Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-11
The Argus Daily Short Story
The Bandit Chiefly Walter Maillard
Copyrighted 1910. by Associated Literary Presa

Then at last a body of mounted sol
attng, captured him and brought him
to the capital
Everybody was surprised at the ease
with which the capture was accom-
plished. 1t had been supposed, ex-
cept by those who pretended to know,
that the robber chief would make
splendid fight. Instead he surrender
ed ingloriously. The wise ones looked
wiser still and whispered that since
Cortina had furnished the money
which had established the existing
government there would naturally be
an understanding between him and
that government. He had permitted
himself to be captured. Would he
suffer the penalty Of his crimes?
Those who knew most thought
not.
Nevertheless Cortina was tried, con-
victed and sentenced tc death. The
date of execution was reserved for the
government to fix. Meanwhile the
criminal was confined in prison at the
capital. Several weeks after the SEN
tence the day had not been named.
AS many months elapsed. and Cortina
was still living. Then came an order
from the government TO his jailerS
that he should be permitted to go out
on parole each day. After that Cor
tina went where he liked about the
city on his promise to return to prison
at evening.
There have been criminals from
time immemorial who have won the
sympathy and admiration of men. This
is due to their touching some choI1
that responds to the human heart.
From this point Cortina won the
sympathy of many-hrst, from a stand
ard of honor which he set up for him.
self and, second, because his heart
was given to a woman. His word
was passed that he would return every
evening to his jail, and every evening
he returned.
Was this because he respected his
promise or because he knew the gov
eminent could recapture him if he
broke his parole and would then be
likely to fix date for his execution?
1t seems more likely that the govern
ment, for reasons best known to IT
self, preferred that he should take
himself away and. relieve it of the
necessity of his execution. There
were doubtless secrets in their con-
nection with the bandit that they
would not care to have him reveal and
which may account for their leniency.
But to some who knew nothing about
this Cortina was considered paradox
ically) the soul of honor.
But IN the case of the bandits love
there were no such reasons for, with
holding sympathy. There was no
cause for his loving-nothing to gain.
1t was simply product of nature
that pertains alike to the good and
the bad. After he had been permit
ted to go about at his pleasure for
more than a year there came to the
capital a beautiful woman from the
Caribbean coast Cortina met this
woman and, though he was a convict.
a murderer and a robber, she permit
ted him to become acquainted with
her. From becoming acquainted the
two became companions. They were
frequently seen together in the streets,
and Cortina visited her in her apart
ments.
People wondered when they met the
strange couple If this were not case
Of genuine love, under the influence
of which a fend incarnate would be
transformed into lovable and loving
man. Soldiers who were responsible
for the mans keeping observed, but
said nothing. They had their orders
from the government and obeyed
them. Indeed. all that pertained 20
this man to whom cities had given up
their gold and silver. before whom
whole towns had disappeared. by
whom the streets OF both cities and
towns bad been made to run blood
and who was now permitted to so
where he liked upon his word of ,hon-
orZhis every movement was observed.