Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-08-22
DAILY SHORT STORY
WOMAN'S WEAPON.
[Original.l

less disposition, preferred 10 Ieau
band of guerrillas TO placing himself
under military discipline. Corcuelo was
but twenty-five years old, fearless and
exceedingly handsome. The conse-
quence was that few of the country
girls he met failed to fall in love with
him. None Of them affected him serl-
ously till he and his band camped one
night on a small hacienda owned by
Miguel SangradO, when Joaquin Cor
cuelo and Concia Sangrado met.
Corcuelo spent some time near San
grades hacienda harassing the United
States troops. Every meeting with
Concia Sangrado bound him closer to
her and her TO him. She soon came
to understand that in case he fell into
the hands of his enemies, not being in
the regular military service, he would
not be exchanged as prisoner of war,
but would suffer death. This troubled
her greatly, and she begged him 10 give
up his guerrilla life and enter the army
He finally consented to do so, and his
men agreed TO so with him i'll Il body.
Corcuelo sent them 10 the capital under
command of one of his Ieutcnants. in
tending TO follow the next day. The
truth was, he could not tear himself
away from Concia SangradO. and after
his troops departure gave himself up
to spending each day with her, each
day intending TO go the next.
One evening two companies of United
States cavalry. under the command of
Major Mackenzie, rode up to the hacien-
da and Camped for the night. COrcuelo
was in the house. and as soon as the
soldiers appeared COncia placed him in
safe hiding. But Il young Mexican,
who was i'll love with Concia and was
beside himself at losing her to COrcuelO,
told the Americans that he was in the
house. and a search resulted in his dis
covery.
Major Mackenzie as soon rs he was
satisfied that the man he had cap
turcd was the notorious Corcuelo, who
had given the Americans so much trOu-
bic in harassing their communications,
ordered that he be taken out at day
light the next morning and shot. His
decision was communicated 10 the pris-
oRcr, who sent at once for COncia for
4 last farewell.
When COncia left the chamber in
which her lover was confined there was
the light of Il terrible purpose i'll her
eyes. The soldiers were camped on the
grounds of the place, while their COM
mdnder occupied 4 room i'll the house.
Concia went TO her fathers bedroom,
where she knew he kept his weapons,
and, taking Il pistol, put 1t in the peck
ct of her dress, went TO the majors
room and without knocking opened the
door. The major sat writing at table;
but. seeing COncia standing in the door
way, he arose and said:
"Senorlta, To what do l owe this
visit? The customs of your country
hardly admit
Concia entered the room, shut the
door behind her and locked it.
Il come" she said, Ito demand the
life of Joaquin CorcuelO."
Drawing her pistol as she spoke, she
covered the major He had unclaSped
his belt, TO which were attached his
saber and pistol, and it lay on Il chair
Il few steps from him.
"Corcuelo is Il guerrilla" he said,
land that Is the same as Il robber. My
orders are TO shoot all such without
trial"
"COrcucIo has never been n robber.
He is too high spirited to submit to
military discipline; therefore he has
fought you independently"
MY orders from my commander are
to shoot all citizens found in arms
And / have an order which comes
from ny heart to Kill you unless you re-
lease COrcuelO.'
Then | shall not die on the battle
field" said the major with perfect COM
posture. But wait one moment till I
bid adieu to my Wife
You are writing to your wife? Then
you know what it is TO love" Throw
ing away her pistol, Concia knelt be-
fore the table at which the officer had
been writing. Il cannot take you from
one who loves you and cause her TO
suffer what l suffer at losing the one
1 love Spare him to me. In the name
Of the blessed Mother of God, spare
him. 1 have induced him to abandon
his mode OF warfare and enter the
army. His band went three days ago
to the capital to enlist in a body. He
would have go1e with them but that
l could not bear to part with him. He
has delayed from day to day till your
coming. Spare him and 1 promise you
that when he meets you again it will
be as 4 soldier"
The major rose from his seat, went
to the kneelinS figure and raised ii.
'Senorita, your request is granted.
l shall dsobey my order. and in doing
so am liable to punishment. l have
only the word of a Mexican girl, which
would not be sufficient for my general,
but it is enough for me"
Seating himself against the table, he
wrote an order for the guerrilla's re-
lease and handed 1t to Concia.
Take this to the guard he con-
tinued," and tell the officer that you
forced me TO grant your request, not
by your threat but by your devotion.
/ have Il wife AT home who would dare
as much for me, and l shall finish my
letter 10 her by telling her that / have
been conquered by n little Mexican