The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1910-06-16

Before die" said Valdez, may I
nave a word with your"
Mancha took him into a private
room, where he unbent, grasped his
hand and embraced him.
Sonora Valdez has assured me-"
said Mancha, that you are especially
anxious not to be known as deserving
the government cause. Now. It has oc.
Cured to me that In order to preserve
your good name it would be well to
have you shot,
what do you meanY" asked VAL
DEE, blanching.
Il mean that II place you before a
firing squad whose guns are loaded
with blank cartridges, they fire at You.
you drop and are carried away, the
news will go to the capital that you
died a noble death. Meanwhile you
and your sonora can step on q steamer
and remain dead in New York, Paris
wherever you find the climate most to
your TASTE"
very well. I presume I shall have
to remain under guard till am ex-
ecuted. When will that occurr
AT once"
Il suppose may bid goodby to my
wifeT'
Certainly"
Sonora Valdez was called In and the
matter explained to her. She thought
a moment and said:
"Your plan is admirable. but Won are
making one mistake. The execution
must not take place till just before q
steamer leaves"
Every WELL" said Mancha. "A steam.
er leaves tomorrow evening for New
York. shall appoint your execution to
take place at p. m. You will sail
at g."
Sonora Valdez went at once to Con
zales, the commander Of the army, and
told him that her husband was to be
stood up to be shot at, but no order
would be issued to leave out the bull.
let's. Gonzales looked knowing, and
the sonora secured his promise to in
form her If she were correct in her
surm1ses. She further plotted with
him for his support in case Mancha
should not give an order to use blank
cartridges. If Gonzales would obey
her order to get rid Of Mancha and
lead his men, with the secretary Of
state, to the capital to join the govern
ment forces the half million that Man
cha had with him would be divided
between him and his army, he having
a hundred thousand for his share. To
this, after some hesitation, he also
agreed.
The next afternoon the secretary
was marched out for execution. His
weeping wife was there to see. Con
zales was there, too, and whispered to
her that his mems guns were shotted
by order Of Mancha. She then openly
requested him to send for the COM
mander. Mancha appeared, wonder
ing If there could be q hitch in his
plan.
Il believe, general" said Sonora Val
dez, ''that there is treachery. Ny hus-
band will be fred at with bullets in
stead Of blank cartridges"
Mancha did not know what to do or
to say.
Colonel Gonzales" continued the
lady, II have General Mancha's prom
Use that my husband shall be fred at
with blank cartridges. You are an
honorable man. Make q test Of your
guns by firing them at General Man
cha. If he has fulfilled his promise he
will not be injured"
Gonzales, who was prepared for this,
took gun from one of his men, aimed
it at Mancha, fired and shot him dead.
The act was the signal for a counter
revolution, If it could be called such,
where there were but some hundred
and forty rascals led by q greater ras-
cal than any Of them. OF course Con-
za1es feigned establishment that the
piece ne had fired at his chief had been
loaded. Sonora Valdez rushed to her
husband and embraced him. Then,
turning, she addressed the garrison,
nearly all of whom had turned out to
witness the execution.
Soldiers" she said, my husband
and myself came here to make an Of
fer by which you should all profit.
That man." pointing to Mancha's body,
promised for the sake Of appearances
to pretend to execute my husband.
You see that the traitor has been KILL
ed by one Of the bullets intended for
the man he would STAY"
Then Gonzales told them that there
was a treasure to be divided among
them; that they were to march to the
capital and have preferment among
the government forces, which now that
the treacherous Mancha was dead
would surely be triumphant.
The first thing done was to bring
out the treasure and turn it over to
this valiant army, whose conscience
was altogether too tender to see 9
man stood up to be shot down by bull
let's when he had been promised blank
cartridges. There was q ine spree
that night, and the next morning the
army, with Senior and Sonora valdez
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