The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1907-10-03
LII

jects. Your preparations were soon mace
listen attentively, general, for | assure
you that / have reached the most inter
esting part Of my narrative.
"As you fancied, for certain reasons
which it Is unnecessary to remind you
of, that your enemies might try to lay
some ambush for you, you thought 1t
necessary to take the following precAu-
items, the inutility of some OF which l
presume that you have recognized. While,
for the purpose of deceiying your enemies
you started in disguise, and only accom-
panied by 3 few men, for California, IN
order to return to Mexico across the
Rocky mountains; while you gave ques-
TONERS the fullest details Of the road you
intended to follow, with your men-your
real object was different. The man IN
whom you placed your confidence, Don
Isidro Vargas, who had known you when
a child, and whom you had converted
into your tool, took the shortest. and,
consequently, most direct route for the
capital, having with him not only twelve
mules loaded with gold and silver, the
fruit of your plumber during the period
o. your command, but more precious ar
ticle still, the body OF your unhappy
daughter, which you had embalmed, and
which the captain had orders to inter
with your ancestors az your Hacienda del
Palmar. Your object in acting thus was
not only to divert attention from your
ill-gotten riches, but also to attract your
enemies after yourself. Unfortunately,
l am an old hunter so difficult to deceive
that my comrades gave me long ago the
glorious title of the Trail-hunter, and
hence, alone was not deceived"
Still your presence here gives strik-
ing denial to the assertion" the general
interrupted.
You think so, senior. That proves you
are not thoroughly acquainted with me
but patience, l hope that you will, ere
long, appreciate me better. Again, you
have not reflected on the time that has
elapsed since your departure from Her
mosillo."
what do you mean:" the general ask
ed, with a sudden start of apprehension.
Il mean that before attacking you,
resolved to settle matters first with the
captain"
"Ahn -
well, general, it is my painful duty
to inform you that four days after he left
Pitic, our brave friend Don Isidro fell
/ into an ambuscade resembling the one
into which you fell to-day, with this e1-
ception-"
What exception?' the general asked,
with greater interest than he would have
! liked to display.
"My men were so imprudent," the
| hunter continued. "as to leave the captain
the means of defending himself. The re-
suit WIS that he died. bravely fighting to
save the gold you had intrusted to him,
and the coffin containing your daughters
corpse"
well, and I presume you plundered
the caravan, and carried OF the gold and
silver?" he asked, contemptuously.
$50, most probably, you would have
acted under the circumstances, Don He
bastian," the hunter answered, but l
thought it my. duty to act differently.
| What could you expect? l, a coarse. I'M
| educated hunter. do not know how TO
| plumber, for l did not learn it when had
| the honor to serve my country. This is
| what | did; so soon as the captain and
| the poems he commanded were killed-for
| the poor devils, l must do them the JUS
! tice to say, offered desperate resistance
Il myself. you understand, friend, l my
self conveyed the money 10 your Hacienda
del Palmar, where it now remains in safe
ty"
The general breathed again, and smiled
Ironically. Instead of blaming you,
senor." he said. Il, on the contrary. owe
| you thanks for this chivalrous conduct"
I l. ~
me-" the hunter answered; 81 have not
| told you ALL Captain Don Isidro Vargas
not only escorted the money, but there
was also coffin. Well, general, why do
you not ask me what has become of that
ccfin?"
An electric shock ran through the audi
ence on hearing the ironical question so
| coldly asked by the hunter.
what 80 Don Sebastian exclaimed.
THE assassin can have no claim to the
body Of his victim. and you are morally
YOUR daughters murderer. l have robbed
YOU of this body. which must rest by the
side of him for whom she died"
There was moments silence. The
generals face, hitherto pale, assumed a
| Creenish hue At length he yelled in q
koarse and kissing voice:
cit is not true; you have not done
this You cannot have dared to rob a
| father of his child's body"
81 have done it, tell you" the hunter
/ SAID coldly. II have taken possession of
| the body of your victim, and now you
/ understand me; never shall you know
| v here this poor body rests. But this is
on'- the beginning of my vengeance. What
/ 1 wish to kill in you is the soul and not
| the body; and now besone, and remember
that you will find me in your path every
/ where and ever"
Zone last word" the general eSclaim-
| ed. affected by the deepest despair, re
store me my daughters body she was the
| only human creature ever loved"
The hunter regarded him for moment
with an undesirable expression, and then
in a harsh and coldly mocking voice,
! Never -
| Then. turning away, he re-entered the
| zrotto, followed by his assistants.
Don Sebastian. who was the more over
whelmed by the last blow because it was
unexpected, stood for a moment like q
man struck By lightning. At last heart
rending sob burst from his bosom, two
| burning tears sprang from his eyes and
he rolled like q corpse on the ground.
u