The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-06-15

preston that with an AFFAIR OF this
Importance happening here you should
have a larger force.
HE Is reluctant 70 send an entire
troop OF cavalry here because that will
make II necessary TO send n captain
In command, and he has been so IA.
vorably impressed with tho way you
have handled the situation since you
have been here that no does not wish
to supcrsede you II II can be avoided.
| may add that no suggested TO mo
that | should drop you a hint TO the
effect that he wanted you TO know
that he appreciates the manner In
which you have conducted affairs dur.
Ing the past six months"
Kynaston flushed warmly. Words OF
appreciation are rare I'm military life,
where the efficient performance o.
duty Is assumed. Neglect or daSellc.
ton Is a rarity. But the present dc.
partment commander believed that
Just as Il commanding officer should be
quick to reprehend, so also he should
not be chary OF appreciation. The re.
suit was that his subordlnates we're
more than willing 20 work themselves
to a shadow to carry out his faintest
hint.
You see, Kynaston," went on the
stan officer, I'VE have had several
hints TO the effect that attempts were
being made to smuggle none acroso
the line, so when your telegram came
the general sent me on hot foot. How
many Of these prisoners are there?"
kynaston told him.
And three pack.mulcs. Where did
they come FROM"
Kynaston answered briefly. and fol.
lowed his report with an account OF
the priests arrival and the discovery
OF the valuable emerald that had set
two continents agog three hundred
years before.
80 you sec. SIR" he concluded, 81
couldn't properly turn the thing over
to the priest, though | believe his claim
is correct and Just"
Ever hear OF him bcfore?" asked
Major Updykc sharply.
Never. sir. Why"
Nothing. II just occurred TO me
that In order TO obtain possession OF
a Jewel like that almost anyone would
or could tell an interesting yarn. Have
you ever been In Trocanto-didn't you
say that's the name OF the place the
man says he came from"
"Trocanto, ycs-no, I've never been
there. And I've never heard OF II eli.
Their. How about you?"
same"
"Of course" Kynaston hcsitated,
that actually proves nothing"
The stan officer laughed.
"All the same" he cried. I'm glad
| came down here. IL you were really
so worked on By the old fellow that
you thought about giving the stone 20
him. You'd have found yourself In a
pretty pickle II you'd let him have II.
and then a claim had been made by
your prisoners that you'd taken the
stone. II would have cost you your
commission. or at least"
Like TO see the stone, sir?"
"Of course | should, but I'd like even
better to have Il drink and something
to eat"
Kynaston produced his last bottle,
and, bidding his striker" improvise a
supper, sat chatting with his visitor
till the meal vas ready. When Major
updyke was through and had rolled n
cigarette, the youngster sent a trum.
peter to give his compliments TO the
priest and TO ask him to come TO the
tent
The old padre, hearing the summons,
came slowly from his hot little tent
and picked his way painfully across
the stones Of the trail.
81 heard thee asking for me, my son.
! am here"
This Is the priest | was telling you
of, SIR"
Major Updyke shook hands with tho
old man, who peered at him FROM un.
der bent brows with the peculiarly In.
tent look of the blind. Tho padre
seated himself for n momen upon n
great rock, clasping his hands loosely
across his knees.
Presently, in answer 10 n question,
the old man began to talk. and for an
hour the stan officer sat, an interested
listener, while the old man made his
appeal for the restoration to his shrine
OF tho priceless Jewel that Kynaston
had taken the day before.
But the proof, man, the proof! Thou
must understand. padre. that American
law, upon whose Justice We pride our.
selves, requires proof. How canst
thou prove that this stone ia indeed
the stone that thou hast described?
What Is that, Kynaston? II sounds
like firing breaking out In the south.
east"
II did sound like rifle firing. The
low, thunderous, reverberating crackle
that they knew so well brought every
man out Of the encampment as a stick
In the tee-hole OF q hive brings out
tho bees. Kynaston and Major Up.