The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1909-01-27

AASA ~ 40 q OOlO"AnOOC LILO al JA0
dead palm tree in the barrio-be care
ful-you have a long time to cut out
will be waiting"
BY all the holy saints! Who could it
be that was bringing the much desired
bolo? Who was bringing him sweet
life? With sharp bolo he could cut
his way to freedom easily.
Matias felt along the wall cautiously
and his hand encountered the hilt of
great bolo, thrust through hole in
the wall. Inch by inch he drew it in
ward, and the blade cut it's way
through the bamboo strips noiselessly.
Sometimes he took ten minutes to
cut through strip of bamboo the size
Of his finger. When a dog barked he
gained couple of inches-when
Taps" sounded he cut slit foot
long in the wall. In an hour his little
door was complete, and when the SEN
try went around the guard house he
crawled through and slipped away in
the darkness.
Queen Of Angels! It was good to be
free again. And here he was, under
the very gallows which had been built
for him. He stopped to curse the tim.
bers and the Americans, spat on the
steps, and then stole through the palm
grove to meet his unknown friend at
the dead palm.
rs that you, Matias?"
Eyes Who is my savious- Forever
I am your slave"
Come" said the unknown, Follow
me. They will miss you in a few
minutes when the watch is changed,
and you must hide"
Matias followed on in the darkness,
afraid that it was all a dream and that
he would wake up to hear the guard
calling him to make ready for death.
On through the jungle they went,
toward the hills, and Matias knew his
rescuer was taking him to cave
somewhere in the great canyon, where
he could hide until an opportunity pre-
sented itself to escape to Manila
Soon he heard the sound of dripping
water and he was guided into a small
cave, and he could feel the damp and
Shiny walls of rock.
Now" said the stranger, give me
the bolo, for l must go back through
the jungle and need a weapon. Lie
here until l come in the morning with
food. Don't stir outside or make a
noise, for the soldiers will be seeking
for you everywhere, and if l am long
in coming do not fear, for we must be
cautious. .Goodby."
who are you?" asked Matias.
you must not know until you are
safe-I am good friend-fear not"
May God bless you," said Matias,
and he kissed the hand of the stranger
Ten thousand blessings on your head
and l am your slave for life."
The unknown glided away and Ma
tias heard him roll stone in the en-
trance of the cave and then all was
still, except the incessant dripping of
the water. 1t was better than the guard
house, he thought, with the sentry
pacing outside and the dreadful gall
ows with the rope swinging from the
beam, in the prison yard. He rolled
cigarette and smoked, and sat on his
heels.
| All night he stared into the black
| ness, burning his hand at times with
the fire of his cigarette when he found
himself wondering if it were dream.
| Finally, the light filtered through the
crevices, and then tiny sunbeam
| crept in through the entrance of the
cave, but he did not move from the
place where he had sat all night.
After long time he heard some one
at the stone and form came in, and
after his eyes had become accus-
toned to the light he saw a we'll
dressed native standing over him with
a bolo
Juan de la Cruz!' he cried, drawing
back in terror.
"Yes-Juan de la Cruz. The brother
of Pascual, whom you killed. 1t was
l who helped you to escape last
night"
The feud!" groaned Matias. You
have come to kill me. You dog, you
took me from prison to bolo me here.
w lly ulu you lol ltt llleHl HiHS HE.
would rather be hanged a thousand
times by the hated Americans than die
by your hand"
Il have not come to kill YOU" said
the other. THAT was my plan last
night, for de la Cruz must have his
| vengeance. But the American colonel
has offered 500 pesos for your capture.
Five hundred pesos will buy many
masses for the soul of my brother. The
Americans will hang you and will
have no blood on my hands. Come
the hangman is waiting"
He led Matias back to the village
The soldiers put the irons on his hands
and he saw the blood money paid tC
Juan. He saw the rope swinging il
the breeze. The priest prayed. lie
stepped ON the trap and swung into
Sternity.