The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1907-08-17

| on rpIDalHeI IuSu, III SDDOTa, WIFI
out power or influence, hated and despis-
ed by all, and marked on your forehead
! with that indelibe brand which was i'm
printed on Cain. the first murderer; but
Mexico is blessed couIrry, where ambi-
| tious men like yourself can easily fish in
| troubled waters, when, like yourself. they
are not restrained by any of those bonds
of honor. But you could not remain long
bowed beneath the blow that had fallen
on you and so you resolved 10 leave So
nora and proceed to Mexico, where,
| thanks TO your colossal fortune and the
| influence it would necessarily give you,
you could carry on your ambitious pro-
| iccts. Your preparations were soon made
listen attentivcly. general, for | assure
you that | have reached the most inter-
csting 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 it
necessary to take the following precau-
items. the inutility of some of which l
presume that you have recognized. While,
for the purpose of deceiving your enemies,
you started in disguise, and only accom-
| panied By 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
lsdcO Vargas, WHO had known you when
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
OF your command, but more precious ar
ticlc still, the body of your unhappy
daughter, which you had ..nhsa....IieG, anu
which the captain had orders to inter
with your ancestors at 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,
| 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 vas 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 mean2" the general ask
ed, with a sudden start of apprehension.
Il mean that before attacking you, I
resolved to settle matters first with the
| captain"
"Ahr'
| 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 rcscnbling the one
into which you fell to-day, with this cZ
ception-"
What ezception?" the general asked,
with greater interest than he would have
liked to display.
MY men Were so imprudent," the
hunter continued, las to leave the captain
the means of defending himself. The re-
suit was that he died, brayely fighting to
| save the gold you had intrusted to him,
and the coffin containing your daughters
corpse"
We'll, and | presume you plundered
the caravan, and carried off the gold and
silyer?" he asked, contemptuously.
80. most probably, you would have
acted under the circumstances, Don He
lcs..2a," tie hunter aas~cTed. bat
thorght it ny daty to act differently.
What ,n,,II GOV, ox-raot2 I onoroo an,
educated hunter, do net know how 10
plumber. for did not learn it when / had
i the honor to serve my country. This
what | did; so soon as the captain and
tire poems he commanded were killed-for
TIE poor devils, / must do them the JUS
tice TO say, offered desperate resistance
II myself, you understand, friend, my
SELF conveyed the money to your Hacienda
del Palmar, where it now remains in safe
ty"
The general breathed again. and smiled
ironically. Instead OF blaming you,
scnor," he said. II. on the contrary. owe
you thanks for this chivalrous conduct. y
do not be in such a hurry 10 thank
me-" the hunter answered: II have not
told you all. CGFta'a Don Is:d-n Vargas
not only escorted ths money. but thcra
was also a coffin. Well general. why dc
you not ask me what has become of that
ccfhn?"
An electric shock ran through the audi.
ence on hearing the ironical question sc
coldly asked by the hunter.
WHAT Don Sebastian exclaimed.
'"The assassin can have no claim to the
body of his victim, and you are morally
your daughters murderer, have robbed
YOU of this body, which must rest by tho
side of him for whom she died.
There was a moments silence. The
! generals face, hitherto pale, assumed o
greenish hue. At length he yelled in 9
Eoarse and kissing voice: