The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-05-07

iombia. But now the people began Is
tire of Bogota. The daily journals
voiced vague hints OF tyranny. steal.
thy whiffs. elusive scents Of La Paz
permeated the chilembian atmosphere
The wedding day arrived. Ca6allero
and his best man set ont for the cathe-
dral. AS they turned a corner the per
fume Of an invisible cigarro drifted to
the dictator's nostrils, He paIed ana
became silent 1t was La Paz. 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
ut the church for half an hour Then
came messenger pcsthaste from the
D'Estes household to say tliut tie
wedding must he indefinitely past-
poned EsmereIda had fed that morn
ing to the mountains with I.ochinvar.
eaballero was flrions He urged
immediate pursuit Papa D'Estes and
his sons procrastiuated. They spoke
casually OF Lochinvar'S well known
skin with pistol aud rifle. Finally tie
dictator started on the trail Of the low
ers The father and the seven hreth.
rem followed. but without enthusiasm.
In the middle Of the afternoon they
came in sight Of Loehinvar and rs
merelda hnstenlng along narrow
road cut in the rocky wall of deep
canyon. Just ahead a 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. IL the
fugitiyes could destroy the bridge they
would be safe.
Caballero shouted triumphantly and
spurred his jaded horse forward. Loeb
invar FASTENED across the span with
Esmereida. 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
quiyerlng. Needless of the cry OF hor-
ror behind, he dropped his knife, gath
cred the faintlng Esmerelda In his
arms and staggered across to safety.
The dictator was so far advanced
that 1t was as safe for him to keep on
as to return. Just as the last strands
parted he gained the solid rock not
fifty feet behind the fugitiyes who
were hurrylng toward La Paz. With
a 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 Chllombla. Meanwhile
the new revolution would have made
his presence unnecessary.
Caballero took n 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
up to his left. Eight forefingers touch
ed eight triggers.
CabaIlero 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 grlnly. lowered his
Mauser and lit La paz clgarro. Dit
to Brother Alfonso Ditto all the 9th
ers. 1t was as good as a comic opera.
After CabaIIero 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 10 Chilombla and engl-
neered the revolution that put them in
control Of the state and fulfilled the
parents most ambitious dreams for
their seven sous.
When Lochinvar ana his bride came
back after their honeymoon. they were
received with open arms Everybody
In town was smoking La Paz and they
We're still drinking aguardiente