The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1917-06-01

beautiful girls ylley had captured we1'f
then ne brought before thern ana Rood
in the center Of the table. while the two
bandits drank to their health. Many OF
these girls, when they were released
by these men and permitted to return
home, preferred death to . 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 chieftains.
While the feast was going on Alvira
raised his glass.
"Where Is that American grip he
asked.
"She escaped again 49,. The little
cat With that dog, Pedro" re-
| piled Lopez as a deep frown swept
over his countenance.
"Huh, she could not get away from
me like that" boasted 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, I keep her until
she pay me a good many hundred dol
lars"
"You will never get 1t, SO long as
that American, Rutledge lives" said
Alvira.
"Then / 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 go stupid" said the
other. Manuel Leon Is her husband.
| She Is married to him. He Is my Of
f1cer. and must do as l say. I will get
what / want through him."
Il don't trust that yellow dog" re-
marked Alvira. "You will find he Is
q traitor to u.s."
IF I think that, I kill him now" said
Lopez as he started to rise.
mo, 10, not so fast, Senor," cau-
toned the other as he pulled him back
In his seat. "You will ind, soon enough.
Then you will see. He Is q coward"
At that moment two Of Lopez's naen
were entering the camp with Liberty.
They led her before Alvira and
Lopez. As they entered, Lopez looked
| up with a treacherous smile. "See, /
said I would fad her." Then he turned
to Liberty who stood Just inside the
tent, with q Mexican on either side Of
her.
$50, you think you can escape me,
my pretty white cat?" he sneered.
The girl did not answer, tut stood
staring at him, with al the hatred In
her soul outlined In her countenance.
You cannot get away from lopez"
he continued. mo matter where you
60 In Mexico he will ind You. I sup
pose Jon 80 to your American lover.
You no need: ! will bring him here
to you, yet" Then his countenance
blackened with fury, and his eyes con-
vinced her that he meant every word
Of his next sentence. "And, II you
no give me money, I kill him right be-
fore those pretty eyes."
The American government would
never rest until It found you" said
Liberty.
us that so7" he srinned. "What do
the American government know about
the Chihuahua mountains? Once 1 20
there, they never find Lopez. They
never-fnd-you-tool You hear!"
"What do you wnnt with met" In
CURED Liberty.
:" no want you: ! want your
money" replied Iope1. III You give
me ten thousand dollars ! let you 50
now"
Il viii never give you one cent?"
answered Liberty.
"You may change your miad, Sem
orita," laughed the bandit. Then he
addressed her two guards. take her
to the hut," he ordered them.
Liberty was led away and thrown
into IN old deserted adobe hut, which
stood near. the outskirts Of the canp.
It had been used one time By her
father a. . storehouse. There was one
window In It, besides . lot Of Dirt, and
m old Mexican blanket.
A. she leaned against the window
and gased out into the beautiful noon
light, Liberty was disgusted and sac.
Again she was In the clutches Of this
degraded bandit. She knew he didn't
care anything about her-even though
he had stated ct times, before his
aides, that he loved her. He wanted
the ransom. But no would never get
q penny from her. She felt that ii
the end he would lose No bandit, who
had such crimes ~ this black-hearte1
villain, could expect TO travel Tar with
out receiving his reward. he seemed
to b Whining 1t present, but he was
going 70 losS later On. ard lose hard,
too.
AlviEG firmly believed Manuel was !
traieoes and he made up his mind to
have him taken prisoner. He called
several Of his men together aad COM
mnmdnd thnra 80 tatWh nRAu~na A>A~~>