Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1906-12-27

| PERFECTLY, slr.
1T is a matter of grave Importance.
ut shall be accomplished"
you are very certain. / may re.
mind you, captain. that there have
been occasions when--well when In
structions have not been carried out
quite successfully"
drew myself up to my full six feet
OF height.
General" said, these others were
bunglers."
81 know you are brave, but" He
paused. shufIling some papers uneas-
lily. Remember, carry this safely to
Beresford, and. we have Monsieur
D'Eaubain and his cavalry in a nut
cracker"
1T is already done, sir"
you will take Barestro with you as
guide"
LAS you will, general, but have lit
tie faith in him"
The general looked up sharply.
Why" he asked
I'm truth. sir, lost a matter OF
seven sovereigns to him at ecarte. and
am a master OF ecarte. Ergo, he
cheats; ergo, he may not be trusted"
'Pshaw!" said the general, testify.
you take Barestro with you as
guide"
l saluted and clattered through the
door.
Within an hour I rode out at the
head OF my half-troop. The day was
fair; royal sun, broad. blue sky,
and soft breeze to temper the heat.
With me rode Barestro, lank. lean,
ungainly man, a cowardly fellow with
face like parchment stretched over
a Deaths-head. carried rough
map, on which were marked the posi-
tons Of the French troops as far as
we had located them, and 1t was this
map had to carry to Beresford.
We rode forward all that day. max
ing considerable detour to avoid
falling in with the French. 1t was
difficult ground, hilly and rough, and
as night approached and found us in
wilder country than ever, my doubts
of the rascal guide grew.
"Barestro. you will ride by my side
on the left" I said grimly. ut is bet.
ter So"
The rogue turned pale at the CLEAN
Of my pistol barrel. II ever l saw
guilt, 1t was in that rascal's parch.
ment face and his narrow, furtive eyes.
Indeed. l am guiding you Alright"
he protested. I'm a moment we turn
to the right. and there below us you
shall see the village OF Talmiera.
And Gen. Beresford's army is but
half q days march further on"
/ grunted. and presently below us
we saw the village, only matter Of
ten minutes ride.
There was an inn standing In the
street. and in front of this l halted
my men. In answer to my shout. the
host came running to me. He was a
subservient fellow and bowed most
prodigiously
On the first landing OF the crooked
stairway we now assembled there were
two doors fronting us. At one stood
the host, bowling like a treacherous
mandarin and waving his trembling
hand towards It. We had reached the
last step when a woman's cry, loud,
shrill, imploring, rang out from the
second room.
Cad! What is that?" cried.
The host came forward, beaming
with one OF the most atrocious smiles
have ever seen.
my prisoner, senor."
Your prisoner!" echoed In amaze
ment. What! Are you a belliger.
ent. that you make prisoners?'
Senior. l am Portuguese. She is
enemy Of my country. She is French
Spy. lock her up" He grinned
overwhelmingly. She not like being
locked up. She scream-but no mat.
ter"
II will see her." said suddenly.
The host looked troubled and eyed
the door doubtfully.
"She is very SAFE, senor," he said
II must examine her." l answered
"She may give me valuable informa.
ton"
took the key, inserted It and pulled
open the door, for, by some freak OF
the builder. the door opened on to
the landing.
AS jerked open the door. I dis.
closed a picture. Before me stood a
small. graceful figure in a very frenzy
Of passion.
She caught her breath quickly
looked from the host to me, from me
to the host
"Ah!" she cried. you are a Brit.
ish officer!"
Capt Netherton, OF his majesty's
-th Light Dragons" acknowledged
"oh, l am so glad. so glad! have
been locked in by this creature. and
oh! 1t is such long story. and
ali" She broke off in an exclama
ton of terror
That man-why is that man with
your" she asked hurrledly. pointins
at Barestro.
HE is my guide"
your guide! Then you are II
danger. sir-in great danger! He ia /,
traitor. scoundrel, a villain! He 1,