The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-12-15
CHAPTER vIr--coa.Inasa-

NyhA@sAh oWcau nuN shNuA knPthChN'
~ up and down the ittls room. APP
parently II was not enough that he
should sacrifice his life itself; his very
reputation too. was TO be- torn TO
shreds.
Hour after hour passed. He had 9
little tobacco. but one cannot enjoy
smoking In the dark so he sat and
thought and thought TN the tiny stars
came out like forgetme-nots In tho
wonderful Mexican sky, and the camp
woke 10 renewed life in the GOODNESS
Presently he was aroused by the
sound OF someone fumbling at the
chain that fastened the door on the
outside The door drew open. In the
shadow ha heard q voice.
"Ohe MILO capltanl"
II was the voice OF the officer who
had met him.
"Si--sil What Is ~" y
III you will come with me II win
perhaps benefit you
Rynaston fumhled In his bootleg
10 see II that fat automatic pistol stIll
lay close to his leg Fortunately. he
had not been examined for concealed
weapons: the Mexicans had taken for
granted that a u,au surrordertuE hi;n'
self would not be fool enough to bring
arms into hostile camp.
4 NnautN,, a., pnf nFNrnr
with two guards crowded their way
with their prisoner through the fast.
gathering crowd 10 the house whore
the general lived by the light OF the
two gluttering candles stuck in empty
bottles that illuminated the dirty In.
terror Kynaston saw. seated beside the
rebel commander, figure that he rec.
ognlaed at once--the blind priest OF
Trocanto, tho guardian Of the shrine!
The general was the nrst to break
the silence.
II have brought you here, Senior
Gringo, to ask you some questions.
This good man tells me that you are
an Americana officer 10 II true'"
Ask him. II he is your source OF
information said Kynaston In a dis,
gulsed voice. He could see the priest
lean forward In an eager attempt to
identify him.
There has been story come to
us"--the general was In deadly earn
est--",hat we mean TO look into. There
was a stone OF incalculable value In
the South that we meant TO use TO buy
arms and ammunition to help our
cause We got II. then our forces
were attacked by three times their
number OF the accursed federalistAs,
aud so the stone was taken. II was
then that. pursued by our men. the
thieves fled across the line and took
refuge on American sotl, carrying with
them the s;cae that meant so much to
the righteous cause,
THAT stone was taken charge OF
by the American officer Tho next
day the s,cue and the officer had dis,
appeared, and now the good father
tells me that you are the man tell
you plainly. Senior Gringo, that. fail.
ing to obtain from you news OF tho
stones whereabouts, the court martial
Shall do It's duty m the morning. Am
1 clearf" @
.a,.. "Aya.., A, clear as. goar own Laws
and doubtless as discerning"
This time at hearing kynaston's
voice the old priest leaned back In his
seat
1T Ia the man." he said quietly.
1T la the officer who took the stoae,'
* bargain--then the stone against
your life! The stone that means two
hundred thousand pesos against your
life. II can prone YOU nothing to keep
H. for II II IL rot turned over to US
ycu shall surely die"
kyaastop turped hotly toward tho
priest.
Thou hast eaten my bread and
salt be said passionstely. Thou
hast SLEPT in my camp Thou knowest
right we'll that | did not take the
stone, thou knowest right we'll that
thou thyselt art the thief. and that
had parties out searching for thee by
mesa and by river What hast thou
to gain. padre, by lying away my
lifes"
The old priest turned gray under
HE dark skin
My son. this Is not fair Thou
ssyess that thou dds. aes take H.
Who then did."
Who! Who bot the man who has
sought It. as he says, for 80 long, The
blind priest OF TrccAnto. Of course
Who else has 90 great desire for ~
I could not have taken II, rs my COM
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES prove, for I
was with him from the moment that
he came into my camp till the bundle
was unwrspped, and the stone was
found missing
"Wsas no one else In your ten, them
asked the general.
Thou knowsst there was, senior
The voice o. the blind priest rose TO
Almost breaking tension. Thou
knoSest there were the two ladies'
where are they, say"
Where are they Is this camp
nlaNe To AJAX ,slrh q nuaptiNp Wnulis.