The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-11-28
CHAPTER xxx.

SOSSb
clenched his lists, and snarled def
ance. mo! Nefer!" he roared. step
ping forward and glazing at the little
leader. "Dake dem ofer my dead
body-if you cant"
Gomez Esteral smiled compassion
ately.
Il do not wish to be too strenuous
said he. "Still I think we can obtain
the letters without having to commit
any massacres."
The close-ranked horsemen opened
up a lane and Ramon Solano, leaning
on the shoulder of a small, stocky,
redheaded boy, limped up to the little
chieftain. Brockett. with a whoop of
delight, fell upon the Cuban.
"Why not let Baron Zollern keep
his papers?" spoke Solano. The real
letters, Senior Esteral, are here"
Gomez Esteral took the battered old
ball gingerly, as If s%uspecting a bomb
plot Or a practical joke. Brockett,
sensing the comedy of the scene,
laughed unrestrainedly for a 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
rejon, but that was cunning work!
The craft of a fox! The generalship
of a 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, Senior Captain" Brock
EFT answered, would have been the
least of Jul troubles. We would have
borrowed a new ball from you!"
Torrejon smote his thigh with open
palm. "~Carramba," he shouted, land
I would have given it, beyond a doubt!
Then l would have been ten times
more the monkey and what you Grin
COS 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. l can
meet any fate, well-satisfied!"
Gomez Esteral spoke gravely,
thoughtfully. There is much here to
perplex and bewilder me. l will re-
tire and eason out the full meaning
of these letters. Rest you here,
senores, all OF you. l 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 a
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 a little
child. Baron Zollern drew himself up
proudly, CALAMITY.
For me-" he spoke, I'D ISIS all ofer.
I may not go back to Berlin now
Young chentlemen, l congratulate
you. You hat outvitted me from start
to finch, und you hat dricked me at
de lasd. Viii you shake hands NIT
me?"
Brockett and solano stood with
barred heads as they clasped the
baron's 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 a fair contest" the
baron said, patting the boys on the
shoulder. Deere vas you two-und
againsd you twenty spies und skilled
hunters of men. Sometimes, Herr
Yazimoto und l 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 W could
und yet you beat Us, beat US at efery
blaze. und In efery city. At lasd. here
in Mexico. I beliefed We had you
und you gate VI de checkmate at de
lasd turn OF dc road! Boys, again
congratulate you. You will be great
some day., Baron Zollern. crushed
und beaten. say It now!" =,