The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-08-04
CHAPTER TX.
Murder.

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that she was awake; then, leaning
forward, she picked It up and placed II
upon the table. The act. simple as It
was, reused her thoroughly. With a
little shiver, she turned to her father.
who had regained consciousness and
was watching her through half-closed
eyes.
"Welll" he said. 'Welll Say I'll
know perfectly we'll what you are
thinking. Give II a name"
How came you to take the Bell, ia
ther? / saw It in his tent when we
sought refuge in his camp. You saw
II there, too. Was It then that you
got III"
Her father nodded silently but did
not take his eyes from her face.
Well she knew where the trouble
lay Well she knew why he had taken
the stone, for the trouble had lain with
them always, and the shadow of II
had blighted the latter years Of her
mothers life.
Sane upon every other subject the
wealthy old miner, who had earned a
worldwide reputation as a connoisseur
in matters of art, had got along with
it an equally well-earned reputation
as a kleptomaniac.
For years she had known OF this
failing of her father. On her very
deathbed Dorothy's mother had spoken
plainly of 1t, laying It upon the daugh-
ter to be careful to prevent any such
thing from occurring again.
you saw the stone when we were
in his camp" she reiterated. WAS 1t
then that you took it?"
Again he nodded silently. The girl,
her bright head sunk upon her hands,
stood silent with the shame Of 1t.
81 needed tt needed 1t! And
they would not sell such a curio. That
old priest would as soon have sold his
soul as this miserable Bell. It's a good
thing, my dear, that l did take 1t,
though, for now have the means with
which to buy Kynastons freedom.
Who is that coming up the hill? Is 1t
Wilkes come back?"
1t was Wilkes come back. and
Manuel along with him. A volley Of
curses of more than ordinary iuency
told that they had companions.
Motioning the women back, Upton
flung open the door, admitting the two
men with their prisoners.
They come all right, but we had to
use some coaxin'-hey, boz" laughed
Wilkes, punching the old colonel of
artillery in the ribs with the long bar
rel of his revolver. Colonel Mayez
fairly spat at him; then, seeing the
green Bell upon the table, he started
back in surprise. The next second he
was fairly fawning before the table.
For this jewel" he cried, "el gen
eral will make any concessions-do
1t will bring the last large |
sum Of money our forces will require |
before our arms establish a govern |
ment Of true patriots and we are able |
to issue loans as a recognized nation" |
"Oh, get down to cases!" snorted |
old Wilkes.
This, then. We have the men, but
no arms-no money to get arms.
Men? Pah! We are gathering men
on all sides. Our forces are daily in
creasing. Only last night we had a
party of seventy volunteers sent in by
Captain Colquez. He sent them in
with a request that we send back the
ropes at once so that he could forward
4 fresh detachmant-"
"And you call them volunteers"
asked Dorothy.
Isl, senorita! They, too, are vol
lnteers-unwilling volunteers-never
.heless, volunteers"
Wilkes grunted.
"Nemmind all that chatter" he said.
What you want is that Emerald Bell,
lint it?"
Isl, 81! Tor that we will let go
,ur prisoner; we will allow you to de-
'art in peace-anything, everything!
speak for the generaI-I-"
Shut up!" interrupted Upton.
The old miner turned to Wilkes.
I'm going down to their camp my
elf, he said shortly. You hold these
hostages for my safe return. I'll dicker
With this old highbinder personally;
i've him the Bell If have to, but, any.
7ay, bring Kynaston back with me-"
He hesitated.
'T really owe it to the boy" he con-
luded. What are you shaking your
cad at. Wilkes?"
Bray a fool in a mortar, yet shall
is folly depart not from him. quoted
Ir. Wilkes. Il member hearin' that
Sunday school. If you go down
here an promise him the Bell for
.ynaston he'll grab you an shoot you
you don't come across with the Bell.
IF you take it with you he'll take
, shoot you. an then shoot Kynas-
IN,
mo, siree TIL only thing to do
to send this here colonel what has
sen the Bell back to General Obisp0
a tell him that you1l swap 1t for Key.
aston"
CTo BE CONTINUED
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