Tombstone epitaph., 1916-06-18

| where the efficient performance OF
duty is assumed. Neglect or derelic-
ton is a 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 we're
more than willing to work themselves
TO a shadow to carry out his faintest
/ hint
loa see. Kynaston," went on the
stan officer. I'VE have had several
hints to the effect that attempts were
being made 10 smuggle money across
the line, so when your telegram came
the general sent me Of hot foot How
many of these prisoners are there?"
kynaston told him.
| And three pack-lules. Where did
| they come FROM
| kynaston answered briefly. and fol-
lowed his report with an account OF
/ the priests arrival and inc discovery
OF the valuable emerald that had set
two continents sgog three hundred
! years before
| SO you see. sir" he concluded. Il
| 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. II just occurred to me
! that in order to obtain possession Of
Jewel like that almost anyone would
or could tell an interesting yarn. Have
/ you ever been in TroCanto-didn't you
I 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 it Ell
Their. How about you:"
| Same"
"Of course" Kynaston hesitated.
that actually proves nothing"
The staff officer laughed.
An the same" 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
| HIS. You'd have found yourself in a
pretty rls.~ Z you'd let him have il.
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 10 see the stone. sir?"
| "Of course ] should, but Id like even
better to have a 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
| Cpdyke 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 10 the
| tent.
The old padre. hearing the summons.
came slowly from his hot little tent
and picked his way painfully across
the stones OF the trail.
II 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 IN
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 staff officer sat. an interested
| listener. while the old man made his
| appeal for the restoration TO his shrine
of the priceless jewel that Kynaston
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? II sounds
like firing breaking on: in the south
! east"
II DID sound like rifle firing. The
low, thunderous, reverberating crackle
that they knew so well brought every
! man out of the encampment as a Stick
/ In the tee-hole OF a hive brings out
the bees. Kynaston and Major Up.
dyke ran TO the top OF the low hill back
OF the camp; here they had good gen.
eral view OF the land.
1T must be another party, sir, in
trouble again. Wait till / get my
| glasses: we can see more with them"
So for long half hour they sat and
watched. The sound Of the firing
grew fainter and fainter, and finally
died away. only to break out again and
again as the two officers were about to
leave the hill
SlszslsisssislsIs,sfssss-s ssIssIasls
z d