The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-24

3 sticks. so Careno cuts off finger and
puts in pocket. Are we not clever,
senOrE Now we have the ring, but yet
know not of the house with the vault
We keep quiet and ride on to Rio.
There the dead lady is carried out and
all is excitement. She is Sonora LA
bel de Mar, daughter of Dom Miguel
de Pintra. She come from her fathers
house at Cuyaba This we hear and
rem Then man they call VAL
cour he rush up and cry, Her finger
is gOnei The ring"Where is the ring?
Ahal we know now we are right.
so NE go away and find out about
Miguel de Pintra--the head of great
rebellion with millions of gold and
notes to pay the soldiers when they
We know we have key We know we
are now richl CarenO and we go to
Cuya ba-we find this hOuse-We hide
in the bushes till night Then CarenO
get mad for the money-he want it ALL
not haif-and he try to murder me.
An, WE'LL my pistol is quicker than his
knife, that is all. He is wearing ring
and it stick like it stick on lady's hand.
Bah! I cut off Carenos hand and
carve away the ring. It is simple, is it
not?
But now the soldiers ganop up. The
house is. fill with people So I must
wait. I hide in secret place, but soon
they drag me out and make me pris-
oner. What must I lose all now
AUTHORIZATIONS Of gold--and no
Careno to share it? Mo- I am still
clever. 1 keep ring in mouth until I
meet you, and I give it to you to keep.
When they search me, there is no
ring
He sprang up. chuckling and rub
bling his heads together in great de-
light. He danced a step or two and
breast and struck it fercely into the
tabletop, standing silently to watch it
while the prOngs quivered and came
to rest.
Am I not clever ?" he again asked,
drawing out the fork from the wood
and returning it to his breast. But I
am generous, too. You shall divide
with me. But not half! won all
from CarenO, but you shall have some
enough to be rich, senior Americana.
And now, give me the ring!"
By this time his eyes were glittering
with insanity, and at his abrupt de-
mand I shifted uneasily in my scat, not
knowing how to reply,
"Give me the ring" he repeated, d
tone of menace creeping into his high
pitched voice.
arose and walked toward the win
dow, getting the table between US.
Then I turned and faced him.
"They have taken the ring from me, E"
I said.
He stood as if turned to stone, his
fierce eyes fixed upon my own.
They have opened the vault with
it. I continued, 'and found it bare
and empty"
He gave a shrill scream at this and
began trembling in every limb.
You lie!" he shouted, wildly. you
try to cheat me-to get all And the
vault has Authorizations in gold and
notes. Give me the ring!"
made no reply. To reiterate my
assertion would do no good, and the
man was incompetent to consider the
matter calmly. Indeed, he once more
drew that ugly fork from his breast
and, grasping it as one would dagger
began weeping towards me with a
stealthy, cat-like tread.
approached the edge of the round
comfortable, alert to keep its breadth
between me and my companion. The
Mexican paused opposite me, and whis-
pered between his clinched teeth:
"Cive it me! Give me the ringi"
1.-THE guard will be here presently"
said I, fervently hoping I spoke the
truth, "and he will tell you of the ring.
I am quite sure Senior ValcOur has it."
''Ah, am betrayed! You wish to
take all-you and this Valcour! But
see my Americana will kill you.
will kill you now, and then you have
nothing for your treacheryi"
Slowly he edged his way around the
table, menacing me with his strange
weapon, and with my eyes fixed upon
his moved in the opposite direction,
retaining the table as my shield
First in one direction and then in the
other he moved, swiftly at times, then
with deliberate caution, striving ever
with his imprOvised dagger