The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-06-16


effect that he wanted you 10 know
that he appreciates the manner in
which you have conducted affairs dur
ing the past six months"
Kynaston flushed warmly. Words OF
appreciation are rare in military life,
where the efficient performance OF
duty is assumed. Neglect or derelic-
tion Ia a rarity, But the present de-
partment commander believed that
Just as a commanding officer should be
quick TO reprehend. 80 also he should
not be chary of appreciation. The re-
suit was that his subordinates were
more than willing to work themselves
TO a shadow TO carry out his faintest
hint.
you see, Kynaston," went on the
staif officer I'VE have had several
hints to the effect that attempts were
being made to smuggle money across
the line, so when your telegram came
the general sent me on hot foot. How
many Of these prisoners are theTe?"
Kynaston told him.
AAA AAAA &C NuAh-AAAAAns w hIA q AlA
they come from?"
Rynaston answered briefly, and fol-
lowed his report with an account Of
the priests arrival and the discovery
Of the valuable emerald that had set
two continents agog three hundred
years before.
$50 you see, sir" he concluded. 81
couldn't properly turn the thing over
to the priest, though believe his claim
is correct and just"
Ever hear OF him before?" asked
Major UpdyEe sharply.
Never sir. Why?"
Nothing II just occurred TO me
that in order to obtain possession OF
a jewel like that almost anyone would
or could tell an interesting yarn. Have
you ever been in Trocanto-dldn't you
say that's the name of the place tho
man says he came from?"
"Trocanto, yes-no, I've never been
there. And I've never heard of it ei-
ther How about your"
Same"
"Of course" Kynaston hesitated.
that actually proves nothing"
The staff officer laughed.
IAN the same" he cried. I'm glad
came down here, If you were really
so worked on by the old fellow that
you thought about giving the stone to
him. You'd have found yourself in a
pretty pickle if you'd let him have ii,
and then a claim had been made by
your prisoners that you'd taken the
stone. 1t would have cost you your
commission, or at least"
Like to see the stone, sir?"
"Of course | should, but I'd like even
better to have a drink and something
! to eat"
Kynaston produced his last bottle.
and, bidding his striker" improvise a
supper sat chatting with his visitor
till the meal was ready. When Major
Updylle was through and had rolled a
cigarette, the youngster sent a trum-
peter to give his compliments to the
priest and to ask him to come to the
tent
The old padre, hearing the summons,
came slowly from his hot little tent
and picked his way painfully across
the stones of the trail.
Il heard thee asking for me, my son.
am here"
This is the priest ! was telling you
of. sir"
Major Updyke shook hands with the
old man, who peered at him from un-
der bent brows with the peculiarly in
tent look of the blind. The padre
seated himself for a moment upon a
great rock, clasping his hands loosely
| across his knees.
Presently, in answer to question,
the old man began to talk, and for an
hour the staff officer sat, an interested
listener. while the old man made his
appeal for the restoration to his shrine
of the priceless jewel that Kynaston
had taken the day before.
But the proof, man. the proof! Thou
must understand padre, that American
Law, upon whose justice we pride our
, selves, requires proof How canst
thou prove that this stone is indeed
the stone that thou hast described?
What is that, Kynaston? 1t sounds
like firing breaking out in the south
east"
1t did sound like rife firing. The
low, thunderous, reverber&ting crackle
that they knew so we'll brought every
man out Of the encampment as a stick
in the tee-hole of a hive brings out
the bees. Kynaston and Major Up
dyke ran to the top of the low hill back
of the camp; here they had good gen.
eral view of the land.
1T must be another party, sir, in
trouble again. Wait till ! get my
glasses; we can see more with them. p"
So for q long half hour they sat and
watched. The sound of the firing
grew fainter and fainter, and finally
died away, only to break out again and
again as the two officers were about to
leave the hill.
SIsgl1sIsTllfllEl q ElsrlssI q ri @
ID Men make their little plans and q
talk about wiIl-power making a Ia
way-and then destiny, or fate, q
Ia or luck, comes along and scram- 8
bIes the situation beyond rec
q ognition. An untoward move a
ment, a needless step, and a
b mans career is wrecked. What S5
do you make of the distant rifle n
E firing? 81
gIgSlaETsyR 5s 5 q 81 ,ssl
GRO BE CONTINUEDJ