The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-06-22

to ask the major II he can see him.
Certainly. Go and tell the SET
geant Of the guard to send him ii
here under guard"
The soldier left.
Now" thought Major Updyke, e
wonder what new dovilment Il
afoot?"
A moment later the Mexican car
tain OF infantry entered the tent ant
introduced himself as FL Capitar
ignacio Torres.
II have asked for the honor OF ar
interview, senior, because / am sur,
that the Americans do not desire &c
lend themselves to n piece OF injus
tlce. | refer, senior. TO the taking Of
our stores. The arms, Of course.
understand are 10 be held until the
cessation Of hostilities, as is required
by international law. but the other
things-the money and our personal
belongings-are not these respected
as In war;"
What personal belongings do you
mean. STR"
hhNhht ~ 'H"N AANip "hn pH ONN
OF these pack.mules a very valuable
Jewel that WE took from the rebels in
fight. They had stolen II from the
Shrine OF Our Lady OF Olvidados.
down in Trocanto to the south. and
were bringing II north TO purchase
arms with. We fought with them
and took the plumber, and | wish now
TO enter formal claim for IT,"
Who was the blind priest who
came into camp yesterday and
claimed IT." asked Major Updyke.
"A blind priest. sencr? I know
only that a man came and claimed
the stone-the Bell, mean. !
an told that he came hard into
camp upon tho arrival OF the pris.
oners. know that he claims the
stone as a part OF the property OF his
shrine down in Yucatan: but. senior,
that is a claim that might we'll be
made by any man who has seen or
heard OF the jewel. Has he seer IT,"
Not since its arrival here: Ger.
tainly."
Can he describe IT."
Major Updyke laughed. "1t Is hard.
ly TO be expected. senior. that a blind
man can so accurately describe such
q thing as 20 convince anyone. He
has certainly heard someone else do
scribe II, at least"
II ask" insisted the Mexican, that
he be questioned in my presence ss
to how and whero and why the stone
came into our possession. II is true
that the stone was looted from the
south by tho rebels. II is also true
that we defeated them in open fight
n that they fed, leaving their pack.
mules.
These mules we captured. and
afterward were compelled to abandon
when tho rebels had received re-en.
forcements and drove US across the
border. Then, senior, your lieutenant
held us as prisoners OF war and took
L baggage.
I ask this. senior. because one OF
my men has told that no saw the
blind priest leave the camp a short
time ago, know him we'll enough
10 know that II he has left q good bed
and good meals he must have had
sound reason. May I see the stone,
senior, 10 be assured OF It's safety"
Major Updyke" hesitated. A refusal
OF the request, which was but reason.
able, would certainly create sus-
picions OF Kynaston's honesty. A
statement OF the actual condition OF
AFFAIRS would not be believed. He
temporized.
Senior Kynaston turned over tho
saddle-bags 10 me n while ago" he
said. II think IL would be better to
wait until he returns"
But, senor." persisted the Next.
can, did you see the Bell? II is a
wonderful stone?" Did you see it?'
NO. I have not seen Il: in fact,
senior. 10 be- perfectly frank with you,
when Senior kynaston sent for tho
padre TO speak to him about tho mat.
ter 81 the Bell. the padre had left
the camp and the stone was gone"
The Mexican started.
'''SA' A' buNi, Hdu feared
somo such thing, FL viejo diablo'
might have known that some such
thing would happen n tho lieutenant
were not warned. Blind as he Is.
that old rascal can see more with his
sigh'.css eyes than many sound men
with two, Where is tho lieutenant,
senor2"
He, too, has left camp, and he has
sent n party 10 arrest the padre
wherever they shall find him. Rest
cortent, scnor. the jewel will be re.
covered, and when II Is recovered It
Will not again be placed in jeonardy.
VIII you not eft down and have a
| a guarantee them. They
from your own state OF Tam.
aulipas.'
In tho meantime Kynaston, with
his men. had pushed on across the
range, from which no had seen, earlier
In the evening. the flames that told
him OF the attack upon the Santa Cruz
mine. The mine lay a long three miles
across the border; but though well
hn knnU that nnlan an. ,-l,g..