The Holly chieftain., 1916-06-16

Don't you see that when those prison
ers of yours discover that it has been
lost they'll put Ut an awful howl!
Then il any investigation is made. it'll
only show that you had the stone in
your possession, and that you declined
to turn it over to the priest. The pa
persn make capital OF il. and you'll
achieve q very undesirable notoriety.
Report the matter at once. II you'll
write out . wire Ill send it for you
When will you be back?"
In three hours at most, sir. think.
can't thank you enough. sir, for
the interest you have taken. Here's
the message. sir
He scribbled a curt message and
swung into saddle.
"Good-by. major! I'll be back in .
little while. Adios. sir. Right BY
twos! Trot. march. Route order!"
And the little squad Of excited cav.
alrymen moved quickly OF up the
road
After Kynaston left him Major
Updyke sat deep in thought for some
time. He was finally reused by a sol
dier's rapping gently on the tent POLE
Gomez" called the major. and the
man stepped inside
Sir" he said, the officer who com.
manded the prisoners has asked me
to ask the major IL he can see him."
Certainly. Go and tell the ser.
geant of the guard to send him up
here under guard"
The soldier left.
Now" thought Major Updyke. Il
wonder what new devilment is
afoot?"
A moment later the Mexican cap
tain of infantry entered the tent and
introduced himself as Ell Captain
Ygnacio Torres.
Il have asked for the honor of an
interview, senior. because am sure
that the Americans do not desire to
lend themselves to a piece of injus.
tice. refer, senor, to the taking OF
our stores. The arms, of course,
understand are to be held until the
cessation of hostilities. as is required
by international law, but the other
things-the money and our personal
belongings-are not these respected
as in war;"
What personal belongings do you
mean. sir?"
Il mean. sir, that there was on one
of these pack-mules a very valuable
Jewel that we took from the rebels in
fight. They had stolen it from the
Shrine of Our Lady of Olyidados.
down in Trocanto to the south, and
were bringing 1t north to purchase
arms with. We fought Vith them
and took the plunder. and + wish now
to enter formal claim for it,
Who was the blind priest who
came into camp yesterday and
claimed it?" asked Major Updyke.
"A blind priest, senior? know
only that man came and claimed
the stone-the Bell. mean. l
am told that he came hard into
camp upon the arrival Of the pris-
oners. l know that he claims the
stone as part of the property Of his
shrine down in Yucatan; but. senior.
that is claim that might we'll be
made by any man who has seen or
heard of the jewel. Has he seen it,"
Not since its arrival here. GER
tainly."
Can he describe it,"
Major Updyke laughed. "It is hard
ly to be expected. senior. that a blind
man can SO accurately describe such
thing as to convince anyone. He
has certainly heard someone else de-
scribe 1t, at least"
Il ask" insisted the Mexican, "that
ne be questioned in my presence as
to how and where and why the stone
came into our possession. 1t is true
that the stone was looted from the
south by the rebels. 1t is also true
that we defeated them in open fight
and that they fed, leaving their pack
mules.
These mules we captured. and
afterward were compelled to abandon
when the rebels had received re-en-
forcements and drove US across the
border. Then, senor, your lieutenant
held us as prisoners of war and took
our baggage.