Meade County news., 1916-05-25

with thee have the stone. They took
it in fair fight from the rebels, who
were moving toward Ell Paso with 1t
in the hope of selling it for gold with
which to purchase arms and ammuni-
tion for their cause.
And they in turn have lost the
stone to thee: for passing cowboy
told me that these men had surren-
dered to the Americanos and guided
me the greater part OF the way to thy
camp.
Il am no rebel, senor. am a
churchman, not soldier. Butt seek
the stone-I. now that my brother is
dead |, the Blind Priest of Trecante.
am the lawful guardian Of the shrine"
Just then the deep voice OF the SER
geant broke in.
Sir, II the lieutenant is ready I'll
bring up the packs an the lieutenant
can go through EN-"
Kynaston, called back to earth.
looked up and nodded.
Bring 'em all up in front Of my
tent, sergeant"
The three pack mules, tired and un-
groomed, were led up and their packs
decanted in front of the tent where
Dorothy and Mrs. Fame sat in inter
ested observation.
There ought to be guns an re-
volvers an ammunition" commented
Kynaston. Button! Button! Who's
got the button? / wonder what they've
got packed away in those aparejos."
He soon found out, for under the
quiet orders of the sergeant the guards
slipped the packs and opened them
in front Of the wondering eyes of the
little group.
Il thought at least we would find
that the arms manufacturers of the
country had shipped rifles and pistols
to them across the border," comment
ed Kynaston. And | find nothing;
absolutely nothing. A petate-sleep-
ing nat-and lot of dried red pep
pers, together with package of beans
-frijoles- Wait bit! What's that
under your hand Miss upton?"
Miss Upton, startled, looked curl
ously at the package under her hand
which sheahad been resting upon the
pack. She gave it a twitch, and bun
die wrapped in rough, red blanket
rolled out on the ground. Kynaston
promptly picked it up.
Him! Three rifles that have no
business here and hundred rounds
of ammunition. Wait a bit! Sergeant,
look at the arsenal mark on those
rifles and see where they were made. "
The sergeant scrutinized them care
fully in the early light.
Sir, there's some mark on 'em that
can't make out. 1t looks like some
sort of a flower as we'll as can see."
Kynaston took the gun. AS far
as it's appearance was concerned
1t resembled every other military
rife that he had ever seen, but when
he turned the under side to the light
he saw stamped in the dark wooden
forehand of the piece the full-blown
chrysanthemum that was the emblem
Of only one nation.
HIN! An Arisaka riflel Now
how the deuce did that come here? It
was made as far east as one can get
without tumbling over to the westward
again. How the deuce did Japanese
rifle come into Mexican hands7"
He had no opportunity TO solve the
problem, for even as he spoke Dorothy
gave an exclamation and stepped back
pace as the covering of package
broke and food of silver pesos ran
out at her feet.
There's no proof of stealing in
these" commented Kynaston. Even
If there were the stealing was done
in Mexico and the thief was not with
in our Jurisdiction. What is this?"
1t was plain, dirty canvas sack
perhaps a foot in depth and 1t bore
the marks Of rough handling. He
picked it up and juggled 1t from hand
to hand. The officer of the Carranza
forces was obviously uneasy at the
scrutiny.
THAT, senor," he said, "is the great
est prize Of all. 1t was stolen by
these rebels across the line and waa
to be used by them to purchase arms"
Without waiting for any exblana.
tion as to what the contents Of the
sack might be, Kynaston cut the string
and poured. the contents out upon the
saddle blanket which the sergeant had
spread upon the ground. Certainly
there was nothing in the roll of rags
that rolled out to presage great value.
But on turning over the mass with
his foot glow CT green caught his
eyes. There tumbled out at his feet
a great crystal bell the color Of the
richest blue grass that grows in Zen.
lucky!
Dorothy picked 1t up.
THE padre was right" she said
IF it is indeed emerald 1t is worth
a kings ransom. What will you do
with it?"
eooeOsOSOSsesssssssoOOeeoe
And this wonderful emerald 9
. bell playa a big part-if you :
were Writinu this story what =