The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-09-30


"Ahl that is your room. is 1t not,
senor2" Intercepted the clerk, and
arose and came forward.
Nine" l bowed with alacrity, for
1t was not time to falter or arouse
suspicion. II just left it."
"And locked it?"
NO"
"HereI"
The clerk reached behind him and
handed chisel and a hammer to the
servant with the added words: TT is
under process Of the law, and there
fore legal. Force the door,"
l followed the group up the stair
case. From what was said estimat-
ed that my lady Hermosa was PUN
ming away from rebel guardian, to
join a patriot lover in the City of
Mexico. Once at the rail station fifty
piles away she would be beyond the
limit Of legal detention.
Empty" pronounced the head Of
icer in sour, disappointed tone as
the barrier was forced, and he darted
a swift glance about the room.
'ObserveI" shrilly called out his
compatriot, lifting filmy dainty
dress from chair, Again" he add
ed. and pointed to the open window,
to sheet twisted into a rope dan
Cling into the shallow court below.
The leader paused momentarily to
direct scowling glance at me.
If thought you were a party to
this escapade-" he began.
Save your words" l interrupted
calmly, with an Indifferent shrug Of
the shoulders. II am the loser, as
miss a suit Of clothes"
This was true. Just before the fair
suppliant had appeared. I had laid out
from my satchel suit which l in
tended to wear the remainder of my
journey took my loss philosophical
ly. / had lost good deal lately, /
and my partner, back at the mines.
In a whimsical way I stuffed.the pref
ty creation OF lace and silk into my
satchel as q memento of an episode
truly Mexican, and in the hurry OF de-
parture in the stage coach temporar-
lily forgot all about my fair lady Her
mosa.
l have said that was disguised.
There was reason. Briefly, my part
ner and myself had just got our grant
over on the range panning out great,
when the revolution came along The
province was against US as Americans.
We knew what to expect-annoyance
incendiarism. looting. probably mas
sacraA
we held a concession from the CEN
trail government. Fortunately, too,
the governor of the province had ap-
proved 1t. This would hold when
peace came around again, provided it
was flled at the capital We decided
to abandon working the mine, but we
determined to validate our concession.
Spies were watching US. / slipped
away, disguised, with the previous
document. My partner. after settling
up affairs at the mines, was to join
me at the capital city, where we were
to wait until the trouble blew over.
l noticed two of the coach passen-
suspicious looking fellows whom
I seemed to have seen before. l won
dered If they we're watching me on
account of the fugitive girl. That
could not be. however, for they had
appeared a station back. At all
events, three hours on the steep
climb over the mountains 1 awoke
from a doze. with he ominous words
ringing in my ears:
"Senor, alight!"
One Of the men held the driver at
bay with a revolver. The other, simi-
larly armed, marched me to the side
Of the road, carrying my satchel with
him. He roughly burst 1t open, went
over its contents and arose to search
me.
mot your watch, nor your money"
he observed, as / started to tender
him these. "A certain document, q
mining concession-we know you have
1t. We want IT,"
l felt dismayed. and then in fash
/ laughsd-laughed outright OF q
sudden It occurred to me that had
placed the precious document in q
pocket OF the clothes appropriated by
my lady Hermosa-
Save yourself tho trouble Of .