The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-10-10
CHAPTER Xxx.

Baron Zollern buttoned his coat,
clenched his fists, and snarled def
ance. mo! Nefer!" he roared, STEP
ping forward and glaring at the little
leader. "Dake dem ofer my dead
body-if you cant"
Gomez Esteral smiled compassion
ately
II do not wish to be too strenuous"
said he. Still think We can obtain
the letters without having to commit
any massacres."
The close-ranked horsemen opened
up lane and Ramon Sol&no, leaning
on the shoulder of a small, stocky,
redheaded boy, limped up to the little
chieftain. Brockett, with whoop Of
delight, fell upon the Cuban.
why not let Baron Zollern keep
his papers?" spoke Solano. The real
letters, Senor Esteral, are here"
Gomez Esteral took the battered old
ball gingerly, as if suspecting a bomb
plot or practical joke. Brockett,
sensing the comedy of the scene,
laughed unrestrainedly for moment,
and then, taking the ball from the
puzzled leader, ripped open the seams.
The yarn was torn away, the papers
came in view, and Brockett, still
laughing, handed the crumpled mis-
sives to Gomez Esteral.
'"Madre de Dios!" cried Juan Tor
reion, but that was cunning work!
The craft of a fox! The generalship
of Napoleon! But what, young
friend, would you have done if you
had not possessed this ball?"
Both boys joined in a peal of merri-
ment. That, Senor Captain" Brock
cit answered, would have been the
least of our troubles. We would have
borrowed new ball from you!"
Torrejon smote his thigh with open
palm. "Carramba," he shouted, land
I would have given it. beyond doubt!
Then l would have been ten times
more the monkey and what you Grin
gos call the goat! Gomez Esteral,
am your prisoner, Do with me what
you will do not care. After behold
ing a good joke such as this, | can
meet any fate, well-satisfied!"
Gomez Esteral spoke gravely,
thoughtfully. There is much here to
perplex and bewilder me. | will re-
tire and reason out the full meaning
of these letters. Rest you here,
senores, all of you. | will return in
perhaps an hour" And the little man,
attended by two or three of his horse
men, disappeared amid the chaparral.
Baron Zollern drew the worthless
envelopes from his pocket, tore them
open, and stared at the blank sheets
they had contained. Then, with
gesture of utter disgust and sardonic
contempt, he offered them to Mr..
Yazimoto. The Japanese struck them
from the Germans hand, sank down
upon the sod, and sobbed like little
child. Baron Zollern drew himself up
proudly, gallantly.
For me-" he spoke, I'D iss all ofer.
l may not go back to Berlin now.
Young chentlemen, l gongrachulade
you. You haf outvitted me from start
to finich, und you haf dricked me at
de lasd. VIII you shake hands nit
me?"
Brockett and Solano stood with
barred heads as they clasped the
barons hand. A great soul had broken
before them, and a patriot had come
to the bitter ending of his dreams. !
They clasped the Germans hands
and all was silence save the sobbing
of the little Japanese, unnerved and
overwhelmed.
I'D vos not fair contest" the
baron said, patting the boys on the
shoulder. "Dere vas you two-und
againsd you twenty spies und skilled
hunters of men. Sometimes, Herr
Yazimoto und worked togeder. Some
dimes We worked abart. Nit all de
resources at our command, We kebt
ubon de drail-two men can hardly
WOOL twenty. We did all We could
und yet you beat us, beat us at efery
blace, und in efery city. At lasd, here
in Mexico, l beliefed We had you
und you gate us de checkmate at de
lasd turn off de road! Boys, again I
congratulate you. You will be great
some day-T, Baron Zollern, crushed