The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-26

live in his prison for two or three
hours. And the limit Of time had
nearly passed. Poor Dom Miguel
My horse stepped into hole. STUN
bled, and threw me headlOng TO the
ground.
For few minutes I zaas uncon-
SciOus; then I found myself sitting up
and supported by Sergeant Marco,
my face.
''It is a dangerous delay" grum-
bled Marco, seeing me recovering.
Slowly I rose to my feet. No bones
were broken, but was sadly bruised
I can ride, now" I said.
They lifted me upon one Of their
horses and together mounted the other.
My own steed had broken his leg. A
bullet ended his suffering.
Another half-hour, and we sighted
the little station at Cruz. Perhaps
should have explained before that from
Cuyaba to Cruz the railway made a
long sweep around the base of the
nils. The station nearest to de Pin
tra's estate was Cuyaba; but by rid
ing straight to Cruz one saved nearly
an hours railway journey, and the
train for Rio could often be made in
THIS way when 1t was impossible TO
reach Cuyaba in time to intercept it.
And as the station at Cruz was more
isolated than that at6s1yaba. this route
was greatly preferred by the revolu-
tiOnists- visiting deePintra.
Ny object in riding to Cruz upon this
occasion was twofold. Had Madam
label in her flight made for CuyaBa
to catch the train, should be able to
board the same train at Cruz. and
force her to give up the ring. And If
she rode to Cruz she must await there
the coming of the train we also hoped
to meet In either event planned, as
soon as the ring was IN my possession.
to hasten back to the mansion, open
the vault and remove the body Of our
chief; after which it would be my duty
to convey the records and treasure to
the Safe-keeping Of Senior Bastro-
had no expectation of finding Dom
Miguel still alive. With everything in
our favor the trip would require five
hours, and long before that time the
prisoners fate would have overtaken
him But the chiefs dying wish would
be to save the records, and that I in
tended to do if 1t were possible
However, the delays caused by meet
ing with Paola, and my subsequent un-
lucky fall had been fatal to my plans
We dashed up to the Cruz station in
time to see the train for Rio disappear
ing in the distance, and to complete my
disappointment we found standing be-
side the platform a horse yet painting
and covered with foam.
Quickly dismounting, approached
the horse to examine it. The station
master came from his little house and
bowed with native politeness.
''The horse? All, yes; it was from
the stables of Dom Miguel. Senhora
de Mar flad arrived upon the animal
just in time to take the express for
Rio. The gentleman also wanted the
train? How sad to have missed it,
But there would be another at eleven
o'clock, although, not so fast a train"
For q, time I stood in a sort of stu
por, my mind refusing to grasp the
fun horror of the situation Until
then, perhaps, a lingering hope Of saw
ing Dom Miguel had possessed me. But
with the ring on its way 10 Rio and
the emperor, and I condemned TO mac
ton at a deserted way-station, Il is
no wonder that despair overwhelmed
me.
When I slowly recovered my facul-
ties I found that my men and the sta
ton master had disappeared I found
them in the little house writing tele-
grams, which the official was busily
ticking over the wires.
CHANGING at one or two of the mes
sages I found them unintelhgibTe-
cit is the secret CIPHER whispered
Figgot. I'VE shall put Madam label
in the care OF MazanoV1teh himself.
All, how he viii cling to the dear LADY,
She IS clever-ah, yes! exceedingly
clever is Senhora de Mar. But has
Mazanovitch his match in all Brazil 90
ST do not know the gentleman"
NO? Perhaps not. But you know
the minister of police and Mazano-
witch is the soul Of Francisco Paola-''
But what are we to 6o?'' asked,
impatiently.
fFWhy, now that our friends in Rio
are informed Of the situation, we have
transferred to them for a. time all our
worries. It only remains for US to await
the eleven O'Clock train"
nodded, staring at him through a
sort of haze. was dinly conscious
1 that my burns were paining me terri
bly, and that my right side seemed
pierced by a thousand red-hot needles
/ Then the daylight faded away. the
room grew black, and sank upon the
/ floor unconscious.
Continued Next Sunday.)