Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-04-11

bandits drank to their health. Many OF
these girls, when they were released
by these men and permitted to return
home, preferred death to a confession
of their treatment.
But, these men had been schooled In
such debauchery. for they had be-
longed to the STATS of the bandit gen.
erals before they started the insurrec-
ton, and had adopted the methods of
/ these famous chleftains.
While the feast was going on Alvira
suddenly turned to Lopez, as he
raised his glass.
''where is that American girl?" he
asked.
"She escaped again The little
| cat With that dog, Pedro" re.
piled Lopez as deep frown swept
over his countenance.
''Huh, she could not get away from
me like that" boosted Alvira as he
gulped down his wine. Then. as he
leaned forward and gazed into the face
of his comrade. "She is pretty. too"
"Her money is handsome" returned
Lopez. 1--WE need 1t. / will get her
again, and when do. keep her until
she pay me a good many hundred dol
lars"
"YOu viii never get IL, so lorg as
that American, Rutledge lives" said
Alvira.
''Then l kill him" threatened Lopez
as he brought his black fist down on
the board.
"And. the American government Will
get you" Alvira reminded him.
LOPEZ is not so stupid" said the
other. Manuel Leon is her husband.
She is married to him. He is my Of
ficer. and must do as say. will get
what / want through him"
~ dent trust that yellow dog" re
marked Ahi~a. "You viii find he is
u traitor to us"
"If think that, kill hirn now" said
Lopez as he started to rise.
''No, no, not so fast, Senior" eau
toned the other as he pulled him back
in his seat. "You will find. soon enough.
AAth SVu VIII Stt. 4At y u NohdAhs
At that moment two of Lopez's men
were entering the camp with Liberty.
They led her before Alvira and
Lopez. AS they entered. Lopez looked
up with n treacherous smile. See. 1
said would find her" Then he turned
TO Liberty who stood just inside the
tent, with a Mexican on either side of
her.
$50, you think you can escape me,
my pretty white cat?" he sneered.
The girl did not answer, but stood
staring at him, with all the hatred ia
her soul outlined in her countenance.
you cannot get away from Lopez, a"
he continued. "No matter where you
go in Mexico he will find you. sup
pose you go TO your American lover.
You no need: / viii bring him here
TO you, vet Then his c0unteuance
blackened with fury, and his eyes con-
WINGED her that he meant every word
| OF his next sentence. "And, II you
no give me money, XIII him right be-
fore those pretty eyes"
"The American government would
never rest 1nui it found you" said
| Liberty.
as that sol" he grinned. "What do
the American government know about
the Chihuahua mountains? Once / go
there, they never find Lopez. They
er-ind-you-too You heart"
"what do you want with mel" in
quired Liberty.
Il no want you: I want your
money" replied Lopez. 'If you give
me ten thousand dollars let you go
now"
Il will never give you one cent p
answered Liberty.
"You may change your mind, Sem
orita,' laughed the bandit Then he
addressed her two guards. "Takc her
TO the hut" he ordered them.
Liberty was led away aud thrown
into an old deserted adobe hut. which
stood lear the outskirts of the camp.
II had been used one time by her
father as a storehouse. There was one
window in 1t, besides lot OF dirt, and
an ole Mexican blanket.
AS she leaned against the window
and gazed out into the beautiful moon
light, Liberty was disgusted and sad.
Again she was in the clutches OF this
degraded bandit. She knew he didn't
care anything about her--even though
he had stated at times, before his
aides, that he loved her. He wanted
the ransom. But he would never get
a penny from her. She felt that in
the end he would lose No bandit. who
had such crimes as this black-hearied
villain, could expect to travel far with
out receiving his reward. He seemed
10 be winning at present, but he was
going TO lose later on, and lose hard.
.DL
Alylra firmly believed Manuel was a
traitor, and he niSie up his mind TO
have him taken prison,r. He called
several Of his men together and con-
nanded them to fetch Manuel before
him. But, his orders were never err
rled out.
AT that moment Manuel was IN the
hut where Liberty was being held pris-
Oner. lie had waited until Lopez and
Alyira had gone to sleep and the en-
tire earap was quiet Then he had
crept quietly from bis tent and made
his way to the spot.
Liberty. who haa thrown herself on
-. d Ia