Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-08-09

/
surroundings, permitted his humble
soul to drink in the beautiful scene be-
fore him. And, as he gazed out far
across the sandhills, which resembled
| heaps of precious gold under the gold
en- rays OF the sun, he became inspired
| with new courage His soul became
embittered against those who would
seek to imprison him though he had
never committed a wrong in his life
and as the thought came to him his
great, black fingers closed and cIenched
| and his big jaws became set in a grim
determination.
He turned from the window and
stared at the guards. They were pay
ing little heed to him, but were con-
filming their interest to the wine which
was gradually going to their heads.
Pedro noticed this and he decided to
take advantage of it, He watched
them narrowly and began to make his
way toward the door in the belief that
it was locked. He hurled himself
| against it,
The guards saw him, and, staggering
to their feet, they made after him.
Pedro, realizing it was time for
quick action, made a dive for one of
| With one move he sent the fellow on
his back. Then he grabbed the other,
and, raising him high above his head,
he brought his body down. and sent 1t
crashing through the table. By this
time the first guard had regained his
| feet and was creeping up on Pedro.
| But the powerful slave saw him, and,
| swinging around, he landed him a ter
rife blow on the jaw, which sent the
| Mexican to the floor.
| Pedro then ran to the door and tried
to force it open with his shoulder. The
| guards recovered and rushed at him.
| One of them drew his knife and would
have plunged it into his back, had he
not turned when he did. He ran to
the other side of the room, the guards
In pursuit. But this was only a ruse
on the part of Pedro, who ran up the
wall and turned complete somerSault
over their heads Knocking them over,
he picked up the other, and, running
with him toward the door, he used him
as battering ram, with the result that
the guards feet went crashing through.
Then he threw the fellow on the floor
and started to escape.
But just as he was about to step out
number of guards, who had heard the
loud noise, came rushing up and
grabbed him. He was quickly over
powered and taken to the torture
chamber.
One of the guards was found dead in
the cell, and the other unconscious.
This instilled in his captors the desire
to subject him to the severest torture.
kill me, If you want, but let my
mistress CO." pleaded Pedro.
''She is murderess,'' sneered one of
the guards.
You lie!" shouted Pedro. as he
wrested himself free and rushed for
the fellow. And before the other
guards could prevent him, he had dealt
the Mexican u blow which caused that
individual stretch out on the floor.
Now you pay much morer ex-
claimed the jailer, as his men seized
the slave and held him.
Il pay anything, but 1 no let you
insult Miss Libertyl" shouted Pedro as
he glared at the fellow who was slowly
rising to his feet. MY mistress no XIII
anybody, and the man who say she do
will not liver
as that so?" snarled one of the
guards. What you care? You no
see her no more. We fix you"
The look that Pedro gave this fellow
was enough to convince him that 1t
was we'll the slave was being held Sc
curely.
In the meantime Liberty was won
dering where they had taken Pedro. In
her dungeon she heard nothing Of the
fight he had with the guards. He had
been led to another>part of the prison,
which seemed to her to be desolated, ex-
cept for herself and the slave. No sound
broke the monotonouS silence of the
place. and she was certain IL she was
kept in there another day she would
go mad. 1t was dark, and ill-Smellinp
the room was hardly high enough
for her to stand up. and If she sat
down the rats would run over her.
Sleep was out of the question, even
though she was exhausted, for she was
certain that If she ever closed her eyes
in this place, the rats would have de-
voured her before morning. The walls
were damp, and as she put her hand
out and touched them shudder ran
through her. The floor was slip
perry and rough; it was hewn out of
stone and once or twice she fell as
she stumbled in the dark
After the guard had put her in and
had gone out, she heard him put
heavy lock on the door, protected by
n large bar of solid iron Presently
he returned with some bread and wa
ter, which he pushed through q small