The Dermott news., 1916-07-13

than death. After 1t is ali over save my honor for me If you can. Write my sis ter at least that that accusation Is un- true
 He clipped from the paper the ar ticle which intimased that he had stolen the Bell and pinned it with a bit of splinter to his no,e. to be given to the messenger As the courier walked off to the great chinaberry tree under which his horse was tied Kynaston thought cheerlessly of what tho 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- citement An aid came hastily to the house, demanding admission.
 Your letter was received, senor, by Senor Upton. who declined to read it. said the aid He said that he was caballero of blood and refused to receive messages that were sent him by the hands of d common sol dier. He demanded that Fl General Obispo send a commissioned officer to talk with him. Accordingly Major Gutierrez will go up at daylight to arrange matters"
 kynastou spent a sleepless night. Early in the morning the camp was awake. the noise and excitement fore casting 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 a strip of rawhide.
 Los perrosi" the officer gritted. TO treat with men like that--el gen eral wishes to see you. gringo.
 What is it? Well to ask That thief of the world. Senor Upton bah He is ladrone picaron. a thief, Done? What has he done? Fl General Obispo sent this morning to talk with him about you and the jewel, which we need as a thirsty man needs water. His emissaries were el Commaudante Major Gutierrez and el Coronel Mayez, who is the chief of our artillery.
 They went up under a white flag, c'iiOl anu AhN q laAh nlAh lAt hLllC4 II can. They could come to no terms. so tho 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- ton.
 They are prisoners in the hands of Senor Upton. He sent word back to el 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 el general"
 It was difficult to learn anything from the general, who, angry at being outwitted. spat like a cat and was equally ineligible It was from his first acquaintance that Kynaston learned what had happened.
 Yes, senor the two went up with a soldado-eommon soldier-carryin the flag of truce You can see 1t Is a mile away; between us is the belt of alamos-cottonwoo -low-ying in the valley
 Their talk. senor. came to nothing We know now that Seuor Unton did but talk to gain time When they left they walked down the hill. and when they reached the valley where tho ala. mos grew. they dropped their flag Of truce, sat down. and 1t cigarettes.
 Tt was in that moment. seuor that gray.headed old pirate stepped from behind a tree, showed a great pistol under the nose of the valiant coronel broke the rifle of the soldier. and told him to go back to-el general will pardon me-to the stealer of horses who commanded here. with tho mes. sage that the two officers would be hanged 1T a hair of your head Is touched-saints and angels. scnores what is it nows"
 For another white flag was waving from the house and a shot had been fired to attract their attention.
 kynaston looked mp eagerly.