Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-06-02
CHAPTER X.
Tho Blind Priest Hats.

Tho Blind Priest Haits.
Very haltingly and slowly he came
across the open, his long stick tap
tapping his way among the loose rocks
of the stream crossing; then up the
hill slowly, as some wounded ANNA
might crawl
Ir the Mexican camp silence had
again fallen. Save for few sporadic
shots and a shrill yell or two, the
place lay quiet in the red,hot glare.
Between the house and the alfslfs
fields few lone prairie dogs perchet
atop their burrows, basking in the sun
glare.
Il wonder what he wants" re
marked Kynaston. There's been ne
gotiations enough between US and that
bunch of hell-cats yonder to end war
Look at him, Wilkes"
Aye. I'm lookin'. I'm wonderin II
it'd be q lick or miss to plug him, too
Wouldn't hurt none at that, reckon
He fingered his rife suggestively
but desisted when Kynaston shook bis
head.
Look! He's found the bodies"
The old padre paused abruptly as his
stick struck soft flesh. They saw him
kneel and reyerently make the sigu
of the cross. Then. rising, he hurried
haltingly toward the house.
"Senores senores!" they heard him
cry, "por lsmor de Dios--do no more
violence! bring you news"
What news. ciego (blind one) !
Where is Senior Upton"
'Muerto dead, senior"
The padre threw wide his hands.
They saw his face working.
1T was wicked, senior! 1t was wick
ed beyond words. But vengeance is
Gods am old, senores, who was
once young, and tell you with the
psalmist, Never saw the godly man
forsRken nor the seed Of the righteous
begging his bread Seek not to hurry
Gods Justice. 1t has leaden feet, but
1t comes surely"
Il only hope 1t pleases him to send
II by my hand" growled Wilkes. What
is your news, padre? Speak quickly
for my trigger finger itches, II you
did but know It."
Shoot, then. II II pleases thee. Az
we'll die by thy bullet as work out my
life slowly like pack.mule in the
TERRA caliente of the south. Is tina,
womans sobbing, senores?'
1T is the senorita, she whose father
was killed by the brandy-sodden fiend
yonder. What is 1t to thee?"
Il would speak with her. After all
Senores. | am q priest-a blind one, II
10 true; but can still see well enough
TO point out to the unfortunate the only
true path to peace"
Dorothy and Mrs. Fame came for
ward, the girl still weeping but striv
ing pluckily to repress her feeling,
Thou art welcome, father" she sale
In the vernacular. 1T is q house o.
grief thou contest to, but thou art wei
come--doubly so for thy calling"
The old priest gently raised his hant
with all the authority of two thousand
years In his gesture: Peace be TO thii
house and to all the inhabitants there
of. I will not trespass long, my daugh
ter. 30 south again with my mission
unfulHlled."
What mission 10 this, father?" Il
was Marian who spoke.
my search for my lost Emerald
Bell" the padre replied. 1T 10 writ
ten, Many shall seek but 1t shall b.
hidden from them"
He paused, a sudden furry from Dor
othy meeting his ear. His hearing
Quickened as It 10 in the blind, was al
delicate 40 that OF the prairie dog
which the Apaches say can hear tht
bursting OF the seed-pods In the bunch
grass in the spring.
At his words the girl had released
herself from Mrs. Fane's encirclins
arm and was hurriedly loosening heI
hair, which fell In sheeted fame oveI
her shoulders. Delving with trembling
hands In its golden masses. she tool
from its resting place. secure alike
from sight and touch-ths Emerald
Belt
Take it-take III" she said sobbing
ly. Il wish we had never seen It! II
has brought nothing but evil fortune"
She thrust 1t into the trembling
hands OF the old man. Wilkes and
Kynaston saw the tears stream down
his cheeks. The blind do not weep
easily. They stood astonished.
"Out Of the North It came, and out
Of the North 1t has returned. Thanks
be to God for his mercies! His shrine
10 no more empty. Evil fortune? 81.
senorital II has been SO since Monte
yuma gave 1t to Corte= and was killed.
"Sincs the great conquistador took
1t and died, broken-hearted and dis
graced man; since Pedrarias took It
and was poisoned--so did 1t so until It
reached the resting place from which
laNa@e~<H