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


doorway stood a girl; an American
girl, of the kind men love and cher.
lsh and die for
The 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, a
giant of man, and weigh It fondly.
1t was blade as heavy as broad
ak. They worshiped. lie was an
Americana, and a man!
He had a peculiarly. Very seldom
was he in conversation with the sen
orlta 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 adjoned 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 a 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, a revolver on his
hip, sat in the gloom OF the old stone
house
The planter, for whom he was wait
Ing, came. He staggered up the palm
walk, secure in the feeling that the
American senorita was unguarded.
The plantation workmen were snor
ing in their kennels half a mile away;
the overseer was also asleep I'm 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 Kissed 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 a laugh
the American pressed his attack until
his adversary gave ground. He heard
the patter OF feet and saw the ad.
vancing 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
"Yowyow-yow, whe-ee-e-eel"
At the high-pitched 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-ninth infantry;
again he was crossing blades beneath
the fierce sunlight with an American.
No wonder he had hated the overseeI
instinctively-it was the same man.
In his fright and amagement 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-e-e-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 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 hun.
dred" she tlashed "and have |
money enough for us both"
So he dropped his machete and took
her In his arms.