The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-05-09


ing mat-and lot of dried red pep
pers, together with package of beans
-frijoles- Wait bit! What's that
under your hand, Miss Upton?"
Miss Upton, startled, looked curl
ously at the package under her hand
which she had been resting upon the
pack She gave it twitch, and bun
die wrapped in rough, red blanket
rolled out on the ground. Kynaston
promptly picked it up.
Him, Three rifles that have no
business here and hundred rounds
OF ammunition. Wait bit. Sergeant
look at the arsenal mark on those
rifles and see where they were made
The sergeant scrutinized them care
fully in the early light.
Sir, there's some mark on 'em that
/ can't make out. 1t looks like some
sort OF flower as we'll as / can see."
kynaston took the gun. AS far
as its appearance was concerned
it resembled every other military
rife that he had ever seen, but when
he turned the under side to the light
he saw stamped in the dark wooden
forehand of the piece the full-blown
chrysanthemum that was the emblem
OF only one nation.
HIM! An Arisaka rife! Now
how the deuce did that come here? 1t
was made as far east as one can get
without tumbling over to the westward
again. How the deuce did a Japanese
rifle come into Mexican hands?"
He had no opportunity to solve the
problem, for even as he spoke Dorothy
gave an exclamation and stepped back
a pace as the covering of a package
broke and flood of silver pesos ran
out at her feet.
There's no proof of stealing in
these" commented Kynaston. Even
If there were the stealing was done
in Mexico, and the thief was not with
in our Jurisdiction. What is this?"
II was plain, dirty canvas sack
perhaps foot in depth and it bore
the marks of rough handling. He
picked it up and juggled 1t from hand
to hand. The officer of the Carranza
forces was obviously uneasy at the
scrutiny
That, senor," he said, lis the great
est prize of all. 1t was stolen by
these rebels across the line and was
to be used by them to purchase arms"
Without waiting for any explana-
ton as to what the contents of the
sack might be, Kynaston cut the string
and poured the contents out upon the
saddle blanket which the sergeant had
spread upon the ground. Certainly
there was nothing in the roll of rags
that rolled out to presage great value.
But on turning over the mass with
his foot glow of green caught his
eyes. There tumbled out at his feet
great crystal bell the color of the
richest blue grass that grows in Ken
lucky!
Dorothy picked IL up.
The padre was right" she said.
III 1t is indeed emerald II is worth
kings ransom. What will you do
with it?"
shall have to notify department
headquarters about II and send II nm
there. have no authority to give II
to anyone and I'm sorry to say can't
keep II.
Padre" he went on to the old
priest, who was standing with out
stretched neck listening to such few
words as he could understand, 'I
think we have recovered your bell.
but shall have to hold II for you until
] receive orders from my superiors
telling mc what to do with it. In a
matter of such Importance | do not
consider myself justified in acting
without orders Hello There comes
another automobile up the road"
Dorothy stared up the road, pres
emily she sprang upon a great bowlder
and waved her veil at the oncoming
machine.
It's father!" she called back ex.
citedly over her shoulder. ITS IA
ther! We sha'n't have to wait after
all for the chauffeur to get back
kynaston laughed frankly at her
look OF dismay as she realized how
what she had said must sound to the
young cavalryman.
I'm sorry you're so anxious to get
away so soon, Miss Upton. I'll 20
and give your father . hand with his
machine"
Mr.. Upton needed no help. He ran
his machine up TO the bottom OF tho
slope and swinging out came forward
with outstretched hand.