The Holly chieftain., 1916-07-28
CHAPTER viIi-continued.

III
Tho Mexicans believe Upton has the
emerald boil. They want Il and have
promised their prisoner, Lieutenant
kynaston, that II they get the Jewel
no will DO freed. They send q mes
seneer with the proposition to the
American mine house.
Mr.. Upton did 80. The man came
forward unhesitatingly and delivered
his message.
ASK him who he is." prompted the
old man.
The soldier came forward. explain.
ing haitingly in Spanish that he was
the bearer Of note. Mr.. Wilkes bent
forward excitedly.
Give EN- . dose Of their own medi-
clne!" he said bitingly. "Ev'ry min
ute that you can delay their proceedin's
10 80 much gain. Ask him what he
come fer, but don't take his note
sect"
Mr.. Upton did not "see," but he did
as he was bid. Presently the man with
some difficulty explained that he had
come as bearer Of a note to open neso-
tiations the nature of which he did not
understand. He held out the note.
Mr.. Upton was about to take 1t when
word dropped by Dorothy made
Wilkes jump as II line of biting
white ants had crawled up his leg.
Wouldn't 1t be fine," said the girl,
III we could only make couple of
their officers prisoners and then ex.
change them for Mr.. Kynaston!"
Wilkes patted her shoulder.
And they tell me that woman amt
TT to VOTE" he said scathingly. Don't
take his note, Upton! Not on no con-
sideration. What excuse Oh. don't
know. Upton. Yes. l do. too.
Tell 'em that you are caballero
OF blood and that 1t stands not with
yer honor to receive messages at the
hand Of common soldier. He must
have come on an important message.
Tell him that you will not receive the
note except at the hand of an officer
see?''
Yes. l see. And then WHAT"
IL
hill. They'll let him come because
they've just passed him out through
their lines. An when 'he goes down
III follow him with Manuel here, an
when we reach the line of cottonwoods
we can hide In 'em till daylight. When
they send an officer up to see you at
daylight we can grab 'em as they come
back.
"Of course they'll hollsr about bein'
under white flag. but they won't be
no such thing, cause they'll drop their
white flag as soon as they are out OF
range comm back-see?"
Taken aback at the refusal to re.
celye the note. the soldado stumbled
off down the hill, his lantern bobbing
along among the mesquit-brush like q
lightning bug in summer. No sooner
had his shadow melted away in the
dusk than Mr.. Wilkes and Manuel. the
Mexican horse-wrangler," left the
house. They followed the soldier
stealthily down the slope to the line oil
cottonwoods, which stood out, low
lying blot, against the dusk OF the val
ley.
We'll wait here, Manuel" said the
old ex-deputy sheriff tersely well
walt here till the next outfit sees I'll
to ask Upton to pow WOW; it ought tc
be Just about daylight. Wake me W
when the light first shows"
Tho hours Of the night passed with
leaden feet. The eyes Of the watchers
were strained with looking for the
dawn to break over the eastern ranges
After putting his papers in order al
night long. Upton found relief-or al
least surcease from worry-by work
ing over his machine, tinkering here
and there till he had built up species
OF iron-clad automobile that would
have sickened the soul of the maker.
He was called from his work by tn.
insistent voice of Dorothy calling hin
sandwich in on hand, his rife in thu
other. hail from autside the house
brought him to his loophole. Tire,
men stood within easy rife range o
the house. dirty white cloth pro
claiming them to be messengers from
the rebels.
Hastily he laid his rife against tn,
house. and motioning the Mexicans t,
lay aside their arms. he signaled then
to come forward. Then. with eau
ton to Nolan and Lewis to shoot OF
the first sign Of treachery. he strod,
forward to meet them.
There was no discussion. The senio
oflcer. Colonel iiayez, simply handle,