Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-06-21
Lighting the SignaI
Iorleinal1

Turn out the guard,
The horseman, without noticing the
sentry, the guard turned out in his
honor or group OF officers who rose
to salute him, threw himself to the
ground, while the eommandant OF the
outpost advanced to meet him.
Major said the president. "a plot
has been discovered to depose me and
make Roderigucs Sanchez dictator. To-
night when signal fire is lighted on
the top of the peak overlooking your
camp the reyolutionists are TO close in
on the city from different points. make
me prisoner or murder me and pro
| claim Sanchez. We are not ready. nor
will we be till the troops ordered In
from the south arrive. You are TO pre-
vent at all hazards the lighting of the
signal. You are not to6o this, reveal
ing that the plot is discovered.
Do you understand"
Il do. your excellency."
Remember. any failure on your part
and you shall be shot tomorrow in the
plaza"
| Yes. your excellency."
Louis Mendoza. the president. turned
and galloped away. Major jose Ala
| man as soon as ii was dark posted his
| men about the peak ms nearly In touch
as possible. The moon was Mt the full.
a great disadvantage to the revolution
| lists. and except when there were trees
| or brush any one ascending the sugar
loaf peak would be noticed Jose Ala
4 ,ssasAalftfavz Of Sc
men, paced anxiously in front of his
| tent till midnight Then 1t occurred 10
| him TO test his Gordon by trying TO slip
| through it. Stealing through a clump
| of thick bushes midway between two
| of his sentries. he penetrated the line.
| He was about to turn and change the
| disposition when a stone fell from
! above and rolled down nearly TO where
he stood. Looking up, he saw some
thing disappearing behind a rock. He
| followed, again and again catching
| sight of dim figure that, II 1t were
| man. judging from its garments. must
| be frocked priest. He chased Il to a
| point near the crest. when suddenly he
| saw IL stand out clearly on a rock di-
| iRNAas abbNt ANN ~ " as a "tAAA+As ~
| reach her he must make long detour,
but she was within reach of a sho;
| from his revolver.
Halt therer' he commanded.
The figure stood still for moment
| then started on.
Halt or fire"
Jose, would you kill your Juanag"
asked soft voice.
What You Juana Sanchez?'
YES. l."
what are you doing here. sweet
| hea Il =
II am about TO light signal fire"
THE plot TO make your father dIcta.
tor has been discovered. Come to me.
and l will try and get you away with
out discovery"
Il shall light the signal
| "Juana. | implore you. desist, or
| shall have 10 take you to the city.
where you viii be shot. Mendoza will
. not spare you because you are a wo-
man"
The girl without reply pushed on up
the peak.
| "Juana, dear heart, come back" call
| ed her lover. ut is death either TO you
| or me-
She went on without reply TIN she
| reached the summit There was but
one thing for Jose TO do to prevent her
| lighting the signal-to shoot her.
match sputtered. she covering II
from the wind with her hands, 1t
went out. and she lighted another,
| This time he saw that bonfire had
been prepared for her. His revolver
was in his hand cooked, but he was
irresolute. The second match went
out. There was one more chance for
him TO save his life by taking hers.
| Again he heard a scratch. This time
he raised his weapon. The match
blazed out, lighting up her face. He
threw his revolver on the ground. She
touched the match to a bit OF paper
The signal was ablaze.
| Jose descended the peak and called
his men to a rally on the center, thus
giving the signal lighter an opportuni-
~ to make her descent unobserved.
then waited In his camp for the doom
that had been promised him in case
Of failure. 1t was not long before a
hundred horsemen dashed up, seized
him. placed him in their center and
rode away with him. He was taken
TO the city. but had no sooner entered
than the gates were in possession OF
the reyolutionists. His guard carried
him to the plaza. where the president
was marshaling his forces to resist the
attack. AS soon as he saw Jose Ala
man his eye was ablaze with fury.
stupid, Incompetent. The task /
gave you was simple. Why did you
. let the fellow slip through your llnesT'
1T was not a man. but woman. !
saw her light the signal and could
have shot her before she did So"
/ And why didn't your
II Because ] preferred TO die in her