The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1916-05-25
CHAPTER ll-Continued.


While they were eating tho appe.
Gizing meal that the trumpeter spread
Tor them upon the camp table beneath
the solitary live oak that stood before
the tent. they watched tho sergeant
help the stranger down the hill Ta-
king the blind man to the fire, he seat
ed him upon a saddle that lay near the
cooking tent, and came forward with
salute.
He's priest. slr--a padre; and
from what little can make out of
Ills lingo he's had q pretty bad time
of 1t. sir. Shall bring him up?"
YES"
Kynaston sprang up.
Mrs. Fame, do you and Miss Up.
:on object to my asking the old fellow
% take his breakfast here with us? I
hardly like to send him down among
he prisoners to eat. He seems a cut
above them, don't you know"
Why, Of course not, Mr.. XMAS.
ON. Please do exactly as you would
1t we were not here. am sure he
will be very interesting"
So Kynaston went down to the fire,
where the old man was explaining in
broken English and Mexican patois
to the prisoners. for them to translate
TO the Americans that he was moro
tired than hungry. but that most Of
all he desired to hold converse with
the commanding officer. Having in
troduced himself. Kynaston asked the
old man to come to his tentsand Join
him In coffee.
They found the two ladies already
at their meal. Kynaston seated the
old man between the two and poured
him O cupful Of steaming coffee that
woke him into speech.
Never before, senior, have | crossed
the line. A Mayan am |, as all nv
people were for twelve generations
that stretch their hands back even
unto the days before there were Span
iards in Tenochttlan
For the space Of twelve mems
Iives have we lived under the shadows
OF El TIC. seeing always the surf break
on the outlying bars. Two years ago
came north. even as Coronado came.
part of the way on my feet, part on
asses; always with pain. for to the
nlind, senor. all paths are hard And
at last my dream vanished"
Thy dream?"
Aye senor, my dream, for know
&non that l came not without an aim,
Anal aim has been to follow and re.
cover what these thieves OF the world
have taken"
He pointed his thumb over his
shoulder toward the fire, whore The
prisoners still sat over the bacon ond
hard bread that were being cooLaa ~ 90,
&nem by the cooks Of the troop.
And art thou really blind9"
$50 that, senior; for flftv vear.
Mave not seen the light Of dav"
Mrs. Fame and Dorothy murnorrol
Sheir sympathy.
$50 I have come, senior. For ro,
three hundred years and my fathor
before me kept the shrine where Il ha
been deposited since the days who
Gcrtez came back from the courts =
the old world to hold his court .
'Euernavaca, and, finding there in nov
OK the evil man, Pedrarias, his en-
dny, retired to live upon his estates.
s'Ye know. senor and ladies, how
WAS said that the conquistador pc
xsoned his first wife so that he cou
aaarry o second wife who should q
vance his fortunes. 1t was to this sc
sand wife that he gave those wonde
E1l jewels, as all the world know
,Ghe wonderful emeralds that Quet
Isabella asked for In vain and tn
made Cortez the most courted man
eall Madrid. Hast thou heard Of them
4 Mrs. Fame and Dorothy looked the
taDterest All people are interested
aSthp moro mention OF Jewels or pr
tasfous stoneg--even those who do n
8lppsaess them.
81 have heard" said Kynastc
tatowiy. "the same tele all men kno1
atilo tale which Gomara wrote to Il
ssiIect that Cortez received as a pa
esg the <afe0aa OF the Iamperor Mont
" salsaa y f7YA n1naaf aaYaarafda..s ma Chr