Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-07-27
CHAPTER TX.
Murder.

with Mortified eyes at the jewel at ner
feet. At first she could not believe
| that she was awake; then, leaning
forward, she picked it up and placed it
upon the table. The act, simple as 1t
was, reused her thoroughly. With a
little shiver, she turned to her father,
who had regained consciousness and
was watching her through half-closed
eyes.
WELL" he said. well! Say til
I know perfectly well what you are
! thinking. Give it name"
"How came you to take the Bell, IA
Their? I saw it in his tent when we
sought refuge in his camp. You saw
it there, too. Was it then that you
got it,"
Her father nodded silently but did
not take his eyes from her face.
Well she knew where the trouble
| lay. Well 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 connoisseur
in matters of art, had got along with
it an equally well-earned reputation
as a kleptomaniac.
For years she had known of this
| failing of her father. On her very
deathbed Dorothys mother had spoken
plainly of it, 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 it
then that you took it,"
Again he nodded silently. The girl,
her bright head sunk upon her hands,
stood silent with the shame of it.
! 81 needed it needed it! And
they would not sell such a curio. That
old priest would as soon have sold his
soul as this miserable Bell. It's q good
thing, my dear, that / did tane IL.
though, for now have the means with
which to buy Kynastons freedom
Who is that coming up the hill? Is it
Wilkes come back?"
1t 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
rel of his revolver. Colonel Mayer
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, eel gen.
eral will make any concessions-do
anything! 1t will bring the last large
sum Of money our forces will require
before our arms establish a govern
ment of trIe patriots and we are able
to issue loans as recognized nation.
ooh, 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 request that we send back the
ropes at once SO that he could forward
fresh detachment"
"And you call them volunteersr
asked Dorothy.
Isl, senorita! They, too, are vol
Understanding volunteers never
theless, volunteers"
Wilkes grunted.
"Nemmind all that chatter" he said
what you want is that Emerald Bell
amt it?"
"Si, 81! For that we will let &c
our prisoner; we will allow you to de
part in peace-anything everything
l speak for the general-I-"
"Shut up!" interrupted Upton.
The old miner turned to Wilkes.
I'm going down to their camp my
SELF" he said shortly. "You hold these
hostages for my safe return. I'll dickel
with this old highlander personally
give him the Bell If have to, but, any
| way, bring Kynaston back with me-"
He hesitated.
81 really owe it to the boy" he con
, cluded. What are you shaking YOU
} head at. Wilkes?"
} BRAY fool in mortar, yet shall
t his folly depart not from him." quoted
, Mr.. Wilkes. 81 member hearin' tina
at Sunday school. If you go dowr
there an promise him the Bell fol
Kynaston he'll grab you an shoot yol
if you don't come across with the Bell
IF you take it with you he'll tax,
: it, shoot you, an then shoot Kynas
: ton.
} mo. stree! TIL only thing to d.
r is to send this here colonel what hal
seen the Bell back to General ObiSpt
an tell him that you'll swap it for ley