The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-18

effect that he wanted you to know
that he appreciates the manner in
which you have conducted affairs dur
ing the past six months"
Kynaston flushed warmly. Words of
appreciation are rare in military life,
where the efficient performance of
duty Is assumed Neglect or derelic-
ton is rarity. But the present de-
partment commander believed that
just as a commanding officer should be
quick to reprehend, SO also he should
not be chary of appreciation. The re-
suit was that his subordinates were
more than willing to work themselves
to shadow to carry out his faintest
hint.
You see, Kynaston," went on the
stan officer, I'VE have had several
hints to the effect that attempts were
being made to smuggle money across
the line, SO when your telegram came
the general sent me off hot foot How
many Of these prisoners are there?"
Kynaston told him.
And three pack-mules. Where did
they come FROM"
Kynaston answered briefly, and fol-
lowed his report with an account of
the priests arrival and the discovery
OF the valuable emerald that had set
two continents agog three hundred
years before.
so you see, sir" he concluded, 81
couldn't properly turn the thing over
to the priest, though believe his claim
is correct and just"
Ever hear Of him before?" asked
Major Updyke sharply.
Never, sir. Why?"
Nothing. 1t just occurred to me
that in order to obtain possession of
a jewel like that almost anyone would
or could tell an interesting yarn. Have
you ever been in Trocanto-didn't you
say that's the name of the place the
man says he came FROM"
"Trocanto, yes-no, I've never been
there. And I've never heard of 1t Ell
Their. How about your"
Same"
"Of course" Kynaston hesitated,
that actually proves nothing"
The staff officer laughed.
All the sane" he cried, I'm glad
came down here, IL you were really
so worked on by the old fellow that
you thought about giving the stone to
him. You'd have found yourself in a
pretty pickle If you'd let him have it,
and then a claim had been MADE by
your prisoners that you'd taken the
stone. 1t would have cost you your
commission, or at least"
Like to see the stone, sir?"
"Of course should, but I'd like even
better to have drink and something
to eat"
Kynaston produced his last bottle,
and, bidding his striker" improvise a
supper, sat chatting with his visitor
till the meal was ready. When Major
Updyke was through and had rolled a
cigarette, the youngster sent a trum-
peter to give his compliments to the
priest and to ask him to come to the
tent.
The cid padre, hearing the summons,
came slowly from his hot little tent
and picked his way painfully across
the stones of the trail.
Il heard thee asking for me, my son
am here"
This is the priest was telling you
of, SIR"
Major Updyke shook hands with the
old man, who peered at him from un
der bent brows with the peculiarly in,
tent look of the blind. The padre
seated himself for a moment upon a
great rock, clasping his hands loosely
across his knees.
Presently, in answer to a question
the old man began to talk. and for an
hour the stan officer sat, an interested
listener, while the old man made his
appeal for the restoration to his shrine
of the priceless jewel that Kynastou
had taken the day before.
But the proof, man, the proof! Thou
must understand. padre, that American
law. upon whose justice we pride our
selves. requires proof How canst
thou prove that this stone is indeed
the stone that thou hast described.
What is that, Kynaston? It sounds
like firing breaking out in the south
east"
1t did sound like rife firing. The
low, thunderous, reverberating crackle
that they knew so we'll brought ever,
man out Of the encampment as a sticE
in the tee-hole of hive brings out
the bees. Kynaston and Major Up
dyke ran to the top of the low hill bach
of the camp; here they had a good gen
eral view of the land.
1T must be another party. sir IN
trouble again. Wait till | get nv
glasses; we can see more with them ;
So for long half hour they sat and
watched. The sound of the 6rire
grew fainter and fainter, and 1nalIy
| died away, only TO break out again and
again as the two officers were about n
leave the hill.