Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-10-25
CHAPTER Xxx.

CHAPTER Xxx.
Nov, Senior Don jaime" said the gen
eral, "let us speak frankly, II you please"
Il wish for nothing BETTER" the colonel
replied
And to begin" Don Sebastian con-
tinued, tell me who this man is from
whom you limited that could derive some
benefit"
This man Is a villain Of the worst
sort, as l already have the honor of tell
ing you; his antecedents are, I suppose,
rather dark. and that is ali have been
able to discover"
Il think l remember. Was not this
villain known Dy the sooriquet OF the
Zaragate?"
He was, general furious at what hap
pened to him, and attributing it to Don
valentine, he took an oath to kill him
whenever he met him."
Il must not and will not see him but
do you deal with him az you think proper.
You understand that 1t IL of the utmost
Importance that should bs ignorant of
the arrangements you may make with
him, and be able to prove, II necessary,
that l had no knowledge of this More
over, as you are aware, l am not one
for extreme measures; the sight of such
villain would be repulsive to me, for l
have such horror Of bloodshed."
Il understand you only too WELL"
What mean your
That, II we succeed, you will be pres
ident Of the republic"
nhar Ill L.
military governor of our richest State,
Sonora" the other answered.
1T Is useless to remind me Of your
promises, general; you are we'll aware
that am devoted to you"
Il know 1t, Of course, and on that ac-
count leave you. Goodnight, and come
and breakfast with me tomorrow"
Il will not fail, general" The gen.
eral pulled his hat over his eyes, wrap
ped himself in his cloak and went off
hastily. On being left alone, the colonel
remained plunged in deep thought; the
Office with which he was intrusted, for he
perfectly caught the meaning Of the gen.
| erals hints, was serious.
At the moment when the colonel me-
| chanically raised his head and looked de-
| spairingly up to heaven, he fancied he
saw several suspicious shadows prowling
| about him in suggestive manner. But
the colonel was brave, and the more so
because he had literally nothing to lose,
hence he quietly loosened his sword, open
ed his cloak, and at the instant when
four or five fellows attacked him at once
with machetes and long navajas, he was
on guard according to all the rules of
the art, with his left foot supported by
pillar and his cloak wrapped like a buck
| Ter round his arm.
The attack was rude one, but the
colonel withstood 1t manfully; besides.
all went on in the Mexican way, without
shout or call for help.
Still the assailants, who were armed
with short and heavy weapons, had the
| disadvantage against the colonel's long
and thin sword, which twisted like
snake, writhed round their weapons, and
had already pricked two of the men sharp
ly enough to make the others reflect and
display greater prudence in their attack.
The colonel felt that they were giving
ground.
Come on, villains" he exclaimed. as
he gave terrific lunge and ran one of
the bandits right through the body, who
| rolled on the pavement with a yell of
pain.
stop, stop!" the man who seemed the
leader Of the bandits exclaimed: 1--WE
are mistaken"
As the bandits asked for nothing better
than to stop, they retreated few steps
without hesitation.
"Can it possibly be you," the first
speaker continued, "Senor Colonel Don
Jaime Lupo?"
"Halloh" the colonel said, falling back
step in surprise, who mentioned nv
name?"
81, e1cellency; friend"
"a friend? A strange friend who has
been trying to assassinate me for the
last ten minutes"
Believe me, colonel, that had we
known whom we had to deal with, we
should never have attacked you. All this
Is the result Of a deplorable misunder-
standing, which you will, however, ex-
cuse."
But who are your"
"What, excellency, do you not recognize
the Zaragate"
''The Zaragate" the colonel exclaimed
with glad surprise. swell, scoundrel.
are you aware that yours is singular
trade1"
"Alas excellency, a man must do what
he can," the bandit replied. in a sor-
rowful voice.
The colonel looked at him anxiously.
II understand the cause Of your
grief," he said; "and 1t 10 the vorse.
because there h no remedy for It"