The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-05-30

prisoner VINO had been outrageOuSly
abused by the army officer who had
captured him, the Tarryville Argus
had dispatched special correspond
ent to the camp of the United States
troops.
There he found Major Updyke, who
with visible reluctance had substan
tiated the story about the jewel
kynaston swore and ragged impotent.
ly up and down the little room. AID.
parently 1t was not enough that he
should sacrifice his life itself; his very
reputation. too, was to be torn to
shreds.
Hour after hour passed. He had a
little tobacco, but one cannot enjoy
smoking in the dark. So he set and
thought and thought till the tiny stars
came out like forget-me-nots in the
wonderful Mexican sky. and the camp
woke to renewed life in the GOODNESS.
Presently he was aroused by the
sound of someone fumbling at the
chain that fastened the door on the
outside. The door drew open. In the
shadow he heard a voice.
"Ohe Milo capitan!"
1t was the voice OF the officer who
had met him.
"Si-si. What is it?"
"lf you will come with me it will
perhaps benefit you
Kynaston fumbled in his bootleg
to see If that fiat automatic pistol still
lay close to his leg. Fortunately, he
had not been examined for concealed
weapons; the MeXicans had taken for
granted that man surrendering him
self would not be fool enough to bring
arms into hostile camp.
Kynaston stepped out. The officer
with two guards crowded their way
with their prisoner through the fast.
gathering crowd to the house where
the general lived. BY the light of the
two gluttering candles stuck in empty
bottles that illuminated the dirty in
terror kynaston saw, seated beside the
rebel commander, a figure that he rec
ogniZed at once-the blind priest of
Trocanto, the guardian OF the shrine!
The general was the first to break
the silence.
II have brought you here, Senior
Gringo, to ask you some questions
This good man tells me that you are
an Americana officer Is it true?"
ASK him, If he is your source of
information" said Kynaston in dis
guised voice. He could see the priest
lean forward in an eager attempt to
identify him.
There has been a story come to
general was in deadly earn.
we mean to look into. There
was stone of ncalculable value IN
the South that we meant TO use to buy
arms and ammunition to help our
cause We got it: then our forces
were attacked by three times their
OF the accursed federalistas
and SO the stone was taken. 1t was
then that, pursued by our men, the
thieves fled across the line and took
refuge on American soil, carrying with
them the stone that meant so much to
the righteous cause.
That stone was taken charge OF
by the American officer. The next
day the stone and the officer had dis
and now the good father
tells me that you are the man. tell
you plainly. Senior Gringo, that. fail
ing to obtain from you news of the
stones Whereabouts, the court-martial
shall do it's duty in the morning. Am
/ clear?"
Aye! AS clear as your own laws
a
This time at hearing Kynaston 8
voice the cid priest leaned back in his
sear
"It is the man. he said quietly.
1T is the officer who took the stone
"a bareain-then the stone against
your life! The stone that means two
hundred thousand pesos against your
life! 1t can profit you nothing to keep
IT for If it is not turned over to US
you shan surely die"
Kynaston turned houy toward the
priest
Thou hast eaten my bread and
salt he said passionatcly. Thou
hast slept in my camp Thou knowcst
right well tnat l did not take the
stone; thou knowest right well that
thou thysclf art the thief, and that ]
had parties out searching for thee by
mesa and by river. What hast thou
to gain. padre, by lying away my
Hfe?"
The old priest turned gray under
mis- dark skin
My son, this Is not fair. Thou
saycst that thou didst not take it..
Who then did?"
Who? Who but the man who has
sought 1t, as he says, for so long? The
blind priest OF Trocanto, Of course.
Who else has so great a desire for il .