The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-03-22


the soft language of old Mexico
| Wont you sit DOWN." 49,
Thank you, senorita," said Che
ney, raising his hat. Or. Wilmarth
and I represent the life insurance
company. IN which your brother Juan
was insured"
At the mention of the name Juan
the senorita raised her dark eyes to
heaven, made the sign of the cross
and murmured: "Madre de Dios."
Under his breath Cheney muttered
"hypocrite,'' and continued:
Yes, senQrita, have come dowp
from New York to Settle the claim. "
Settle the claim, senior! You mean
you will pay me the money!" The
senorita's eyes were sparkling. Che.
ney was watching her closely.
well, senorita," he replied, smil.
ing, here is New York draft on the
Anglo.American bank, of Mexico City,
for 100000. It's made payable to
your order"
"Ah, senior, I thank you, thank
you"
Don't thank me, senorita, thank
your brother Juan, who was thought.
full enough to provide for YOU
"Ah, Juan! ST, poor JUAN" Again
| the solemn "Madre de Dios.'
Cheney determined ON quick action
and said:
"Senorita, the minute l anu con-
WINGED you are entitled to this check
you shall have it; but I'm not con
WINGED now-far from it. I know you
are not entitled to it." This last he
numbered at her and she recoiled, al
most paralyzed
"What-you-mean?" she gasped.
Il mean said Cheney, that the
| body buried in Dolores at Guarda was
not the body of the man insured a
month ago. Quicklime was used to
destroy the body buried, but the ruse
did not work. We exhumed the body
today and DR.. Wilmarth here posi-
lively states that it is not the corpse
of the man he examined for the in
! surance. Sanchez, the undertaken,
has fed towards the west coast, but
he will be brought back. Now, senor-
tia, who besides yourself and Sanchez
are in this plot? Come, senorita,
who?'' Cheney's manner was COM
manding, his voice tense, his whole
being was powerful. The woman ut
terly collapsed and muttered one
word: Thomas"
Thomas!" said Cheney. II thought
so. Now, senorita, make a clean
breast of it. The fraud has not been
consummated, and if murder has not
been done it may not go hard with
you
Womanlike, Senorita Silva told.
'Senor Thomas and I are in love.
We are to be married soon. He want
ed money; I didn't have any. He
knew my brother Juan was not strong
He would insure his life for 100000;
another strong man would be exam
ined and then disappear. Juan would
die, papers would go in from Guarda
so DIR. Wilmarth would not be called
in; l would have 100000, we would
pay Sanchez, the undertaken, $4,000
because Sanchez knew; then we
would be married and Senior Thomas
and would travel. All, senior, believe
me, by my God, 1 am telling the
truth And with this she fell on her
knees to Cheney.
Rise, senorita,"' he said, gently,
land we wilE do what we can
Taking the sk1 porita with >them,n the
doctor and Cheney returned to Tor
reon, reaching there after dusk
Bright and early next morning Che
ney hunted up. the American consul
and made himself known. Together
they went to the chief of police. His
aid was promised and in a short while
the three men appeared in Thomas
Office. Mr.. Thomas was smoking his
cigarette and building air castles
when Col. Cheney said:
mr.. Thomas, / believer"
eyes, sir
I'm Col. Cheney, representing the
home Office of your company. I am
compelled to give you into custody
for fraud in the Silva case"
Fraud! Why, man, what are you
talking about?"
''Senorita Silva has confessed, Mr..
Thomas; Sanchez has decamped, and
your game is up"
It didn't take long to convince
Thomas that the game was up; then
he showed his gameness and took his
medicine. He had played for high
stakes and lost "San Juan de Ulloa
for ten years." was his sentence.
That meant death, because no man
ever lived more than five years in that
hell hole. Sanchez was caught and
received the same sentence. Senorita
Silva was pardoned by Dfaz and took
the veil.
Cheney and King had a dinner in
New York later and Cheney said:
"Your 'hunch' was a good one, old
man."
Copyright, by w. G. Chapman.>
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