The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-04-23
CabafIero.

uU tlIut- ne paw utO al duCeSlIdl gOlu
mine and purchased 100000 La Paz
cigarros and 10000 TASKS of aguardi-
ente. These were brought over the
passes on llamas and cached In con-
venient cave
A month passed, and still Esmerelda
held out against Caballero. Popular
enthusiasm for the new government
had begun to cool
One day messenger brought a note
to Papa D'Estes. He read it, frown-
ing, but returned reply. That night
a long black Golfer was smuggled into
the rear entrance of his mansion. A
score of similar boxes had been secret
~ conveyed to the abodes of other
prominent families.
At midnight in a double barred and
bolted chamber the black Golfer was
placed on trestles. Papa d Estes stood
at its head, and little Brother Cristo-
Zero at its foot, while the six other
brethren were ranged three on either
side The box was opened. 1t was
filed to the brim with cigarros of La
Paz. Among them nestled a goodly
number of peculiarly shaped bottles.
At last a date was set for the we'd
ding of Caballero and the unwilling
Esmerelda But as the dictator's ar
dor increased that of Papa D'Estes
and the seven brothers perceptibly
cooled For six weeks not roll of La
Paz had been smoked openly in Chi
sombia. But now the people began to
tire of Bogota. The daily Journals
voiced vague hints of tyranny. Steal
thy whiffs, elusive scents of La Paz
permeated the Colombian atmosphere.
The wedding day arrived. Caballero
and his best man set out for the cathe-
dral. AS they turned corner the per
fume of an invisible cigarro drifted to
the dictator's nostrils. He paled and
became silent 1t was La PAIL The
tide was turning The revolutionary
pendulum had begun its counter swing.
But he determined, at any rate, to
make sure of Esmerelda. He waited
at the church for half an hour. Then
came a messenger posthaste from the
D'Estes household to say that the
wedding must be Indefinitely post
poned. Esmerelda had fed that morn
ing to the mountains with Lochinyar.
Caballero was furious. He urged
immediate pursuit. Papa D'Estes and
his sons procrastinated. They spoke
casually of Lochinvar's well known
skill with pistol and rife. Finally the
dictator started on the trail of the low
ers. The father and the seven breth-
rem followed, but without enthusiasm.
In the middle of the afternoon they
came in sight of Lochinvar and Es-
merelda Fastening along narrow
road cut in the rocky wall of deep
canyon. Just ahead swinging bridge
of ropes and wooden crosspieces span
ned the river sullenly murmuring 5000
feet below. On the other side of the
gorge the road ran north to Bogota,
south to La Paz. Once across, If the
fugitives could destroy the bridge they
would be safe.
Caballero shouted triumphantly and
spurred his jaded horse forward. Loeb
invar fastened across the span with
Esmerelda. Ere they reached the mid
die the dictator had dismounted and
set foot upon the swaying structure.
Lochinvar looked back and took in
the situation. He drew his machete.
One quick slash, and the left cable
sprang asunder. The bridge hung
quivering. Needless of the cry of hor-
ror behind, he dropped his knife, gath
cred the fainting Esmerelda in his
arms and staggered across to safety.
The dictator was so far advanced
that it was as safe for him to keep on
Us to return. Just as the last strands
parted he gained the solid rock not
fifty feet behind the fugitives who
were hurrying toward La Paz. With
cry of triumph he started In pursuit
A shout from the other side made
him halt He looked across the gorge.
There stood the D'Estes family in line,
eight Mausers swung carelessly In their
left hands, eight monitory right fore
fingers pointing toward Bogota. The
dictator was on the wrong side of the
river. For hundred miles either way
there was no other bridge. 1t would
be days before he could get back to
the capital of Chilombia. Meanwhile
the new revolution would have made
his presence unnecessary.
Caballero took step toward La Paz.
Seven Mausers went up to seven right
shoulders, all but little brother Cristo-
fero's, who was left handed. His went
| mn TO his left Eight forefingers touch
ed eight triggers.
Caballero stopped. He was too good
mark against the rock. He faced
about and maledicted the entire male
branch of the house of D'Estes, living
and dead, born and unborn. Papa
D'Estes smiled grimly, lowered his
Mauser and lit La Paz cigarro. Dit
to Brother Alfonso. Ditto all the 9TH
ers. 1t was as good as comic opera.
| After Caballero grew weary of ours
ing he turned his steps toward Bogota.
The D'Estes family camped in the
road that night to make sure he would
not try to repass in the darkness. Then
they returned to Chilombia and engi-
neered the revolution that put them in
control of the state and fulfilled the
parents most ambitious dreams for
their seven sons.
When Lochinvar and his bride came
back after their honeymoon, they were
received with open arms. Everybody
In town was smoking La Paz, and they
were still drinking aguardiente.