The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-12-22
CHAPTER TX.


Murder.
For q moment the girl stood. saxing
with Mortified eyes at the jewel ct her
feet. At first she could not believe
that she was awake; then. leaning
forward. she picked II up and placed II
upon the table. The act. simple as II
was, reused her thoroughly With q
little SILVER, shc turned to her father.
who had regaine4 consciousness and
was watching her through halfclosed
eyes.
Welt" he said. Wen! Say I'll
| know perfectly well what you are
thinking. Give II a name"
"How came you to take the Bell. TO-
therf saw II In his tent when wo
sought refuge in his camp. You saw
II there, too. Was II then that you
! got ~"
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
then, always. and the shadow OF II
had hlighted the latter years OF her
mothers life.
Sane upon every other subject, the
wealthy old miner. who had earned a
worldwide reputation as q counoisseur
In matters Of art, had got along with
II an equally wellearned reputation
as kleptomaniac.
For years she had known OF this
failing of her father. On her very
deathbed Dorothy's mother had spoken
plainly OF 1t. laying Il upon the daugh-
ter 10 be careful to prevent any such
thing from occurring again.
You saw the stone when we we're
In his camp" she reiterated. Was I.
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.
Il needed it, needed It. And
they would not sell such curto. That
old priest would as soon have sold his
soul a. this miserable Bell. It's good
thing. my dear. that did take II.
though, for now have the means with
which TO buy Kynastons freedom.
Who is that coming up the hill' 10 It
wilkes come back"
II was wilkes como back. and
Manuel along with him. A vollcy Of
curses OF more than ordinary fuency
told that they had companions.
Motioning tho women back, Upton
flung open the door, admitting the two
men with their prisoners.
They como all right. but we had to
use some coaxin boz" laughed
Wilkes, punching the old colonel OF
artillery in the ribs with the long bar.
rel OF his revolver. Colonel Mayer
fairly spat at him; then. seeing the
green He'll upon the table. he started
back In surprise. The next second he
was fairly fawning before the talle.
For this Jewell" he cried. Eel gen.
eral will make any concessions
anything! II will bring the last large
sum OF money our forces will require
before our arms establish a govern.
ment OF true patriots and we are able
TO issue loans as a recognized nation
"oh. get down TO cases." snoyted-
old Wilkes. ~.
This, then. We have the men. bit
no arms--no money TO get arms.
Menu Paht we are gathering men
on all sides. Our forces are daily In
cressing, Only last night we bad a
party OF seventy volunteers sent in by
Captain Colquez. He sent them in
with request that we send back the
ropes ut once so that he could forward
q fresh detachment"
And you call them volunteers'"
asked Dorothy.
Isl, senoritai They, too. are vol.
unteers--unwilling volunteers never
theless, volunteers"
Wilkes grunted
"Nemmind all that chatter" he said.
What you want Is that Emerald Bell
amt IT,"
Isl, al, For that we will let 20
our prisoner; we will allow you 10 de-
part in peace-.anything. everything
| speak for the general"
shut up" interrupted Upton.
The old miner turned TO Wilkes.
I'm going down to their camp my.
self" he said shortly. You bold these
hostages for my safe return. III decker
with this old highbinder personally;
give him the Bell II l have to. but. any
way. bring Kynaston back with me-"
He hesita.st.
Il really owe II to the boy" DO con.
Guided. what are yoa shaking your
head at, Wilkes!"
Bray fool in mortar. yet shall
his folly depart not from him." quoted
MIR. Wilkes. Il member heartn' that
at Sunday school. II you 90 Down
there an promise him the Bell for
kynaston he'll grab you an shoot you
II you don't come across with the Dell
III you take II with you he'll take