Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-07-13

than death. After It is all over. save my
honor for me If you can. Write my sis
ter at least that that accp-ation Is I'M
true.
He clipped from the paper the ar
ticle which intimated that he had
stolen the Bell and pinned it with
bit of splinter to his note, to be given
to the messenger A. the courier
walked off to the great csinaberry tree
under which shis horse was tied,
Kynaston thought cheeressly of what
the result of the missian must be.
The messenger was gone an hour
when a sudden furry al the post Of
the guard set the camp alight with ex-
element. An aid came hastily to the
house. demanding admission.
Your letter was received, senior,
by Senior Upton, who declined to read
1t" said the aid He said that he
was a caballero of blood and refused
to receive messages that were sent
him by the hands of common SOL
der. He demanded that Ell General
Obispo send a commissioned officer
to talk with him. Accordingly Major
Gutierrez will go up at daylight to
arrange matters"
Kynaston spent sleepless night
Early in the morning the camp was
awake, the noise and excitement fore
casting a move. An hour later an
officer, furious with anger, entered
with four men. He seized the Ameri-
can roughly and tied his hands behind
him with strip of rawhide.
Los perros!" the officer gritted.
ITO treat with men like that-el gen.
eral wishes to see you, gringo.
What is it? Well to ask! That
thief Of the world, Senior Upton
bah! He is ladrone, picaron,
thief! Done? What has he done?
Ell General Obispo sent this morning
to talk with him about you and the
jewel, which we need as thirsty man
needs water. His emissaries were ell
Commandante Major Gutierrez and ell
Coronel Mayer, who is the chief Of
our artillery.
They went up under white flag,
senior, and had a talk with the Ameri-
can. They could come to no terms, so
the two left him and started back.
When they reacher the bottom of the
hill naturally enough they lowered the
white flag"
Yes, yesi Where are they now?"
The blind priest of Trocanto, who
had approached, answered the ques-
ton.
They are prisoners in the hands
of Senior Upton. He sent word back
to ell General Obispo that If the SOL
diers lay hand OF thee he will hang
the two officers as high as Hannah.
Doubtless thou canst learn the details
from Ell general"
1t was difficult to learn anything
from the general, who, angry at being
outwitted, spat like a cat and was
equally ineligible. 1t was from his
tlrst acquaintance that Kynaston
learned what had happened.
Yes, senior, the two went up with
a soldado-common soldier-carrying
the flag of truce. You can see it is
mile away; between us is the belt
of onwoods-low-lying in
the valley.
Their talk, senior, came to nothing.
We know now that Senior Upton did
but talk to gain time. When they left
they walked down the hill, and when
they reached the valley where the ala
mos grew, they dropped their flag Of
truce, sat down, and lit cigarettes.
ut was in that moment, senior, that
a gray-headed old pirate stepped from
behind tree, showed great pistol
under the nose of the valiant coronel,
broke the rifle of the soldier, and told
him to go back to--el general will
pardon me-to the stealer of horses
who commanded here, with the mes
sage that the two officers would be
hanged if a hair of your head is
touched-saints and angels, senores,
what is it now?"
For another white flag was waving
from the house and shot had been
fired to attract their attention.
Kynaston looked up eagerly.