The Washington herald., 1912-01-28
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
It doesn't take long for crowd of
husky athletes 10 traverse the distance
between the home plate and center field.
As Brockett disappeared behind the mes
quite, half a dozen ball players, with a
veil OF surprise and rage. dashed across
the diamond. 1t was less than half a
minute before they reached the point
where the lassoed yOungster had last
been visible, hut all that they found was
Brockctt himself still mixed up with the
coils OF a Iariat, his shirt half torn OF,
the waistband Of his trousers ripped, and
his pockets inside out. His assailants,
whoever they might have been, had van
ished into the chaparral, and the crack
ling Of the underbrush gave evidence that
they were rapidly widening the distance
between themselves and the avenginE
cavalry.
What was it, who roped you?''
Are you hurt?" the players chorused,
as they picked Up the rumpled but un-
injured center fielder. Brockett, freed
from the tangling rope, shook himself,
made an effort to readjust his torn cloth
ing, and then sat down on the grass,
rocking with laughter
I'm not hurt" he explained. between
spasms of merriment, hut think some
body's feelings will be injured. Some
body is going to be badly stunE"
Your belt is gone!" cried Solano
Yes. That's the best. part of IL"
gurElcd Brockett. Half an hour before
the game, not wishing to be too heavily
weighted, ] took my money. my pack
cts Of letters-everythinE of any value
or any weiEht-and placed them in a
safe at headquarters The captain of
Company F. fixed II aH-up for me. That
took two or three pounds and lot of
bulk of my waist and gave me a chance
10 work more freely. Whoever lassoed
mo wanted my belt They jerked me in
among the bushes, flung me on my face
and went through me in less than five
seconds time. And they got the best. they
got the belt. and ran away with it,
Brockett again collapsed with laughter
Didn't you see them at all, my boy?"
questioned the chaplain.
NO. sir Broclzett repIied. ''Tbcv
JSrked me in here so fast l had no
chance 10 turn, and then laid me face
downward. so that couldn't see them
They didn't even speak. but robbed me
and were gone before I could even roll
over and look after them. It was finely
done-just tho way the wild West meIo-
dramas used to have the Mexican vii
lain lassY the heroic cowboy"
Didn't they get anything besides the
belt?" asked Solano.
Yes they did" And again Brockett
was cOnyulsed. They got a nice set Of
nonsensiCal messages and faxed ciphers
that put in four hours constructing on
the train l hope they get rich with
their pIunder."
An old trooper, a veteran of the plains.
had pushed a short distance into the
Chaparral while this conversation was
going on He now returned, shaking his
grizzled head.
There was three Of 'cm. sir he re-
ported to the captain OF Company c.
Two was Mexicans, one a cheap fellow
that didn't amount to much, and the
other a vaquero, with new, high-heeled
shoes, and a new black velveteen Jacket.
His arm caught on some thorns, sir, and
here's a bit of the goods. The third
one was a little man-at least, his feet
were very small-and he wore regular city
shoes. That's all the trail tells. sir I
suppose they had horses the other side
OF this brush. and are long ways from
here by now
Six troopers rode out, beating the chap
arralr but with little hope of oYertaking
the lassO throwers. The triumphant com
mon citizens and the defeated cavalry
to camp. exchanging much per-
sidage, and mapping out the preIiminaries
for the third game of the series. Brockett
and Solano, assigned, to a comfortable
tent, started a debate as to the Identity
of their latest adversary.
Tho fact that he, was small man.
leaving a small track" said Solano,
seems TO indicate. that our Japanese
friend swan out Of the North River.
Doesn't It look that way?"
1T surely does" assented Brockatt.
Still, the German baron may have a
few small men as his oonfederates. That
would be possible, wouldn't II "
The baron is still locked up at Little
Rock" objected Solano. He would have
difficulty in directing any
operations from the cell where we last
saw him. can't see any one in this but
he gentle Jap. Can your
1T appears to be some OF his playful
ioings." said Brockett- HE has kept
himself wen under cover, though. The Of
icers-who keep their eyes and ears open
all tell me that no Japanese gentlemen
have been seen in this vicinity"
Solano smiled significantly THAT NAV
oe-but did it over occur to you that
the average Chinaman looks very much
Ike the average Japanese? And there
lver, so I'm told"
The boys looked out Of the tent ana
yazed upon the dreary panorama of
lrustS rock, sand, and turbid river. Then, |
mitten with the pangs OF excellent appe-
ties and remembering an Invitation TO !
he eating place of the war correspond |
nts, they stepped over the threshold. A
dexcan, poorly clad, miserable of ap-
'earance, intercepted them
Il beg pardon. senores."
Tell IL in Spanish, If you can't In Eng
ish," said Solano, amiRbly. The Mexi- |
an at once started brief. but energetleJ
ration in the CastiIian tongue, and |
Tound up by pressing a solled piece of |
ardboard into Solano's hand. Then, bow ]
ng with true native dignity. he turhed |
nd seemed swallowed up in the brown
arth only a few yards away
He says" interpreted. Solsno, that
. was poor peon. very much in debt;