The Dermott news., 1916-07-20
CHAPT FER K.
Murder.

 feet At first she could not believe that she was awake; then, leaning forward she picked it up and placed 1t uFSn the table The act. simple as 1t 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
 We'll" he said. "Well! Say it, I know perfectly well what you are thinking Give it name,
 "How came you to take the Bell, fa- ther? saw 1t in his tent when we sought refuge in his camp You saw it there. too Was it then that you got it?"
 Her father nodded silently but did not take his eyes from her face. Well she knew where tho 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 bIighted the latter years of her mothers life.
 Sane upon every other subject, the wealthy old miner. who had earned world wide reputation as connoissenr in matters of art, had got along with 1t an equally well-earned reputation as a kleptomaniac.
 For years she had known of th's failing of her father On her very deathbed Dorothy's mother had spoken plainly of it. laying it upon tho 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 it.
 T needed it-I needed 1t And they would not sell such 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. thogeh for new have the means with which te bf-y kynastonis freedom. Who is that coming up the hill' Is it Wilkes ccme back"
 t was Wilkes come back and Manuel along with him yo,ley of curses of more than ordinary nuency told that thcy had companions.
 Notoning thc women back, Upton flung open the door admitting the two men with their prisoners.
 efHey come all right. but we had to use some caaxin hey bo?a laughed Wilkes. punching the old colonel of artU ery in the ribs with tho long bar. rel of his revolver. Colonel Mayez fairly suat at him. then. seeing tho green Bell upon the table. he started back in surprise Tho next second he was fairly fawang before the table.
 For C Is Jewel he cried, "el gen cgal will make any ccncessions-do anything It will bring the last large sum of money our forces will require before our arms establish govern ueut Of true patriots aud we are able 10 issue loans as u recognized nation
 "0h. get down to casesi" snorted old Wilkes.
 This. then We have the men. but no arms-no money to get arms. Mem Pah Ne are gathering men on all sides Our forces are daily in crcastug Only last night we had a 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 fresh detaehmeut-' l asked Dorothy.
 "Si, seuorita' They. too are vol unteers unwilling volunteers never theless. volunteers. 1 Wilkes grunted
 "Nemmind all that chatter" he said What you want is that Emerald Bell. an,t it2"
 "Si. si! For that we will let go our prisoner; we will allow you 10 de- part in peace-anythiug. everything! l l 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 l uOotdStS lOl ny Sdlt tlui H. l IT hlNh with this old highbinder personally; give him the Bell if have to. but, any way. bring Kynaston back with me" He hcsitated
 T really owe it to the boy" he con. cluded. What are you shaking your head at, Wukes?"
 Bray fool in a mortar, yet shall his folly depart not from h.m, quoted Mir Wilkes. T member hearin that at Sunday school If you so down there an promise him t4e Bell for | Kynaston he'll grab you an shoot you | if you don't come across with the Bell
 If you take it with you he'll take it. shoot you, an then shoot Kynas | ton.
 No, siree' Tn only thing to do Is to send this here colonel what has seen the Bell back to General Obispo an tell him that you'll swap it for Key |