The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-11-21

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Torrejon. Your friend will show nov
the fly ball should be caught, 81? Let
Vi watch him."
Solano took two fly balls, each fair
ly we'll out, and backing beyond the
ring of Mexicans to get them. Loud
applause greeted his graceful handling
Of the chances. Then Brockett laid
the wood against the ball with tre-
mendous power. The startled sphere
scared high. and Solano. starting at
the crack Of the bat, raced under the
ball far down to the bushes edge.
Amid a volley of cheers. he leaped
high, pulled down the ball-and then
kept right on running. Before the as
founded Mexicans could realize the
trick, he vanished Into the chaparral,
spr1nting like a mailman, and with
him went the ball that contained the
messages to Gomez Esteral!
Juan Torrejon was a man to act
with promptitude. no matter what
the e%xigency. Horsemen could not
ride through the dense underground
into which Solano had vanished, but
twenty bandits we're on his track a
moment later. The chief himself
sprang at Brockett with a snarl of
fury. and made a lightning search of
the prisoner. The search brought
forth the envelopes In which the orig
tnal missives had reposed, and Tore
Jon. his fierce face lighting up a trile,
carefully slowed them in his own ap-
parel.
He called a young Mexican to his
side and ordered him to act as his in
terpreter.
Tell the young man," said the
chief. slowly and with an apparent re-
turn Of good humor. that l was quite
sure his friend had not carried of
the papers, but that l wanted to make
sure-he will therefore pardon the
roughness of the searching process.
Five minutes before the other young
man went out to catch fly balls, deft
hands bad been over his clothing and
found nothing. He, therefore, simply
ran away. n left his companion to
face the music. So be it. If he can
be caught. all right, all we'll and good.
II not. let him go his way-I give him
credit for a clever escape. You and
l, Senior Brockett. will meet the gen
tlemen with the unpronounceable
names in a few hours-and we will
bargain with them. Will 1t please
you to go on with the baseball teach
ings?"
Noon came, inc the bandits who
a pursued Solano began to struggle
In. They brought no prisoner, and
declared that the young Gringo must
have been carried out and %befriended
by the devil. Torrejon, courteous as
ever. made Brockett eat with him, and
asked him many questions concerning
the great game of the Americans, its
rules, Its famous players. Towards
n o'clock q sentry at the western
edge of the clearing challenged loudly,
and a moment later two bandits e.
corted a huge German gentleman 10
the presence of their commander.
Il see. mein %frient," quoth the
baron, dot you vos, ad lasd, in safe
hands. We're ISIS your bartner?"
The baron was much worried at
the news that Solano had escaped.
but expressed marked relief at the
Information that the Cuban had not
succeeded in getting away with the
letters addressed to Gomez Esteral.
dot ISIS vell," he sighed. happily.
1T iss, perhaps, better yet dot he hat
gone-he can hat holdings to say, und
dere ISIS but de Won left to disbose on.
Shall " get down to bitzness? We're
ISIS de fiddle ledders, gaptain?"
A sentinel at the northern edge of
the clearing gave challenge, and two
more of the bandits came across the
glade. With them walked a little
brown man, and gentle-the lit.
tie man whom Brockett thought long
since dead in the waters of North
river-the ~tireless agent of Japan
none less than Mr.. Yazimoto!
Baron Zollern greeted the Nippon.
csc with evident surprise, but with
forced courtesy.
II s%ubbosed," said he. dot my alb.
bointmend vos exclusive NIT de cap
tain. Sdill, Herr Yazimoto, you are
welcome. You understand, Of course
dot I hat de Wrist und only CLAIM to
desc Esteral documents? De key Oh
de cipher code. Herr Yazimoto. I will
share NIT you. und gladly. Iss dol
agreeable?"
Mr.. Yazimoto purred his dissent
The entire dossier Of Esteral letters
. as we'll as the cipher code, he ex
planned, were his. After he had per
= sued them. he would gladly let hi
, old friend, the Baron Zollern. glance
, through them. but for the present
} time. though 1t desolated him to b<
so selfish. he must insist upon thu
: first inspection Of the papers, alread.
, purchased from the honorable cap
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