The Holly chieftain., 1916-06-09

In the course of that long talk. pune
tuated by the purr Of his pipe and the
heavy breathing of the over-baked
earth. Kynaston learned much. for he
was an apt pupil.
He learned OF heavy-footed wander
ings over hot plains and well-nigh
trackless mountains; OF nights spent
in the waterless desert. with only the
yelping Of the tireless coyotes for COM
pany.
Il beg the lieutenant's pardon. sir.
but there's horses comm up the trail"
1t was the observant trumpeter Who
spoke. Kynaston. obedient to the
summons. laid down his pipe and
walked down upon the hat. He now
plainly heard the horses come quickly
up the rocky trail. Within a moment
or two they pulled up before the camp.
and he went forward to greet an ON
Ger who dismounted swiftly and intro
duced himself.
Il am Major Updyke. Mr.. Kynas-
ton. The general sent me down here
to relieve you of part of your EN-.
barrassment He also requested me
to take look over your camp and
your location. He is under the i'm.
preston that with an affair Of this
importance happening here you should
have larger force.
HE 10 reluctant to send an entire
troop Of cavalry here because that will
make 1t necessary to send q captain
In command. and he has been % II.
vorably impressed with the way you
have handled the situation since you
have been here that he does not wish
to supersede you II 1t can be avoided.
! may add that he suggested to me
that should drop you . hint to the
eject that he wanted you to 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 10 assumed. Neglect or derelic.
tion 10 rarity. But the present de-
partment commander believed that
Just as commanding oflicer 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 shadow to carry out his faintest
hint
You see. Kynaston." went on the
staff officer. I'VE have had several
hints to the effect that attempts were
being made to smuggle money across
the line. 80 when your telegram came
the general sent me of hot foot. How
many Of these prisoners are there?"
Kynaston told him.
And three pack-mules. Where did
they come from?"
Kynaston 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.
so you see. sir" he concluded. 81
couldn't properly turn the thing over
to the priest. though l believe his claim
is correct and just"
Ever hear of him beforeT asked
Major Updyke sharply.
"Never. sir. Why?"
Nothing. It 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-didnt you
say that's the name of the place the
man says he came from?"
"Trocanto. yes-no. I've never been
there. And I've never heard Of 1t eli.
ther. How about your"
Same"
"Of course" Kynaston hesitated.
that actually proves nothing"
The stan officer laughed.
"All the same" he cried. I'm glad
] came down here. II 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 II you'd let him have it,