The Benson signal., 1916-09-23
CHAPTER TX.
Murder.


For moment the girl stood, gazing
with Mortified eyes at the jewel at her
feet. At first she could not believe
that she was awake; then, leaning
forward, she picked it up and placed it
upon the table. The act, simple as it
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.
"Well!" he said. well! Say it!
I know perfectly well what you are
thinking. Give it a name"
How came you to take the Bell, "a
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 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
it an equally well-earned reputation
as kleptomaniac.
For years she had known Of this
failing of her father. On her very
deathbed Dorothy's mother had spoken
plainly Of it, laying it 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 it
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.
II needed it needed it! And
they would not sell such curio. That
old priest would as soon have sold his
soul as this miserable Bell. It's good
thing, my dear, that I did take it.
though, for now have the means with
which to buy Kynaston's freedom.
Who is that coming up the hill? Is it
Wilkes come back?"
It was Wilkes come back. and
Manuel along with him. A volley of
curses of more than ordinary fuency
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 to
use some coaxin'-hey, boz" laughed
Wilkes, punching the old colonel of
rel of his revolver. Colonel Mayez
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 jewell" he cried, eel gen.
eral will make any oncessions-do
anything! 1t will bring the last large
sum of money our forces will require
before our arms establish govern
ment Of true patriots and we are able
to issue loans as a recognized nation"
ooh, get down to cases!" snorted
old Wilkes.
"Tnis, then. We have the men, but
no arms-no money to get arms.
Men? Pah! We are gathering men
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 a request that we send back the
ropes at once so that he could forward
a fresh detachment"
"And you call them volunteers?"
asked Dorothy.
"Si, 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,"
"Si, 81! For that we will let 80
our prisoner; we will allow you to de-
part in peace anything, everything!
1 speak for the general-I-"
"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 dicker
with this old highbinder personally;
give him the Bell if have to, but, any
way, bring Kynaston back with me-"
He hesitated.
Il really owe it to the boy" he con,
cluded. What are you shaking your
head at. Wilkes?"
"'Bray a fool in a mortar, yet shall
his folly depart not from him. quoted
Mr.. Wilkes. 81 member hearin' that
at Sunday school. If you go down
there an promise him the 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, stree! TIL only thing to do