Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-11-08

will not have stopped the1e but thought
OF the means to come to our assistance in
the most effectual manner"
General Don Sebastian Guerrero had
organized a band Of spies composed Of
leperos and scoundrels, who, however,
possessed acknowledged cleverness and
skill, and if Valentine had escaped their
surveillance and foiled their machina-
tions, it was solely through the habits
which he contracted during a heightened
life in the prairies, and which had be-
come an intuition with him, so far did
he carry the quality of scenting and un-
masking an enemy, whatever might be
the countenance he borrowed.
The Convent of the Bepnardines had
naturally become for some days past the
center of the surveillance, as it was the
spying headquarters, of Don Sebastian's
agents. The arrival Of a carriage with
closed blinds at the convent at once gave
the alarm; and though NJ. Rallier was
not personally known, the fact Of his be-
ing a Frenchman was sufficient to rouse
suspicious.
While the Frenchman and the monk
were conversing with the abbess, lepero
pretended to hurt himself, and was con-
veyed by two Of his acolytes to the con-
vent gate, and the good-hearted porter
had not refused him admission, but, on
the contrary, had eagerly given him all
the assistance his condition seemed to
require.
While the lepero was gradually regain
ing his senses, his comrades asked ques-
tions with that caution still peculiar to
their Mexican nature. The sister-porter
was worthy woman, endowed with a
very small stock of brains, and fond Of
talking. On finding this opportunity to
indulge In her favorite employment, she
was easily led on, and, almost of her own
accord, told all she knew, not suspecting
the harm she did.
When the three leperos had drawn al
they could out Of the sster-porter, they
hastened to leave the convent. Just as
they emerged into the street, they found
themselves face to face with No Carnero,
the generals capataz whom his master
had sent on tour of discovery. They
ran up to him, and in a few words told
him what had happened.
This was grave, and the capataz trem-
bled inwardly at the revelation, for he un-
derstood the terrible danger by which his
friends were menaced. But Carnero was
a clever man, and at once made up his
mind to his course of action.
He greatly praised the leperos for the
skill they had displayed in discovering
the secret, put some piastres into their
hands, and sent them off to the general,
with the recommendation, which was
most necessary, to make all possible
speed. Then, in his turn, he began prowl-
ing round the convent, and especially the
carriage, which Curumilla made no diff
Guilty in letting him approach, for the
reader will doubtless have guessed that
the animosity the Indian had on several
occasions evinced for the capataz, was
pretended, and that they were perfectly
good friends when nobody could see or
hear them.
The capataz skillfully profited by the
confusion created in the crowd by the
carriage entering the convent, to throw
in, unperceived, the paper NJ. Rallier had
StEIdlu uOW lldl HIS lIltuub WOulu
be on their guard, he went off in his turn,
after recommending the spies he left be-
fore the convent to keep up good watch,
and walked in the direction of the Plaza
Mayor.
At the corner of the Calle de Plateros
he saw a man standing in front Of a pull
guerra. The capataz entered the pull
guerra and let fall piastre which rolled
to the foot of the man standing in the
doorway. The latter stopped, picked up
the coin, and restored it to its owner,
and the capataz walked out, doubtless sat
isfed and cautiously continued his way.
On reaching the plaza again, the man Of
the pulqueria, who was probably going
the same road as himself, was at his
heels. 3
"Belhumeur?" the capataz asked In
a low voice, without turning round.
"Eh?" the other answered in the same
key.
1.-THE general knows the affair at the
convent; If you do not make haste, Don
Martial, Don Antonio and the two ladies
will be attacked on the road while going
to the quinta; warn your friend, for
there is not a moment to lose."
When he turned back, Belhumeur had
disappeared the Canadian with his char
acteristic agility was already running in
the direction Of Valentines house. AS
for the capataz, as he was in no par
ticular hurry, he quietly walked back to
the generals, where he found his master
in a furious passion with all his people,
and more particularly with himself.
By an accident, too portentous not to
have been arranged beforehand, not one
Of his horses could be mounted; three
were foundered, four others had been bled,
and the last three were without shoes. In
the midst of this the capataz arrived
with look Of alarm, which only height
ened his masters passion. Carnero pru-
dently allowed the generals fury to grow
little calm, and then answered him.
He proved to him in the first place