The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-26

las kiileu by the brandy-sodden fienG
yonder. What is 1t to thee?"
Il would speak with her. After all
senores, / am priest-a blind one, 1,
is true; but can still see we'll enough
to point out to the unfortunate the only
true path to peace"
Dorothy and Mrs. Fame came for
ward, the girl still weeping but striv
ing pluckily to repress her feeling.
Thou art welcome, father" she said
in the vernacular. ut Is a house OF
grief thou contest to, but thou art vel
come-doubly so for thy calling"
The old priest gently raised his hand
with all the authority of two thousand
years in his gesture: Peace be to this
house and to all the inhabitants there.
of. will not trespass long, my daugh.
ter. / go south again with my mission
unfulfilled."
What mission is this, father?" II
was Marian who spoke.
my search for my lost Emerald
Bell" the padre replied. 1T is writ.
ten, Many shall seek but It shall be
hidden from them"
He paused, sudden furry from Dor
othy meeting his ear. His hearing,
quickened as 1t is In the blind, was as
delicate as that of the prairie dog,
which the Apaches say can hear the
bursting Of the seed-pods in the bunch.
grass in the spring.
At his words the girl had released
herself from Mrs. Fane's encircling
arm and was hurriedly loosening her
hair. which fell in sheeted flame over
her shoulders. Delving with trembling
hands in it's golden masses, she took
from its resting place, secure alike
from sight and touch-the Emerald
Bell!
Take it-take It'll" she said sobbing.
ly. II wish we had never seen It! It
has brought nothing but evil fortune"
She thrust 1t into the trembling
hands of the old man. Wilkes and
Kynaston saw the tears stream down
his cheeks. The blind do not weep
easily. They stood astonished.
Out Of the North 1t came, and out
OF the North 1t has returned. Thanks
be to God for his mercies! His shrine
Is no more empty. Evil fortune? 81,
senorita! 1t has been so since Monte
yuma gave 1t to Cortez and was killed.
"Since the great conquistador took
1t and died, broken-hearted and dis
graced man; since Pedrarias took It
and was poisoned-so did 1t go until 1t
reached the resting place from which
the followers of Zapata stole it. Nor
shall the Teniente Kynaston suffer.
Full proofs of ownership shall be for.
warded from the shrine, that his name
may be cleared of suspicion"
He broke of, patting his recovered
treasure-even, they thought, talking
to 1t.
Nov indeed shall go south with a
light heart. My happiness would be
complete IL could but see 1t, but that
is not to be. What Is that noise, Sc
nores?" he exclaimed. 1T sounds like
firing"
It was firing-a perfect feu de joie
in the besieger's camp. They saw
furry. Men were running in and out
like ants in a hill.
They're either plannin' some more
devilment," said Wilkes acidly, cor
else they're goin' to pull out. I hope
it's the last"
Kynaston had not told Wilkes or
Dorothy of the startling news he had
heard while in Obispo's camp. In fact,
the excitement of the morning had
almost driven 1t from his mind, and he
now hardly believed 1t could be pos
sible that Villa would attempt such a
wild plan. But the sudden commotion
In the camp might have some connec-
ton with Villas attack. Columbus was
less than forty miles away, and a cou-
rier could have travelled the distance
since early morning. II 1t was really
war, he must rejoin his command at
once, and the women must be removed
from the clutches of these bandits at
all hazards. Without stopping to ex.
plain. he ran for the yard.
Here. where you goin'. Kynastonf"
called wilkes.
I'm going to take look at that
auto to see IL 1t can run"
We'll, 1t can II man can be found
to run 1t. What We you got in your
head?"
Il can run 1t If the engine Is in good
order" said Mrs. Fame quickly. "Oh,
Mr.. Kynaston. II you think we can
get away In 1t. let's waste no timei
Let's look at 1t; can show you what
% do. Comet"
They went to the shed, where she
showed him how to fill tank and radia-
tor. She stood over him explaining
he different stops while be tested the
engine. Grimy. dirty with oil and dust,
ne worked like Trojan.
Suddenly something prompted him
% turn. He found Mrs. Fame gazing
axedly at him.
It's all right" she said abruptly.
I know it all. heard Dorothy and
know
"What?"
He flushed uneasily under her eyes.
l know about the card game. and