Tombstone epitaph., 1916-08-13
CHAPTER TX.
Murder.

 feet At first she could not believe that she was awake; then, leaning forward. she picked it up and placed 1t upon the table. The act. simple as it was, reused her thoroughly. With little shiver, she turned to her father. who had regained consciousness and was watching her through halfclosed eyes
 We'll" he said. Well, Say it.! know perfectly we'll what you are thinking. Give it a name"
 How came you to take the Bell. fa- therl I saw it in his tent when va sought refuge in his camp. You saw 1t there. too. Was 1t then that you got it?"
 Her father nodded silently but did | not take his eyes from her face. We'll she knew where the trouble lay. We'll she knew why he had taken the stone. for the trouble had lain with them always. and the shadow of 1t had blighted the latter years of her mothers life.
 Sane upon every other subject, the wealthy old miner. who had earned a worldwide reputation as a connoisseur in matters of art, had got along with 1t an equally well-earned reputation as kleptomaniac. For years she had known of this failing of her father On her very deathbed Dorothy's mother had spoken plainly of 1t, laying it upon the daugh- ter to be careful to prevent any such thing from occurring again.
 You saw the stone when we were in his camp" she reiterated. Was 1t then that you took it?" Again he nodded silently. The girl. her bright head sunk upon her hands. stood silent with the shame of 1t. T needed it-I needed it' And ! they would not sell such curio. That | old priest would as soon have sold his soul as this miserable Bell. It's a good I thing. my dear. that l did take 1t. which to buy Kynaston's freedom. Who is that coming up the hill? Is 1t Wilkes come back?" It was Wilkes come back. and Manuel along with him. A volley of curses of more than ordinary fuency told that they had companions. Motioning the women back, Upton flung open the door, admitting the two men with their prisoners. | They come all right, but we had to use some coaxin'-hey, boz" laughed Wilkes, punching the old colonel of | orS,Ilary ;n tho r;ha with the Inp1 ha r. rel of his revolver. Colonel Mayez fairly spat at him: then. seeing the green Bell upon the table. he started back in surprise. The next second he was fairly fawning before the table.
 For this jewel" he cried, "el gen eral will make any concessions-do anything, It will bring the last large sum of money our forces will require before our arms establish a govern ment of true patriots and we are able to issue loans as a recognized nation"
 "Oh. get down to cases!" snorted old Wilkes
 This. then. We have the men, but no arms-no money to get arms. Men? Pah! We are gathering men on all sides. Our forces are daily in- creasing Only last night we had a party of seventy volunteers sent in by | Captain Colquez. He sent them in with a request that we send back the ropes at once so that he could forward a fresh detachment"
 And you call them yolunteers?" asked Dorothy.
 "Si, senorita! They. too. are vol unteers-unwilling voluntee-s-never- theless, volunteers"
 Wilkes grunted.
 "Nemmind all that chatter" he said. What you want is that Emerald Bell. aint it?"
 "Si, si, For that we will let 50 our prisoner; we will allow you to de part in peace-anything, everything! speak for the general-I-"
 Shut up," interrupted Upton.
 The old miner turned to Wilkes.
 "Fm going down to their camp my self" he said shortly. You hold these hostages for my safe return. I'll dicker with this old highbinder personally; give him the Bell if have to, but, any. way. bring Kynaston back with me-"
 He hesitated.
 T really owe it to the boy" he con- cluded. What are you shaking your head at. wilkes?"
 Bray a fool in Q mortar, yet shall his folly depart not from him." quoted Mir. Wilkes. q member hearin' that at Sunday school. If you go down there an promise him the Bell for Kynaston he'll grab you an shoot you if you don't come across with the Bell.
 If you take it with you he'll take 1t, shoot you, an then shoot Kynas- ton.
 No, siree! Tn only thing to do is to send this here colonel what has seen the Bell back to General Cbispo an tell him that you'll swap it for Key naston."