The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1916-12-22

these girls, when they were released
by these men and permitted To return
home, preferred death to confession
Of their treatment.
But, these men had been schooied in
such debauchery, for they had be-
longed to the STATS of the bandit gen.
erals before they started the insurrec.
ton, and had adopted the methods OF
these famous chieftains.
While the feast was going on Alvira
suddenly turned to Lopez, as he
raised his glass.
"Where Is that American girl?" he
asked.
"She escaped again . :. The little
cat With that dog, Pedro" re-
piled Lopez as deep frown swept
over his countenance.
Huh, she could not get away from
me like that" boosted Alvira as he
gulped down his wine. Then, as he
leaned forward and gazed into the face
of his comrade. "She is pretty, too"
'IIer money is handsome" returned
Lopez. "We need it. / will get her
again, and when l do, keep her until
she pay me a good many hundred dol
lars"
you will never get it, so long as
that American, Rutledge lives" said
Alvira.
"Then kill him !" threatened Lopez
as he brought his black fist down on
the board.
And, the American government will
get you," Alvira reminded him.
Lopez is not so stupid" said the
other. Manuel Leon is her husband.
She Is married to him. He is my of
ficer, and must do as I say. / will get
what l want through him."
II don't trust that yellow dog" re-
marked Alvira. you will find he is
a traitor TO u.s."
eff ] think that, kill him now" said
Lopez as he started to rise.
mo, no, pot so fast, Senor," eau
toned the other as he pulled him back
in his seat. "You will find, soon enough.
Then you will see. He is a coward"
At that moment two of Lopez's men
were entering the camp with Liberty.
They led her before A1vira and
Lopez. AS they entered, Lopez looked
up with treacherous smile. "See,
said l would find her." Then he turned
to Liberty who stood just inside the
tent, with Mexican on either side of
her.
$50, you think you can escape me,
my pretty white cat?" he sneered.
The girl did not answer, but stood
staring at him, with all the hatred in
her soul outlined in her countenance.
You cannot get away from Lopez"
he continued. mo matter where YOU
go in Mexico he will find you. l sup
pose you go to your American lover.
You no need: will bring him here
to you, yet" Then his countenance
blackened with fury, and his eyes con-
viEcrc her that he meant every word
OF his next sentence. "And, if you
no give me money, l kill him right be-
fore those pretty eyes"
"The American government would
never rest until it found you," said
Liberty.
rs that SOP" he grinned. "What do
the American government know about
the Chihuahua mountains? Once l go
there. they never find Lopez. They
never-fnd--you-too! You hear! -
What do you want with me?" in
quired Liberty.
no want you: l want your
money" replied Lopez. "If you give
me ten thousand dollars 1 let you go
now"
Il will never give you one cent! I"
answered Liberty.
you may change your mind, SEN
orita," laughed the bandit. Then he
addressed her two guards. "Take her
to the hut" he ordered them.
Liberty was led away and thrown
into an old deserted adobe hut, which
stood near the outskirts of the camp.
1t had been used one time by her
father as a storehouse. There was one
window in It, besides lot of dirt, and
an old Mexican blanket.
AS she leaned against the window
and gazed out into the beautiful moon
light, Liberty was disguised and sad.
Again she was in the clutches of this
degraded bandit. She knew he didn't
care anything about her-even though
ne had stated at times, before his
aides, that he loved her. He wanted
the ransom. But he would never get
penny from her. She felt that in
the end he would lose No bandit. who
had such crimes as this black-hearted
villain, could expect to travel far with
out receiving his reward. He seemed
to be winning at present, but he was
going to lose later on, and lose hard,
too.
Alvira firmly believed Manuel was a
traitor, and he made up his mind TO
nave him taken prisoner. He called
several of his men together and COM
them to fetch Manuel before
him. But, his orders were never car
lied out.
AT that moment Manuel was in the
nut where Liberty was being hold nris-