Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-08-25
CHAPTER VlI-cOntinued.

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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 sat 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 capitanl"
II was the voice Of the officer who
had met him.
"Si-si! What is it?"
"If you will come with me II will
perhaps benefit you"
Kynaston fumbled in his bootleg
TO see II 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 a 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.
Il 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. II he is your source Of
Information" said Kynaston in a dis
guised voice. He could see the priest
lean forward IN an eager attempt to
identify him.
There has been a story come to
us"-the general was in deadly earn
est-'that we mean to look into. There
was stone Of incalculable 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
number of the accursed federalistas.
and so the stone was taken. 1t was
then that, pursued by our men, the
thieves fed 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
appeared, 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 its duty in the morning. Am
l clear7"
"Ayel As clear as your own laws
and doubtless as discerning"
This time At hearing Kynaston's
voice the old priest leaned back in his
seat.
1T is the man." he said quietly
"It is the officer who took the stone.
"A bargain-then the stone against
your life! The stone that means two
hundred thousand pesos against you
lifei 1t can profit you nothing to keeI
1t. for If 1t is not turned over to us
you shall surely die"
Kynaston turned hotly toward tbs
priest.
Thou hast eaten my bread and
salt" he said passionately. ''ThoI
hast slept in my camp. Thou knowes
right well that / did not take tn,
stone; thou knowest right well tha
thou thyself art the thief, and that
had parties out searching for thee b,
mesa and by river. What hast thol
TO gain, padre, by lying away m!
life7"
The old priest turned gray unde
his dark skin.
MY son, this is not fair. Tho
sayest that thou didst not take II
Who then didf"
Who? Who but the man who ha
sought It, as he says. for so long? Tn
blind priest OF Trocanto, OF course
Who else has so great desire for it
/ could not have taken It, as my con
mandante-major-ca prove, for
was with him from the moment ths
be came into my camp till the bundl
was unwrapped, and the stone wa
found missing"
Was no one else in your tent then
asked the general.
Thou knowsst there was, senior
The voice Of the blind priest rose
almost breaking tension. Tho
knowest there were the two ladies'
where are they, say?"
Where are they? Is this camp
place to ask such a question? Would
thou expect to find lwomen-decel
women-in such camp of ladrones
Then, senor." said the genert
there can be but one person wi
knows about the stone. Either one
the ladies' must have seen the stor
when It was in your tent, or else
which Is, Of course. unbelievable
one of them has taken it"
"No-nol"
The voice suddenly rose to a shrieI
the Mexican captain raised his hal
10 guard his leader from the blow tn
be thought was coming. Kynast
dropped his hand.
Someone in your camp must knC
the matter Doubtless If any man {
tered your tent while the ladies we
~~~J~S~~~~~~e~~~ ~~~S<~~~~~-~~~S~S
Artillery In the Alps.
All sorts Of out-of-theway and Oft