Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1912-08-08

turned. rode out OF the little cross
road. and trotted slowly up the hill.
Descending the farther slope. they
rode on In the same dead silence for
perhaps an hour. Coming to thicket !
beside the road. they wheeled into It's ;
dark stretches, threaded their way 4
along a narrow track In single fle. |
and emerged upon a clearing. IN which !
q campfire blazed brightly. while /
some fifty men were longing round
the flames. A sentry's challenge was
given and answered: the horsemen
dismounted. picketed their horses. and
assisted the prisoners to the ground.
A big. superbly-molded fellow.
standing some ten feet from the
flames, seemed TO be IN full authority.
and the boys were led towards him
when he waved his hand. Richly
dressed. heavily armed. the freight
playing over his dark, fierce counte-
nance, he looked the part OF the OBJ
cratic villain or the musical, brigand.
| Receiving the boys with a smile that
showed his strong white teeth In thor
ough Roosevelt fashion. be motioned
them TO seats upon two huge Mexican
saddles near by. he himself remaining
standing
Il spik but YER poor Engiess," he
apologiEed. "You-one OF you-spik
Spanish. si7"
Solano promptly took up the con-
versation. Interpreting sentence By
sentence to Brockett, who sat calmly
by. occasionally interposing pointed
comments which the Cuban rapidly
translated to their captor.
Il am glad to meet you two young
caballeros." ran the suave speech OF
} the big brigand. smiles ripping
through his words. There are rea-
sons for my pleasure in making your
acquaintance. The fact Is. caballeros.
that two gentlemen-pot one. but two,
such is my uncommon good fortune
I have made me great offers for your
capturs-or, rather, for certain docu-
. ments. letters or messages which you
: bear concealed upon you. These mes
sages. II understand rightly, are ad-
dressed to Gomez Esteral, who makes
i his headquarters at the Rancho No
gal, and IL appears to be OF great In
terest TO these two gentlemen that
: the documents should never reach
him. Do state the case corrsctlyf p
ASK him." Brockett cut In. III he
has any objections TO telling US who
-. the gentlemen Of such liberality may
a be7"
mot IN the least" the brigand an.
10 swered. amicably. I'm fact, as you
= viii doubtless meet them both tomor
row. you might as well receive your
q information in advance. One OF them
- Is a German. HIS name Is quite dim
cult for a Mexican TO speak. but b,
= is a very big man. with. apparently
n violent temper. The other is q JaI
7. Rnese. and, regret to say. his name
st also among the impossibilitiss.-
IS Are these two IN alliance, then
Brockett demanded. The big ma
10 smiled sweetly, and shook his hea
ne emphatically.
No. cabaIleros. no. That II n
~ best part OF the whole thing. A dram
a play, is II not? learn, from thes
=, two gentlemen, that while they al
very good friends. and Eave works
IN common at times to run you dow
that each now desires the sole, G
elusive possession OF the papers a
he dressed to Conner EsteraL Each wis
en- es me to secure these papers, tn
ed them over 10 him. and fend on u
an other with some Wild tale OF failuI
h. Carramba, but these diplomats mu
be- be deep-dyed prevaricatorsi
Ied course. I taxed each OF them for 4
penses. In advance, and there now !
poses In my sash. caballeros. SO
good American dollars from each o
OF them"
Il How do you propose 70 deal vi
II them-and with usT" asked Solano.
M IT fear" smiled the brigAnd. sngI
= ingly, that the problem Of dealt
with you two IL very simple. cam
III permit you to resume Jour 1ourn'
~ for Gomez EsterAl has q long arm q
w q violent disposition. He would
N quire most scarchingiy into the 81
page and robbery Of any messeng'
bearing documents addressed 70 hi
4 II seems to me that I cannot let y
turn back TO the Rio GrAAds, eth
lest your colonel make complaint
81 the Rurales. who would aeon awe
"a down upon me. No, no. II grisvss
~ extremely, young men. but fear q
y you must die. Az to the papers
= may auction them TO the highest
N der. However. DO not let these thiE
distress you before tomorrow.
shall be wsIl treated while with I
II on the word OF Juan Torre3oni-
? Solano sprang up from his sadt
IN. chair. You are Juan Torre5onr"
demanded
Wholly at your service. cabails
~ Juan Torrsjon. humble captain oi
-