Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1905-09-15
Betrayed TO
TbeSpdniSb
By SAMUEL LovELAcE
-
Copyright, nos. by z. c. 1fecsvs
Br sAMuEL LoYELAcE

a Cuban jungle-three men IN ragged
uniforms and unkcmpt in appearance
to the last degree. Two Of them wore
bandnges over fresh wounds. and the
trio looked gaunt and starved and slept
rs II sleep had not come to them for
several nights before. 1t was 8 o'clock
when they threw themselves down
among The land crabs. with the evening
dir swarmlng with mosquitoes, and It
was an hour after midnight when n
Of them awoke and softly crawled Ovcr
to another and whispered in his ear:
'Diaz, awakel II is timer
"Is the Yankee sound asleepr' asked
the other as he sat up.
Tie sleeps like n pig. Things could
not be better for Us"
The two moved away Ike scrpents
through the rank grass and Jungle un-
al thoy had covered a hundred feet,
and then they stood up aud made their
wa swiftly along In the direction OF
the Spanish lines.
There were plenty Of American nd
%venturers IN the ranks OF the patriots
men whose sympathies were on the
right side and who ran the blockade
and Joined the insurgents TO fight for
them as they had fought for the Union
years before. Such men were at first
given the hand of welcome. but when
their lash and bravery had earned
them promotion there were envy and
jealousy to be reckoned with.
The man left lying alone In the jun
gle was Tom Warner, good natured,
reckless and careless. Here, where be
had been lighting for six months, near
~ always on scout duty. he was called
Captain Warner. He had q commits
sion from Garcia, but the title was a
barren one. He had furnished his own
weapons and clothing and had never
drawn a penny from what fG%cetiously
might be termed the lnsurgent treas
ury. He had won praise and admira-
ton for a time, and then Jealousy crept
IN TO make certain men hope In secret
that the Spnniards might make him
captive. They had heard Of the Yam
kee hghter-aye. and felt his blows
and they had said that they would give
him no quarter II they were lucky
enough TO capture him. He had sent
back a message Of defiance and gono
his way, and 1t never once entered his
mind that some OF the men whose bat
ties he was assisting to fight might
bctray him.
$50 you wish to surrender your
selves and Mt the same time put the
Yankee into my hnndsT' asked the
colonel into whose presence they were
conducted from the picket post.
"SL, Senior Colonel. We wish to fight
against our good friends the Spnniards
no longer. and In surrendering VIC
place in your hands one who has killed
many OF your brave men. Tho reward
shall be whnt you will"
Tho colonel looked at them for O mo-
ment in contempt. The spaniard Is
bloodthirsty and cruel in wartime, but
he nlso has n code OF honor. He might
cOndescend TO rlay the spy, but no
would not condescend to betray for
money.
Each one OF the men was handed a
hve dollar gold pleco and ordered TO
report to the officer Of the day, and the
colonel wrote n few lines and dispatch
ed them by his orderly and lay down
10 sleep.
Two hours later no heard the ser
geant's squad that had been sent out
coming back with their prisoner. but
he turned over and slept again 1t
would be time enough to settle with
the Yankee In the morning. The squad
had boon guided to the place where
the captain still ~slumbered, and he
had been made a prisoner without re-
~Ristance.
"And 80, American. you are here
hghting among the rebels against ouI
klngr' sneered the colonel when he had
eaten his breakfast and the prisonei
stood before him.
II am lighting for the independence
of Cuba" was the quiet reply.
1.-THE independence Of n mob Of dogs
However, that makes no difference
You are not n OF them. You have NJ
right here. You may have a commits
sion, but 1 do not recognize 1t. No reb
81 dog has authority TO issue commits
Eions. You know your fate, senorr'
Il believe you sent me word only
month ago that you would shoot M
without trial II I had the misfortune
20 be captured"
"And rest assured l shall do 30. No
I will not shoot you; I will hang you
You arc a spy. and you shall die b.
dhe rope"
"on what day and hourY' was th
calm inquiry.
Days and hOursF' thundered III
colonel Us he showed his teeth at hi
prisoner. Il have no days and hour
for the hanging OF such rs you.
string them up at my own convenience
AT 10 0clock-an hour and n half iron
nOw-yQu shall dance on nothingi'
Every we'll. colonel" said Tom as b
naluted aud fell back and was marches
away by his guard.
"He IS q brave man." unused th
colonel later on, "but he dened me
Yes, l win hang him, and / Will max
him afraid before he Is swung Oh
When the dogs OF ~renegndes hear hoS
ne died, begging for his life, Il will b
a lesson 20 be needed He Is hungr
and thirsty. but be shall neither ca