The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1907-04-03

came Il messenger posthaSte from the
DEstes household to say that the
wedding must he indefinitely post
poned. Esmerelda had fled that morn
ing to the mountains with l.ochinvar.
Gaballero was furious. lie urged
immediate pursuit. Papa d Estes and
his sons proerastindted. They spoke
casually of Lochnyar's well known
skill with pistol and rifle. Finally the
dictator started on the trail Of the low
ers. The father and the seven breth
rem followed, but without enthusiasm.
In the middle of the afternoon they
came in sight of Loehlnyar and rs
merelda fastening along narrow
road eut In the rocky wall of Il deep
canyon. just ahead Il swinging bridge
of ropes and wooden croSspieces span
ned the river sullenly murmurlHg 5000
feet below. ON the other side Of the
gorge the road ram north 20 Bogota.
south te La RaZ once aeress, If the
fugitiycs could destroy the bridge they
would be safe.
Cahallero shouted trumphantly and
spurred his iaded horse forward. Loeb
invar fastened across the span with
Esmerelda. Ere they reached the mid
die the dictator had dismounted and
set foot upon the swaying structure.
I.ochinvar looked back and took in
the situation He drew his machete.
one quick slash. aud the left cable
sprang asunder The bridge hung
quiyering Needless of the cry of her
ror behind, he dropped his knife, gath
cred the fainting Esmcrelda in his
arms and staggered across To safety.
The dictator was SO far advanced
that il was us safe for him to keep on
us TO return Just MS the last strands
parted he gained the solid rock not
fifty feet behind the fugitives who
We're hurrylng toward LIT Paz, With
a cry of triumph he started In pursuit
n shout from the other side made
him halt, lie looked across the gorge.
There stood the D.Estes family In line.
eight Mausers swung earelessly in their
left hands. eight montory right fore
fingers pointing toward Bogota. The
dictator WAS on the wrong side of the
river. For 4 hundred miles either way
there was no other bridge. 1t would
be days before he could get back to
the capital of Chilombia Meanwhile
the new revolution would have made
his presence unnecessary.
Caballero took n step toward La PaZ.
Seven Mausers went up TO seven right
shoulders all but little brother Cristo-
fero's, who was left handed His went
up to his left Eight forefngers touch
ed eight triggers
Caballcro stopped He was too good
n mark against the rock. lie faced
about and maledictod the entire male
branch of the house of D'Estcs, living
and dead, born and unborn. Papa
D'Estcs smiled grlmly lowered his
Manser and III La Paz cigarro. Dit
to Brother Alfonso. Ditto all the 9th
crs. 1t was IA good rs comic opera.
After Caballero grew weary of ours
ing he turned his steps toward Bogota,
The D'Estes family eamped in the
road that night to make sure he would
not Try 70 repass In the darkness. Then
they returned to Ghilembia and eng-
nccrcd the revolution that put them in
control of the state and fulfilled the
parents most ambitious dreams for
their seven sons.
When Lochlnvar aud his bride came
back after their honeymoon, they We're
received with open arms. Everybody
| In town was smoking La PaZ, and they
We're still drinking aguardiente.