Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1916-07-20
CHAPTER TX.
Murder.

Murder.
For q moment the girl stood, gazing
with Mortified eyes at. the jewel at her
feet. At tiTS. she could not believe
; tilal she was awake; then, leaning
forward, she picked 1t up andDplaced it
upon the table. The act, simple as 1t
was reused her thoroughly With q
little SILVER, she turned to her father,
who had regained consciousness and
was watching her through half-closed
eyes.
"Well!" he said. "Well!' Say It!
I know perfectly well what you are
thinking. Give 1t name.'
How came you to take the Bell. IA
Their? l saw 1t in his tent when we
sought refuge in his camp. You saw
1t there. too. Was 1t then that you
got it,"
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 1t
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 connoisseur
In matters of art, had got along with
1t an equally wellearned reputation
as a kleptomaniac.
For years she had known of this
failing Of her father On her very
deathbed Dorothys mother had spoken
plainly Of it, laying 1t 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 IL
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.
Il needed i'll 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 good
thing, my dear, that / did take 1t
though, for now have the means with
which to buy Kynaston's freedom
Who is that coming up the hill? Is Il
Wilkes come back?"
1t was Wilkes come back. and
Manuel along with him. A volley OIL
curses OF more than ordinary fluency
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 tc
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 Mayer
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, Eel gen
eral will make any concessions-do
anything! It wiz bring the last large
sum Of money or forces will require
before our arms establish q govern
ment Of true patriots and we are able
to issue loans as recognized nation.
"Oh, get down to cases!" snorted
old Wilkes.
This, then. We have the men, hut
no arms-no money to get arms
Men? Pah! We are gathering mon
on all sides. Our forces are daily in.
creasing. Only last night we had q
party of seventy volunteers sent in by
Captain Colquez. He sent them in
with request that we send back the
ropes at once so that he could forward
a fresh detachment"
"And you call them volunteers?
asked Dorothy.
Isl, senorita! They, too, are vol
unteers-unwilling volunteers-never
theless, volunteers"
Wilkes grunted.
"Nemmind all that chatter" he said
What you want is that Emerald Bell
amt it,"
Isl, 81! Tor that we will let &c
our prisoner; we will allow you to de
part in peace-anything everything!
speak for the general-l-"
shut up!" interrupted Upton.
The old miner turned to Wilkes.
I'm going down to their camp my
SELF" he said shortly. you hold these
hostages for my safe return. I'll dickel
with this old highlander personally
give him the Bell II have to, but, any
way, bring Kynaston back with me-"
He hesitated.
II really owe 1t to the boy" he con
cluded. what are you shaking youi
head at. Wilkes?"
BRAY fool in a mortar, yet shall
his folly depart not from him." quoted
Mr.. Wilkes. II member hearin' tha
at Sunday school. II you go dowr
there an promise him the Bell fol
Kynaston he'll grab you an shoot yol
II you don't come across with the Bell
IF you take 1t with you he'll tsI z'