Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-09-24
Copyright, 1916, by Louis Tracy.

fair progressed exactly along the ex.
pected lines, and the Mexicans, caught
between two fires, fought like rats Id
a pit
Oddly enough, Pancho himself
could have escaped, as he headed =
strong contingent which contrived to
smash its path along the selected line
of retreat. But he discovered that
Madge Kerr had been left behind,
and, literally daring everything for
her sake, rode back into the camp,
where hot fight was now reaching
its inevitable end. Groups OF Mex
leans, deprived of their horses by the
first batch of their cofnpatriots, were
selling their lives dearly, or surren.
dering when any notice was taken OF
their frenzied signals.
The ring of steel and lead was fast
closing in, yet Pancho did not fy, but
continued his search. At last he
found her covering behind pile Of
empty ammunition boxes.
Come with me-" he cried passions
ately. Il love you'll | can save you'll
In few months ! will make you .
qucenl"
She refused, whereupon the Mex
lean, rendered frantic by the thought
that he would probably lose her fore
ever now, clasped her to his breast.
She uttered a choking appeal that he
would save himself, and the infatu-
ated man interpreted the words as
conveying a hint that she returned his
love.
So he relaxed his grip, and, wrench.
ing herself free, the girl angrily bade
him go, since the American troops
were now within few yards of her.
AT that instant Mexican woman,
none other than Juanita, came from
some hiding place in the camp, and,
noting the imminent danger OF her
one-time lovers position, sped swiftly
to his rescue. Pancho leaped to re.
gain his horse, but was brought down
BY bayonet thrust, which inflicted =
serious though not vital wound. His
assailant shortened the rifle for an-
other stab, but the unhappy Juanita
flung herself on Pancho's body, and
received the steel intended for him.
The battle was now ended. Burton
was overjoyed at finding Madge Kerr
safe and sound. But his delight was
shortlived. In the confusion Rogers
drew near.
"Pancho is not dead" whispered the
manager, None of the men has rec.
ognized him. Let him be taken back
to his own people on safe con.
duct"
"Panchoi" cried Burton, looking al
the wounded man in amazement. rs
this her
"Of course il Isl
But how comes il that you know
himi"
why shouldn't / know himl He
must be allowed to escape, tell you.
II he dies, our concern will never get
the money for the rifles l sold him"
You Internal traitorr roared John.
He saw red, and would have struck
his companion, but Rogers fumbled in
a pocket and produced typed sheet
which he thrust viciously before his
eyes.
"You fooll" he muttered. Don't
think you are not as deep in the mud
as l am. Look at thisi"
Even in the stress OF the moment,
John forced himself to read. The doe.
ument was brief. 1t ran:
March z, 1916.
Received OF Messrs. Burton and
Rogers two thousand dollars in pay.
ment for my services in the campaign
for intervention and for myself in per.
suading John Burton to finance Il.
(Signed) MADGE KERR.
The woman herself had witnessed
the scene between the two men and
was now striving to assume an air of
indifference.
rs this trucf" demanded John
brokenly, holding out the accusing
paper. i
why shouldn't it be7" she retorted
with sullen brazenncss. "One has to
live somehow
A new light dawncd on her unhappy
hearcr.
"Had you ever met Pancho before
the last two days" he inquired.
mo" she said. "You had better
have the straight tale now. This
trouble needed engineering, and you
were too easy"
Burton groaned aloud. He almost
reeled as he put hand to his eyes in
vain effort to shut out the horrible
reality. All, all, were false--friends,
patriotic motives, even the most sa-
cred name Of womanhood. In that
mortal hour how could he fail to be-
lieve that Humanity was in the Grip
of Evilf
(END OF ELEVENTH EPISODFi