa va tba ranunfio ana of their number