The Benson signal., 1916-09-16


honor for me if you can. Write my sis
ter at least that that accusation is un-
true.
He clipped from the paper the ar
ticle which intimated that he had
stolen the Bell and pinned it with a
bit of splinter to his note, to be given
to the messenger AS the courier
walked off to the great chinaberry tree
under which his horse was tied,
Kynaston thought cheerlessly of what
the result of the mission must be.
The messenger was gone an hour
when sudden furry at the post of
the guard set the camp alight with ex-
clrement. An aid came hastily to the
house, demanding admission.
your letter was received, senior
by Senior Upton, who declined to read
it," said the aid. HE said that he
was caballero of blood and refused
to receive messages that were sent
him by the hands of common sol.
dier. He demanded that Ell General
Obispo send a commissioned officer
to talk with him. Accordingly Major
Gutierrez will go up at daylight to
arrange matters"
Kynaston spent a sleepless night
Early in the morning the camp was
awake, the noise and excitement fore
casting move. An hour later an
officer, furious with anger, entered
with four men. He seized the Ameri
can roughly and tied his hands behind
him with strip of rawhide.
Los perros." the officer gritted
ITO treat with men like that-el gen
eral wishes to see you, gringo.
What is it? Well to ask! That
thief of the world, Senor Upton
bah! He is ladrone, picaron, g
thief! Done? What has he donei
Ell General Obispo sent this morning
to talk with him about you and the
needs water. His emissaries were 81
Commandante Major Gutierrez and el
Coronel Mayer, who is the chief ol
our artillery.
They went up under a white flag
senor, and had talk with the Ameri
can. They could come to no terms, sc
the two left him and started back
When they reacher the bottom of the
hill naturally enough they lowered the
white flag"
"Yes, yes! Where are they now?'
The blind priest of Trocanto, who
had approached. answered the ques
tion.
They are prisoners in the hands
Of Senor Upton. He sent word back
to ell General Obispo that if the sol
diers lay hand on thee he will hang
the two officers as high as Haman
Doubtless thou canst learn the details
from ell general"
1t was difficult to learn anything
from the general, who, angry at being
outwitted, spat like cat and was
equally Ineligible. It was from his
first acquaintance that Kynastc1
learned what had happened.
Eyes, senor, the two went up with
soldado-common soldier-carryins
the flag Of truce. You can see it II
a mile away; between us is the belt
Of onwoods-low-lying ir
the valley.
Their talk, senior, came to nothing
We know now that Senor Upton die
but talk to gain time. When they left
they walked down the hill, and whe1
they reached the valley where the ala
mos grew, they dropped their flag o1
truce, sat down, and lit cigarettes.
"It was in that moment, senor, thai
a gray-headed old pirate stepped from
behind a tree, showed great pisto
under the nose of the valiant coronel
broke the rifle of the soldier, and tolG
him to 60 back to-el general will
pardon me-to the stealer of horses
who commanded here, with the mes
sage that the two officers would be
hanged If hair of your head is
touched-saints and angels, senores
what is it now?"
For another white flag was waving
from the house and shot had beer
fired to attract their attention.
Kynaston looked up eagerly.