The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-08-03

prom sed their prisoner, Lieutenant
kynasten, that " they get the Jewel
he will be freed. They send a mes.
senser with the proposition TO the
American mine house.
Mr.. Upton did so. Tho man came
forward unhesitatingly and delivered
his message.
ASK him who he u.s." prompted the
cid man.
The soldier came forward. explain.
ing haltingly in Spanish that he was
the bearer OF a note. Mr.. Wilkes bent
forward excitedly.
Give 'em a dose OF their own medi.
eine!" he said bitingly. "Ev'ry min.
ute that you can delay their proceedIn's
Is 80 much gain. Ask him what he
come fer. but don't take his note
see?"
Mr.. Upton did not see" hut he did
as he was bid. Presently the man with
some difficulty explained that he had
come as bearer Of a note to open nego.
tiatlons the nature of which Se did not
understand. He held out tho note
nv. Upton was about TO take Il when
a word dropped by Dorothy made
wilkes Jump as II a limo of biting
white ants had crnwlcd up his leg.
Wouldn't IL be fine said the girl.
"if We could only mako n couple OF
their officers prisoners and then eX.
change them for Mr.. Kynaston!"
Wilkes patted her shoulder.
"And they tell me that woman amt
ut to vote" he said scathingly. Don't
take his note. Upton! Not on no con.
sideration. What excuse oh, | don't
know, Upton. Yes. ! do, too.
Tell 'em that you are a caballero
OF blood and that II stands not with
yer honor to receive messages at the
hand OF a common soldier. He must
have come on an important message.
Tell him that you will not receive tho
note except at tho hand OF an officer
see?"
Yes. ! see. And then WHAT"
why. then he'll go on down the
hill. They'll let him como because
they've Just passed him out through
their lines. An when he goes down
an AOAlpN Nun WIN .lAlAA'l AAtl T. dA
when we reach the line OF cottonwoods
we can hide in 'em till daylight. When
they send an officer UP to see you at
daylight We can grab EN- as they come
back.
"Of course they'll holler about be!n'
under a white flag, but they won't be
no such thing cause they'll drop their
ayhlfa CO. m cpnV, "a Nlav aEA nt,f ~
range comm ~back-see?"
Taken aback at the refusal to re
seive the note, tho soldado stumbled
on down the hill. his lantern bobbing
along among the mesquit.brush like a
lightning bug IN summer 10 m
had his shadow melted away in the
dusk than Mr.. Wilkes and Manuel, the
Mexican "horse.wrangler," left the
house. They followed the soldier
s~tealthtly down the slope to the line OF
cotton woods which stood out. a low.
lying blot. against the dusk OF the val.
ley.
Wen walt here. Manuel" said the
old ex.deputy sheriff tersely. Well
wait here till the next outfit sees 1T
20 ask Upton TO pow WOW; It ought 30
be Just about daylight Wake me vp
when the light frst shows"
The hours OF the night passed with
leaden feet. The eyes OF tho watchers
were strained with looking for the
dawn 70 break oycr the eastern ranges
After putting his papers in order al.
night long. Upton found rcl!of-or az
least surcease from worry-by work.
ing over hls machine, tluEcrlug hero
aud there TN he had built up a species
OF iron-cIad automobile hat would
have sickened the soul OF tho maker.
He was called from his work by the
insistent voice OF Dorothy calling him
TO breakfast. While he was eating, a
sandwich In n hand. his rife in the
other. q hail from autside the house
brought him to his loophole, Three
men stood within easy rifle range Of
the house. q dirty white cloth pro-
claiming them to be messengers from
thu rebels.
Hastily he laid his rife against the
house and motioning the Mexicans to
lay aside their arms, he slgnaled them
20 come forward. Then. with a eau.
ton 10 Nolan and Lewis to shoot on
the nrst sign OF treachery. he strobe
forward 10 meet them.
There wal no discussion. The senior
officer. Colonel Mayer. simply handed
him a bulky envelope. which Upton
thrust into his shirt. and. saluting
etlfiy. faced about and walked quick.
~ down toward the trees In the hol.
low. Upton stood watching them and
the movement among the trees where
Wilkes and Manuel lay concealed.
A shot from cover-and a very long
range shot II was-warned him that all
dealings with him were over until he
was ready to give HIS reply to the note
30. signing. he turned quickly back
into the house. opening the note a. he
aid 70. The clipping from the news
paper took nrst attention. Again. and