The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1913-02-21
5AEETYNEX XullPL<IzER5


ffty miles from his present location.
There's one thing he grumbled,
that deeply regret about those fights
with the Lipans | killed too many
OF EN-. and scared the rest away. II
| had gone a little slow about it, and
not played hog. they might have last
ed till the present time. and | might
go right out this morning and chase
them over the river. Well, Conroy,
what do you WANT
The old trooper saluted. Couple
OF young fellows TO see you, colonel.
They've been here two days waiting
for you. sir Blamed good ball play
ers, too, both of EN-"
What the blazes do | care about
their ball playing? Tell 'em TO come
in. and show their excuse for living!"
Brockett and SolanO, two handsome.
athletic youngsters, somewhat frayed
as TO dress, saluted the old warhorse
with becoming gravity. Brockett drew
from his clothing a fat package, and
handed 1t TO the colonel. who received
IL with quiZZical smile
Never mind any explanations.
said the old soldier. Il have been
given a little advance explanations
concerning you. You are the secret
service messengers who were to
bring me certain orders and instrnc-
tions In cipher that no foreign spy
couId trapclota uithout tho ia Or a
chisel If you got through and
brought me the papers safely, | Was
to learn the confounded cipher. and
adopt 1t for future correspondence. H
you didn't get through | was TO re-
port the fact with deep regrets. Cor
rect, isn't it?'
Yes, colonel"
Have much trouble getting here?"
"A trihe. colonel"
The old fellow chuckled. "A trine,
Ell? I'll bet it was more than trice.
Good game boys, both of you. This
package contains orders that may mean
a lot to our general foreign policy, and
at least two governments that ! could
mention would give good deal to get
the key. Tell me about your trip, and
what they tried to do to you.3'
The boys. thus encouraged, told the
veteran the full details of their jour
neys, while the old man alternately
laughed and stormed. When the re
cital was finished, Colonel Lewis shoot
hands with them heartily, and the
youngsters knew that the grim ole
hero was their friend for life.
I'm have to devote my attention K
this cipher code of yours for the mex
two hours" said the colonel. "Yol
boys will mess with me today, hope?'
I'VE must be on our way as Quickl,
as possible" Brockett negatived
There is still some margin in ou
time-limit. but we would like to rount
up everything as rapidly as possible
After delivering these papers to you
our orders take us TO Rancho NogaI
on the other side of the Rio Grande
Rancho Nogal. eh?" And the col
oners eyebrows were raised In SUI
prise and Interrogation. Message Z
Gomez Esteral. | SUPPOSE"
Yes, colonel"
You know who Gomez Esteral ma
be, OF course?"
mo. sir We didn't find out any
| thing about him. All We know is tina
we are TO deliver him message, an
| that was all We cared to know"
The colonel beamed with apprecis
| tion.
| You boys will make good soldier
| yet. The first essential of good so
dier is TO obey orders without askin
| questions, and that, | see, you hav
already learned to do. Under the CT
| cumstances | think I will give you
little information concerning Come
Esteral-it may help you TO realiz
the Importance of your final mission
The boys sat down and hitche
tneir chairs near to the colonel. VIII
spoke in a low, impressive tone, Will
his young hearers fairly gasped 6
the revelations that were now unfol,
ed IN. thaiE~ attentive -eaFs,- .----'-'-
Gomez Esteral," said Colonel Lev
Is. rs probably the brsiniest and mo.