The Benson signal., 1916-08-12
'Come!" called the major. and the

Sir" he said, tine Omcer who com
manded the prisoners has asked me
to ask the major if he can see him..
Certainly. Go and tell the ser
geant of the guard to send him W
here under guard"
The soldier left
Now" thought Major Updyke, "'
wonder what new devilment is
afoot?"
A moment later the Mexican cap
tain of infantry entered the tent and
introduced himself as Ell Captain
Ygnacio Torres.
81 have asked for the honor of an
that the Americans do not desire to
lend themselves to piece of injus-
tice. l refer, senior, to the taking OF
our stores. The arms, Of course,
understand are to be held until the
cessation of hostilities, as is required
by international law, but the other
things-the money and our personal
belongings-are not these respected
as in war;"
What personal belongings do you
mean, sir?'
II mean, sir, that there was on one
of these pack-mules a very valuable
jewel that we took from the rebels in
fight. They had stolen it from the
Shrine of Our Lady of Olvidados,
down in Trocanto to the south, and
were bringing it north to purchas
arms with. We fought with them
and took the plunder, and I wish now
to enter formal claim for it,"
''Who was the blind priest who
came into camp yesterday and
claimed it," asked Major Updyke.
"A blind priest, senior? know
only that a man came and claimed
the stone-the Bell, I mean.
am told that he came hard into
camp upon the arrival Of the pris-
oners. I know that he claims the
stone as a part of the property of his
shrine down in Yucatan; but, senor,
that is claim that might well be
made by any man who has seen or
heard of the jewel. Has he seen it?'
mot since it's arrival here, GER
tainly."
"Can he describe it?"
Major Updyke laughed. 'It is hard
ly to be expected, senior, that blind
man can so accurately describe such
thing as to convince anyone. He
hoC nr+o oiv,1x hoord n1co do.
scribe it, at least"
IT ask" insisted the Mexican, "that
he be questioned in my presence as
to how and where and why the stone
came into our possession. 1t is true
that the stone was looted from the
south by the rebels. It is also true
that we defeated them in open fight
and that they fed, leaving their pack
mules.
These mules we captured, and
afterward were compelled to abandon
when the rebels had received re-en.
forcements and drove us across the
border Then, senor, your lieutenant
held us as prisoners of war and took
our baggage.
IT ask this, senor, because one OF
my men has told that he saw the
blind priest leave the camp a short
time ago. I know him we'll enough
to know that If he has left good bed
and good meals he must have had
sound reason. May I see the stone
senor, to be assured of it's safety?'
Major Updyke hesitated. A refusal
of the request, which was but reason
able, would certainly create sus
picions of Kynaston's honesty. A
statement of the actual condition Of
affairs would not be believed. He
temporized.
"Senor Kynaston turned over the
saddle-bags to me while ago." HI
said. II think it would be better tt
wait until he returns"
But, senor," persisted the Mexi
can, did you see the Bell? It is &
wonderful stone?" Did you see it?"
mo, I have not seen it; in fact
senior, to be perfectly frank with you
when Senor Kynaston sent for the
padre to speak to him about the mat
ter of the Bell, the padre had lef
the camp and the stone was gone"
The Mexican started.
"Senor," he said, II had feared
some such thing. Ell viejo diablo!
might have known that some sucl
thing would happen if the lieutenan
were not warned. Blind as he is
that old rascal can see more with hi
sightless eyes than many sound mer
with two. Where Is the lieutenant
senor?"
He, too, has left camp, and he hal
| sent a party to arrest the padre
wherever they shall find him. Res
content, senor, the jewel will be re
covered, and when it Is recovered i
will not again be placed in jeopardy
Will you not sit down and have ;
cigar? I can guarantee them. The.
come from your own state Of Tam
aulipas."
| In the meantime Kynaston, wit
his men, had pushed on across tn
range, from which he had seen, earle