Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-09-13

panieu ny II rev men. LOT Cal1IOrnla, In
order to return to Mexico across the
Rocky mountains: while you gave q6es-
TONERS the fullest details of the road you
intended to follow, with your men-your
real object was different. The man in
whom o placed your confidence, Don
lsidro Vargas, who had known you when
a child, and whom you had converted
lnto 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
0. your command. but a more precious ar
ticle still, the body of your unhappy
d.ushter, which you had embaImed, and
&hie. the captain had orders to inter
with your ancestors at you 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 Tr%ail-hunter. and
hence. | alone was not deceived"
Still our presence here gives a strik-
ing denial to the assertion" the general
interrupted.
.N tDlilh SO. SeuOT. i nat proves you
are not thoroughly acquainted with me :;
but patience. l hope that you will, ere
long. appreciate me bette 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 hat before attacking you, 1
rncnIra1 tn pNttJo 80. Goa - t1,n
captain
"Ah!"
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 ex-
ception-"
What exception the general asked,
with greater interest than he would nave
liked to display.
My men were so ~imprudent," the
hunter continued, "as to leave the captain
the means of defending himself. The re
suit was that he died, bravely fighting to
saw the gold you had intrusted to him,
and the coffin containing your daughters
corpse"
well, and / presume you plundered
NAS ~ xiv SdAi lCu VII IL SoIu duu
silvery" he asked, CONTEMPORARY.
so, 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? I. a coarse, un-
educated hunter, do not know how to
plumber, for I did not learn it when / had
the honor to serve my country. This is
what l 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 a desperate resistance
II myself, you understand, friend, I 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,
senior" he said. Il, on the contrary, owe
you thanks for this chivalrous conduct"
D not be in such q hurry to thank
me-" the hunter answered; II have not
told you all. Captain Dor Isidro Vargas
not only escorted the money, but there
was also a coffin. Well, general, why do
you not ask me what has become of that
coffin"
An electric shock ran through the audi
ence on hearing the ironical question SO
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, I have robbed
you of this body, which must rest by the
side Of him for whom she died"
There was q moments silence. The
generals face. hitherto pale, assumed a
greenish hue. At length he yelled in a
hoarse and kissing voice
ut is not true :. you have not done
this. You cannot have dared to rob a
father of his child's body
Il have done it, | tell you" the hunter
said coldly. II have taken possession of
the body of your victim, and now you
understand ne; never shall You know
v here this poor body rests. But this is
on. the beginning Of my vengeance. What
l 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"
One last word" the general exclaim-
ed. affected by the deepest despair, .sre-
store me my daughters body she was the
only human creature l ever loved"
The hunter regarded him for a moment
with an undefinable expression. and then
in a harsh and coldly hooking voice.
Never! ~
Then, turning away, he re-entered the
grotto, 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 a
man struck by lightning. At last a heart
rendiux sob burst from his bosom, two
burning tears sprang from his eyes and
he, rolled like 4 corpse on the ground.
In the meanwhile the Jester had or
dered the poems to saddle the horses and
load the mules. The general was placed
By two servants on a horse, without APP
pearing to notice what was done to him,
and Q Few moments later the caravan left
the fort of the Chichimeques.
When the Mexicans had disappeared N
the ~windings of the road Valentine emerg-
ed from the grotto. and walked courteous
iy up TO the hunters.
Forgive me" he said. mot the delay,
but the Involuntary alarm Iscaused you
but | was compelled to act as | did. You
are going to Mexico, where | shall soon
be myself. ind it is possible that | may
require your testimony some day
"a testimony which will not be re-
fused" the FIRST hunter gracefully answer
ed.
WHAT the hunter exclaimed in
amazcmcnt. "are you French? 2"
Yes, and all my companions. We
have come from San Francisco. where.
thanks TO Providence. we amassed a for