Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-07-21

jewel that we took from the rebels In
fight. They had stolen it from the
Shrine of Our Lady Of Olvidados.
down in Trocanto to the south. and
were bringing it north to purchase
arms with. We fought with them
and took the plunder, and | wish now
to enter formal claim for it,
Who was the blind priest who
came into camp yesterday and
claimed it?" asked Major Updyke.
"A blind priest, senior? know
only that a man came and claimed
the stone-the Bell, mean. |
am told that be came hard into
camp upon the arrival of the pris-
oners. | know that he claims the
stone as part of the property of his
shrine down in Yucatan; but, senior,
that is a claim that might well be
made by any man who has seen or
heard of the jewel. Has he seen it?"
Not since its arrival here. GER
tainly."
Ndu uO uOSCTlU6 IL
Major Updyke laughed. "Tt is hard
ly to be expected, senior, that blind
man can so accurately describe such
thing as to convince anyone. He
has certainly heard someone else de-
scribe it, at least
II ask" insisted the Mexican, that
he be questioned in my presence as
to how and where and why the stone
came into our possession. 1t is true
that the stone was looted from the
south by the rebels. 1t is also true
that we defeated them in open fight
and that they fed, leaving their pack.
mules.
These mules we captured, and
afterward were compelled to abandon
when the rebels had received re-en-
forcements and drove US across the
border. Then, senior, your lieutenant
held us as prisoners of war and took
our baggage.
Il ask this, senior, because one Of
my men has told that he saw the
blind priest leave the camp a short
time ago. | know him well enough
to know that IL he has left a good bed
and good meals he must have had
sound reason. May l see the stone,
senior, to be assured of it's safety?'
Major Updyke hesitated. A refusal
of the request, which was but reason
able, would certainly create sus-
picions of Kynaston's honesty. A
statement of the actual condition of
affairs would not be believed. He
temporized.
'Senor Kynaston turned over the
saddle-bags to me a while ago." he
said. Il think it would be better to
wait until he returns"
But, senor," persisted the Mexi-
can, did you see the Bell? 1t is a
wonderful stone?" Did you see it?"
mo, | have not seen it; in fact,
senior, to be perfectly frank with you,
when Senor Kynaston sent for the
padre to speak to him about the mat
ter of the Bell. the padre had left
the. camp and the stone was gone"
The Mexican started.
"Senor," he said, Il had feared
some such thing. Ell viejo diablo!
might have known that some such
thing would happen If the lieutenant
were not warned. Blind as he is
that old rascal can see more with hi!
sightless eyes than many sound men
with two. Where is the lieutenant
senor?"
He, too, has left camp, and he has
sent a party to arrest the padre
wherever they shall find him. Res
content, senor, Nthe Jewel will be re
covered, and when it is recovered il
will not again be placed in jeopardy
Will yo1 not sit down and have {
cigar? / can guarantee them The!
come from your own state of Tam
;-ilipas."
In the meantime Kynaston, wit
his men, had pushed on across tn
range, from which he had seen, earle
] in the evening, the flames that toll
him of the attack upon the Santa Cru
mine. The mine lay long three mile
across the border; but though wei
he knew that under the existing order
he had no busines across the line, ye
he pushed on without hesitation.
Mile after mile they put benin
them as a carpenter throws SHAY
ings behind him. Finally they pause
on little declivity looking down tc
ward the great sweep of the rang,
on the farther slope of which stoo
the minehouses.