The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-05-04

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doorway stood girl; an American
girl, Of the kind men love and cher
lsh and die for
Tho American stood up. 81 speak
the language. as you see, he said. In
excellent Spanish Il accept your
offer and thank you"
Harris. which was the name the
American gave, fitted In. The negro
workmen Of the plantation knew him
| for a master They saw him take the
great machete left by the foreman,
giant Of a man, and weigh It fondly.
1t was a blade as heavy as a broad
ak. They worshiped. lie was an
Americana, and a man!
He had a peculiarity. Very seldom
was he in conversation with the sen
orita or her guest; but he watched
over them.
When the two young women drove
through the plantation the overseer,
on his horse, was in front or behind.
He was always lowering about. just
out OF sight
As the days wore on. the planter
whose estates adjolned came more
frequently. Always he scowled when
he saw the overseer.
One afternoon, following an inter
view with the senorita alone. he flung
himself away in deadly rage. That
evening she was very quiet and
thoughtful
The workmen noticed that the over
seer seemed to redouble his watchful.
ness They saw him slip away few
days later, melting into the jungle
like a panther. They did not know
that he was following one OF the
maids from the big house. and that
he trailed her to n trysting place with
the planter.
II was bright moonlight, and two
o'clock In the morning. The traitor
Gus maid had left the front door un
barred. The overseer, his machete
across his knees, n revolver on his
hip, sat In the gloom OF the old stone
house.
The planter for whom he was walt
ing, came. He staggered up the palm
walk, secure In the feeling that the
American senorita was unguarded.
The plantation workmen we're snor
ing in their kennels half mile away;
the overseer was also asleep In his
quarters. And ten OF the planters
own men waited by the road.
Twenty PAGES from the house. in
the center OF an open space where the
white moon beat down, he stopped
A figure with a naked machete ad
vanced to meet him.
The planters own weapon leaped
out as he hissed curses. He recog
nized the overseer
At the clash of blade on blade the
planters bullles came running from
the fringe OF the palms. With laugh
the American pressed his attack until
his adversary gave ground. He heard
the patter OF feet and saw the ad.
yanclng wave OF his enemies
The cave man who overcame his
enemies with a stone ak awoke in
the American. He shouted aloud in
sheer delight Of the conflict
"Yow-yow-yow, whe-ee-eeel"
At the high-ptched yell the plan.
ter's thoughts fed back to the scene
OF twelve years before on San Juan
hill Again he was Capt. Luis Olfaro,
OF the Royal Twenty-nlnth infantry;
again he was crossing blades beneath
the fierce sunlight with an American
No wonder he had hated the oyerseei
instinctively-lt was the same man.
In his fright and ama2ement he
lowered his guard for the fraction OF
a second, and the Americans machete
laid open his cheek from nose to ear.
Blood streamed down his face. He
wavered. retreated turned And then,
In sudden mad panic, he threw away
his machete and fed. his bullies about
him.
"Whe-e-ee-ee!" roared the victor
Run, you piker;> rum"
A hand was laid on his arm. He
turned to look into the face of his fair
countrywoman. And now, Mr.. John
Harris Burnham, third" she said
calmly, albeit with a little tremble in
her voice, perhaps you will finish
that little conversation we began on
the stalrs?"
But, Doris" he demonstrated, I'm
thirty-three now, and broke, besides
81 don't care II you were a hun
dred" she flashed; "and | have
money enough for us both"
So he dropped his machete and took
her In his arms.