The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-07-28

walked on to the great chinaberry Tes
under which his horse was tled
kynaston thought cheorlessly OF what
the result OF the mission must be-
The messenger was gone an hour
when a sudden furry at the post OF
the guard set the camp alight with ex'
element. An aid came hastily to tho
house, demanding admission,
Your letter was received, senior,
by Senor Upton. who declined to read
It," said the aid. "He said that he
was a caballero of blood and refused
to receive messages that were sent
him by the hands of a common SOL
der He demanded that III General
Obispo send a commissioned officer
10 talk with him. Accordingly Major
Gutierrez will go up at daylight TO
arrange matters"
Kynaston spent a sleepless night.
Early In the morning the camp was
awake, the noise and excitement fore
casting a move. An hour later an
officer. furious with anger, entered
with four men. He seized the Ameri-
can roughly and tied his hands behind
him with strip of rawhide.
Los perrosl" the officer gritted.
ITO treat with men like that-el gem
eral wishes to see you, gringo.
What is It? Well to ask That
thief of the world, Senior Upton
bah! He is a ladrone, a picaron, a
thief! Done? What has he done?
El General Oblspo sent this morning
TO talk with him about you and the
jewel, which we need as a thirsty man
needs water. His emissaries were ell
Commandante Major Gutierrez and el
Coronel Mayez. who is the chief Of
our artillery.
They went up under a white flag,
senior, and had a talk with the Ameri.
can. They could come to no terms, 80
the two left him and started back.
When they reacher the bottom Of the
hill naturally enough they lowered the
white flag"
Yes, yes! Where are they now?"
The blind priest Of Trocanto, who
had approached, answered the ques-
tion.
They are prisoners in the hands
of Senor Upton. He sent word back
to ell General Obispo that If the sol
diers lay hand on thee he will hang
the two officers as high as Haman.
Doubtless thou canst learn the details
from ell general"
1t was difficult to learn anything
from the general, who, angry at being
outwitted, spat like a cat and was
equally Ineligible. 1t was from his
first acquaintance that Kynaston
learned what had happened.
"Yes, senior, the two went up with
a soldado-common soldier--carrying
the flag OF truce. You can see It is
a mile away; between US is the belt
of alamos-cottonwo nwoods-low-lying in
the valley.
Their talk, senior, came to nothing.
We know now that Senior Upton did
but talk to gain time. When they left
they walked down the hill, and when
they reached the valley where the ala
mos grew, they dropped their flag Of
truce, sat down and lit cigarettes.
ut was in that moment, senior, that
gray-headed old pirate stepped from
behind a tree, showed a great pistol
under the nose of the valiant coronel,
broke the rife of the soldier, and told
L
pardon me-to the stealer Of horses
who commanded here, with the mes.
sage that the two officers would be
hanged if a hair of your head is
touched-saints and angels, senores,
what is it now?"
For another white flag was waving
from the house and a shot had been
fired to attract their attention.
Kynaston looked up eagerly.