Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-03-03

ard Of honor which he set up for him
self and, second. because his heart
was given to 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 II 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 1t 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 a 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
t more than year there came to the
capital a beautiful woman from the
Caribbean coast. Cortina met this
woman and. though he was convict.
murderer and 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 II this were not a case
of genuine love. under the influence
Of which fend incarnate would be
transformed into a 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 to
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 had been made to run blood
and who was now permitted to go
where he liked upon his word Of hon.
or-his every movement was observed,
and yet no one openly made any COM
ment or criticism.
But underneath the people marveled
to see one who was ostensibly wait
ing for the government to tx day
when the garrotte should end his ca
reer forever, giving himself up to the
pleasure Of loving and being loved.
without an effort to avert the final
tragedy. Why did he not steal away.
which he might easily have done with
the woman he loved, and in some for
eign land live life of atonement for
his crimes? But would she go with
him?, Would she share his exile, al
ways in dread wherever they might
make q home. that he should become
known as the bandit Cortina? OF this
no one knew. They could only wonder.
And still the man under sentence and
! the, Caribbean beauty appeared to-
| gether on the thoroughfares. and
| through her open windows came their
voices. sometimes mingled with laugh
| ter or the strains from her guitar.
One night Cortina's jailers met with
a surprise. The sunset and the pris-
oner had not returned. Perhaps he
had been belated. The twilight faded
and yet nothing was seen of the pris.
oner. At dark Ire was still absent, and
the guard was turned out. Whether
1t was called out under pretense
or whether the orders were that they
should make an effort to find the pris.
oner and, return him to Jail doesn't
matter. This man Of so much unrecog.
n1Zed Importance to the government
was missing. and it behooved the au'
thorities to show zeal in looking fol
him. III
The guard was about to start from
the prison yard when man staggered
up to the gate. threw up his hands
and fell upon his. face. Lifting him
up, they threw back his jacket, and
there up against his breast was the
hilt Of stiletto.
The man was Cortiua.a: T.. -.
eyes, am late." he said feebly, "but
f~came. Love lured me to death.
had been with her all the afternoon
Then when it was time for me tc
return here she begged me to stay
longer with her. When came away
the night had fallen. We walked to-
gether to the door. l kissed her good
by. 1t was dark. felt the point OF
a knife as it slipped into my vitals
drew the pistol you have permitted
me to carry, but she had vanished in
the shadow"
Cortina gasped. and his head fell
upon his breast He was dead.
The beautiful Caribbean was not
again seen in the capital. The next
day the story Of Cortina's death was
told among the people, but no one ven,
tured upon an explanation. Some sup