The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-08-03
CHAPTER TX.
Murder,

N''NH ~ A'h haN ~NAA NN'N JUN "
that she was awake. then. leaning
forward, she picked II np and placed It
upon the table. Tho oct, simple as II
was. reused her thoroughly. With q
little SILVER. she turned To her father.
who had rcgalncd consciousness and
was watching her through half.closed
eyes.
Welt" he said. We'll! Say a.
I know perfectly we'll what you are
thinking. Give II a name"
How came you 10 take tho Bell. IN
Their? | saw 1t in his tent when we
sought refuge in his camp, You saw
II there. too. was II then that you
got IT,"
Her father nodded silently but did
not take his eyes from her face.
Well she knew where tho trouble
lay. Well she knew why he had taken
the stone for the trouble had lain with
them always. and the shadow OF II
had bliHhted the latter years OF her
mothers life.
Sane upon every other subject, the
wealthy old miner, who had earned q
world wide reputation as n couuoisscuI
In matters Of art, had got along with
Il an equally well earned reputation
a. a kleptomaniac.
For years she had known % this
failing Of her father. on her very
dcathbcd Dorcthy's mother had spoken
plainly OF Il, laying Il upan tho dourh,
ter to be careful L. prevent any such
thing from occurring again.
You saw the stone when wo wero
In his camp she reiterated. Was Il
then that sou took it?"
Again he nodded silently. The girl,
her bright head sunk upon her hands,
stood silent with the shame OF it.
Il needed til needed e.! And
they would not sell such a curio. That
old priest would as soon have sold his
soul as this miserable Boll. les a good
thing, my dear, that | ala take IL
though, for now | have tnc mean with
which 10 buy KyAaston's freedom
Who IS that coming Up the hill? ls It
Wilkes come back"
II was Wilkes cume back. and
Manuel along with him. 4 yOllcy OF
curses OF more than ordinary nUency
told that they had companions.
Motioning tho women hack, Upton
flung open tho door, admitting the two
men with their prisoners.
They como all right. but wo haa 10
use some coaXin-hey. 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 thu
green Bell upon the table. he started
back in surprise. The next second he
was fairly fawning before tho table.
For this jewel" he cried, "cl gen.
eral will make any concessions-do
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 ablo
TO issue loans as a recognized nation"
"Oh. get down TO cases." snorted
old Wilkes.
This, then. We have tho men. but
no arms-no money to get arms.
Men? Pah! We are gathering men
on all sides. Our forces are daily in
creasing. Only last night wo had a
party OF seventy volunteers sent in by
Captain Colquez. lie sent them In
with n request that we send back th3
ropes at once so that he could forwari
a fresh dctachment-"
and you call them yoluntccrs?'
asked Dorothy.
81, scnorI,a' They, too, arc vol.
untccrs- unwilling volunteers never
thclyss, volunteers
Wilkes gruntod.
"Nemmind all that chatter" IN said.
what you want is that Emerald Bell.
amt it?"
81, 81! For that we will let 60
u prisoner; we will allow you to de-
part In peace-anything, everything!
| speak for tho gene~ral-I-"
Shut up" interrupted Upton.
The old miner turned TO wilkes.
I'm going down to their camp my
self" he said shortly. "You hold these
hostages for my safe return. III dicker
with this old highlander personally;
give him the Bell II l have to. but. any.
way. bring Kynaston back with me-"
lie heBitated.
IL really owe Il TO the boy" he con.
cluded. What are you shaking POUR
head at. Wlkes?"
"'Bray a fool in n mortar, yet shall
his folly depart not from him." quoted
Mr.. wilkes. Il member hearin' that
at Sunday school. II you 60 down
there an promise him the Bell for
Kynaston he'll grab you an shoot you
II you don't come across with the Bell.
III you take II with you he'll take
II. shoot you. an Their shoot Kynas-
ton.
mo, stree! tn only thing 10 DO
is 20 scnd this here colonel what has
seen the Bell back TO General Oblspe
an tell him that you'll swap It for Key
nastop."
" CTo BE ooNrINUEpI