The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1916-07-13

emerald bell. They want It and have
promised their prisoner, Lieutenant
kynaston, that If they get the jewel
he will be freed. They send a mes
senger with the proposition to the
American mine house.
Mr.. Upton did so. The man came
forward unhesitatingly and delivered
his message.
"Ask him who he is," prompted the
old man.
The soldier came forward, explain
ing haltingly In Spanish that he was
the bearer OF note. Mr.. Wilkes bent
forward eXcitedly.
Give en- dose Of their own medi
cine!" he said bitingly. "Ev'ry min.
ute that you can delay their proceedin's
is so much gain. Ask him what he
como fer, but don't take his note
see?"
Mr.. Upton did not "see," but he did
as he was bid. Presently the man with
some difficulty explained that he had
come as bearer Of a note to open nego.
tlations the nature Of which he did not
understand. He held out the note.
Mr.. Upton was about to take it when
q word dropped by Dorothy made
Wilkes jump as IL a line of biting
white ants had crawled up his leg
Wouldn't it be fine," said the girl,
"if we could only make couple Of
their officers prisoners and then ex-
change them for Mr.. Kynaston!"
Wilkes patted her shoulder
And they tell mo that woman ain't
fit to VOTE" he said scathingly. Don't
take his note, Upton! Not on no con-
sideration. What excuse Oh, don't
know, Upton. Yes. do, too
Tell 'em that you are a cabalero
Of blood and that it stands not with
yer honor to receive messages at the
hand Of common soldier. He must
have come OH an important message.
, Tell him that you will not receive the
, note except at tho hand Of an officer
see?"
/ Yes, see. And then what?"
! why, then he'll go OH down the
hill. They'll let him come because
they've just passed him out through
their lines. An when he goes down
when we reach the line of cottonwoods
we can hide in 'em till daylight. When
they send an officer up to see you at
daylight we can grab 'em as they come
back.
"Nf cou~eo thovI: ho'lor about hc,n'
under white flag. but they won't be
no such thing cause they'll drop their
white flag as soon as they are out Of
range comm back-see?"
Taken aback at the refusal to re.
ceive the note. the soldado stumbled
off down the hill, his lantern bobbng
along among tho mesquit-brush like a
lightning bug in summer. No sooner
had his shadow melted away in the
dusk than Mr.. Wilkes and Manuel, tho
Mexican "horse-wranglc-," left the
house. They followed tho soldier
stcalthily down the slope to the line Of
cottonwoods which stood out, low
lying blot, against the dusk Of the val
ley
We'll wait here, Manuel" said the
/ Old cx.deputy sheriff tcrsely. wen
wait here till the next outfit sees fit
] to ask Upton to pow wow it ought to
be just about daylight Wake me up
when the light first shows"
. Tho hours Of the night passed with
leaden feet. The eyes Of tho watchers
/ were strained with looking for the
dawn to break over the eastern ranges.
! After putting his papers in order all
night long, Upton found rellef--or at
least surcease from worry--by work.
Z Ia ~,
and there till he had built up species
. OF iron-clad automobile that would
have sickened the soul Of the maker.
| He was called from his work by the
insistent voice OF Dorothy calling him
| to breakfast. While he was eating, a
I sandwich in one hand. his rifle in the
! other, hail from autside the house
brought him to his loophole. Three
men stood within easy rifle range Of
the house, dirty white cloth pro.
claiming them to be messengers from
the rebels.
Hastily he laid his rifle against the
house, and motioning tho Mexicans to
lay aside their arms, he signaled them
to como forward. Then, with a eau.
ton to Nolan and Lewis to shoot on
the first sign Of treachery, he strode
forward to meet them.
'Ha.I ""s - d'scucei2n. THO seo,o;,
oihcer, Colonel Mayez simply handed
MN a bulky envelope, which Upton
thrust into his shirt. and, saluting
stiitly, faced about and walked quick.
~ oown toward the trees in the hol.
low upton stood watching them and
,ne movement among the trees where
| wakes and Manuel lay concealed.
a shot from cover--and a very long
range shot 1t was--warned him that al,