The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-01-16
CHAPTER Xxx.

Baron Zollern buttoned his coat,
clenched his fists, and snarled def
ance. mo! Nefer!" he reared. step
ping forward and glaring at the little
leader. "Dake dem Offer my dead
body-if you cant"
Gomez Esteral smiled compassion
ately.
II do not wish to be too strenuous"
said he. "Still l think we can obtain
the letters without having to commit
any m~assacres."
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 II suspecting 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
80 NynnnIaap Dat uJhaf xyn,tnp
friend. would o have done II 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 our troubles. We would have
borrowed a new bali from you"
Torrejon smote his thigh with open
palm. ~"Carramba," he shouted, land
/ would have given II, beyond a doubt!
Then ! would have been ten times
more the monkey and what you Grin
gos cali the goat! Gomez Esteral, I
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
perpiex and bewiider me. I will re,
tire and reason out the full meaning
OF these letters. Rest you here,
senores. all of you. I WILL return in
perhaps an hour" And the little man,
attended by two or three of BIS horse
men, disappeared amid the c~baparral,
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 soboed like a little
child. Baron Zollern drew himself w
proudly, CALAMITY.
For me-" he spoke. I'D ISIS all ofer
I may not go back to Berlin now
Young chentlemen. ! gon~grachulade
you. You hat outvitted me from star,
to finch, und you hat dricked me al
de lasd. VIII you shake hands mi,
me?"
Brockett and Solano stood with
barred heads as they clasped the
baron's hand. A great soul had broker
before them. and a patriot had come
to the bitter ending of his dresms
They clasped the Germans hancs-
and all was silence save the sobbins
OF the little Japanese. unnerved ane
overwhelmed.
ia vos not a fair contest" thu
baron said. patting the boys on tn.
shoulder. "Dere vas you two-unt
againsd you twenty spies und skillet
hunters OF men. Sometimes. Herr
Yazimoto und ! worked togeder. Some
dimes We worked abart. Nit all d,
resources at our command. We keb
ubon de drail-two men can hardl,
WOOL twenty. We did all We could
und yet you beat us. beat US 1T efer,
blaze. und In efery city. At lasd, her,
In Mexico, l beliefed We had you
urd you gate ns de checkmate at d,
Lard turn on de road, Boys, again
gongradulate you. You viii be- grea
somp day--I. Baron Zollecn. crushs'
/ ! und beaten. say Il now.-