The Washington times., 1904-08-21

was likely TO be, seemed to take away
all my spirit.
had not long TO remain where 7 was.
however; for IN a few minutes 1 was led
out Of the room, through a long cor
ridor, down shor: flight Of steps. and
through a dark passage. at the end CT
which / was thrust into a small cell.
] There was straw in one corner. cvi-
IDENTIFY left there to serve as a bed: but
Il was wretched place. and so dark
that at first I could not see about me.
Weary from the journey and the mental
strain incident 10 my being constantly
on the watch for an opportunity 10 e.
cape. was quite worn out I fell into
a stupor and after a while slept soUndly.
When I awoke Il was daylight. as 7
could see by the light which came in
! fairtly through a small window
closed my eyes and tried 10 forget where
was. for the dread Of my impending
4 fate still haunted me. But 1 did not
sleep again. nor could I forget my sur
I roundings.
The uncomfortable desire to escape.
which had continually possessed me ever
since my arrest, was again uppermost
IN my mind. 1 rose and began a careful
/ examination Of the walls Of my prison
/ the door, the floor. everything about me;
but it could not have been more securely
/ built had it been hewn from the solid
rock. for the stones We're large and the
: floor was Of heavy flags
1 quickly discovered that 1 could not
| dig my way out, and I knew that were
/ to be long confined here. 1 should run
amuck, as prisoners in Spanish fortress
Is sometimes did, and fall upon my
keeper when he opaned my cell door.
3 4 haI Trf
1 took hold OF the iron bars of the
door. and wrenched and twisted on them
/ with all my strength.
1 was strong-strC3ger than any taller
! who might be set Over me was likely TO
be Then 1t occurred 10 me that there
were sentries outside; there were high
parapets; there was guard always on
duty at the fortress; and my thoughts
gave way to cooler reason and better
judgment. 1 would wait my opportunity
possibly bride my guard. IL seemed
possible that 1 might be able 10 do this.
After While some food anu water
were brought me. I questioned the fell
low who brought it as TO what was
/. likely 70 be done with me. but either
he did not know. or did not wish TO
give me any information, for he evaded
my question. As he left, however, lie
were shot that morning.
This information was not calculated
to be reassuring. but received nothing
better that day. Ny summons came
the next morning, when it was ordered
that I be brought before the command
ing officer. I had no intimation Of it
until the key grated in the lock. the
door Of my cell swung open on its creak-
ing hinges. and 1 was conducted along
the corridor by the way 1 had come 10
large room-probably used as a cOUn-
ell Chamber-in the middle of which was
a long table strewn with papers.
About the table were seated several
officers, one or two of whom looked at
me rather sharply as 1 came in, and
saw that l had little sympathy 70
expect from them. AT the head Of the
table sat General Marquee; and 1 soon
discovered that I was TO be tried be-
fore him. 1 must admit that my heart
sank when learned that he was 10
be my Judge Before this general, who
already had so bloody a record, who
placed little value on human life, my
case was likely TO be quickly disposed
Of, and with but little ceremony.
one Of the officers I viii speak OF
now. for I was shortly to make his ac-
qUafntance under rather dramatic cir
cumstances. In fact, I had already
met him. This was Don Luis ROboIo,
the man had encountered on the plaza
the first time l saw the senOriJa- He
came in late and took no part in the
trial but he watched me closely, as IL
studying my countenance.
An officer, acting as clerk, read the
charges against me. 1 was accused Of
being a bandit, OF having fOrCibly seized
the person of one SenOrita Teresa de
Ulloa, upon the public highway. in de
fance Of law, and against the safety
and dignity Of the Republic Of Mexico
/ think these were about the words
used. though at this time 1 cannot say
positively. There were present as wit
nesses the driver Of the carriage, Fray
Iguominious. and the officer who had
arrested me.
The evidence was brief, merely affirm
ing the truth Of the charges brought
against me The driver showed some
spleen, declaring that L had attempted
10 kill him, and that he had escaped
only by flight. The monk, I could see,
fairly gloated over my discontinue
never would have believed that 50 much
malice could have been bound up in one
man.
This man. general ne said, pointing
MS SKINNY niger al me- IS an tSN1liciA
prisoner having been under arrest be-
fore. Not only is he an enemy Of the
Republic. but also an enemy of the holy
Catholic church. He has iEsulted its
priests, and has uttered blasphemOus
words He should received nifty lashes.
and be executed by the garrote-"
Il Will give IN such sentence as l
see fit. I do not ask you to dictate to
me-" replied the general somewhat
fiercely.
His crime against the church should
not so unnOticed.'
With such matters / have nothing
to do" said the general, waving his
hand. as if 10 dismiss the subject But
the monk was not 70 be frowned down,
or put off. but was ready with reply.
An enemy Of the church is an enemy
Of the state"
If all ChurChmen were like you. I
would favor the constitution, and wish
a separation of church and state. What
have TO do with furnishing heretics?
Is It not enough that we have all we
can do 10 hunt down and punish those
who violate the civil laws, without at
tempting 10 establish an inQuisition? I
will order him shot and end the mat
ter What more do you want2
He has valuable information which