Williams news., 1916-08-03

| where the efficient performance of duty is assumed. Neglect or derelic. tion is rarity. But the present de. partment commander believed that just as commanding officer should be 1 quick to reprehend, so 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, Kynnaston," 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, so when your telegram came the general sent me off hot foot. How many of these prisoners are there?"
 Kynaston told him.
 And three pack-mules. Where did they come from?"
 l Kynaston answered briefly, and fol. I 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, T couldn't properly turn the thing over to the priest, though believe his claim lis correct and just" 2
 Ever hear of him before?" asked Major Updyke sharply. ,
 Never, sir. Why?"
 | ,.ts'Nothing. It just occurred to me | that in order to obtain possession of jewel like that almost anyone would or could tell an interesting yarn. Have you ever been in Trocanto-didn't yod | 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 it eli ther. How about you?" Same"
 "Of course," Kynaston hesitated, that actually proves nothing"
 The staff officer laughed.
 ''All the sasael" he cried, "I'm glad came down here, if you were really so worked on by the ole 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 it, and then claim had been made by your prisoners that you'd taken the stone. It would have cost you your commission, or at least-"" ..yz 2: Like to see the stone, sir?"
 of course should, but I'd like even better to have 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 Updyke was through and had rolled a l 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 acros. the stones of the trail.
 T heard thee asking for me, my son am here."
 This is the priest I was telling yor 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 g great rock, clasping his hands loosely across his knees.
 Presently, in answer to a question the old man began to talk, and for ar 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 Kynastor had taken the day before. *
 "But the proof, man, the proof! Thor 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? It sound: like firing breaking out in the south east"
 It did sound like rifle firing The low, thunderous, reverberating cracklt that they knew so well brought ever! man out of the encampment as a sticl in the tee-hole of hive brings ou the bees. Kynaston and Major Up dyke ran to the top of the low hill bacl of the camp, here they had a good gen eral view of the land
 ''It must be another party, sir, il trouble again. Wait till I get m, glasses; we can see more with them
 So for a long half hour they sat an, watched. The sound of the firin grew fainter and fainter, and finall died away, only to break out again an again as the two officers were aboutt leave, the hill. 1
 'I believe I'll send a detail ove , there to see what is going on, sir. Ser | geant, go and tell the old priest tia , the major and I are leaving camp an shall not return till morning. Repor 3 to me at my tent when you have tol 8 him. Now, major. if you care to g v along can give you a change of clotl ing and fairly good horse to ride.