Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-05-16

self was the most utterly controlled.
Perhaps he had even sensed the
thing coming, and had nerved himself
t1 it, for now he played what must
nave been a premeditated part. He
started back a pace. Surprised in
credulity rather than fear looked ou,
from his eyes-that and, perhaps. re-
sentiment. II, senor?" he cried.
"Dios! A sorry jest to make such an
accusation"
Sorry. indeed, if jest" said
Dual.
"Then"-Laredo drew himself up
to the full measure of his inches
then, senior, must tell you that you
are mistaken. | was Wingarde's
friend. / helped him in his Mexican
work. /, too, was interest in his
same pursuits. /, Rodriguez Laredo,
am well known in my country. You
have but to inquire"
II have" said Dual. "Senor, pray
sit down"
But am accuse. / demand
proof" Laredo insisted, seating him.
self and keeping his eyes upon Semi.
"You shall have it," said Dual.
"As often happens, throughout this
entire matter, you have, from time to
time, made remarks which drew my
attention to yourself-and l told you
/ read minds, if you will remember.
Senor, read you from the first. My
whole endeavor was to prove what !
read that others might believe"
Laredo shrugged. 1T would be
needful-I should think"
Exactly. A few moments ago,
however, you once more brought up
the one point of weakness in my story
as an argument, as you hoped, in
favor of yourself. In reality it acted
against you. For you were right.
The man who planned the theft of the
emerald and the image would have
needed prior knowledge.
'By your own confession, you had,
IT, SO far as Wingarde's trip here was
concerned. He obtained his knowl-
edge Of the objects in question in
your Mexican city. May you not also
have obtained a similar knowledge?
This morning when l inquired about
the bills your name appeared in the
list the clerk gave me concerning
those who had received some of the
smaller bills.
"And, senor, your physical descrip-
tion tailed with the man shown by
the stars as being the one who killed.
with the double suggestion to go
on, cabled to Mexico City to man
well known to myself. He is a man
in touch with sources of informa ton,
and one to be relied on. | asked for
information concerning one Rodri-
guez Laredo. You yourself saw his
message of reply delivered to me this
morning at table. 1t reads"
Thrusting his hand into pocket
he drew out the telegraph form and
gave us its contents:
Rodriguez Laredo, resident this
eity-travels widely, however, seldom
long resident here. Suspected by
government agents of endeavoring to
incite uprising of various Indian
tribes against federal government for
past two years. Under surveillance
much of time by secret service. Left
lately, assigned destination United
StatesISexact locality unknown. Some
shines calls himself Prince of Monte.
xuma.
you see, senor," he continued.
putting the message away, "you are
well known indeed; and it is men.
toned that you have sought to pro.
duce an uprising among the Indian
tribes, which would doubtless elevate
you, the self-styled Prince of Monte.
yuma, to temporal power If success
1uI.
'SenOr Laredo, you have dreamed
q dream, and in dreaming-in work.
ing for the object of your dream
among those Indian tribes descended
from the old Aztec stock-you have
heard of the Image of Quetzal ig
the mountains Of the north, and of
the Eye of Quetzal. that great inta.
Clio emerald from the temple, which
had been taken away and must be re-
stored, according to their legend, be-
fore the childSen of Quetzal could be
free. "N'~-- -,-----
"And in your dream, senor, you
imagined that could you procure this
talismanic stone-could come back
among them and say: See, i, Prince
of Montezuma, whose forebears were
of the great kings blood, have
brought back the stone to assure your
final triumph Then they would rally
to your standard, and you should once
more ascend the throne from which
the Spaniards thrust the final Monte
yuma ere they enslayed his people
and looted the splendors of his realm.
"Shall we not see now how closely
my theoretical story matches the |
facts. You came here few days ago.
You learned that Wingarde had gone
north, taking the most available
guides, but would return shortly. You
waited. No doubt, you had learned |
before you started that he had heard
Oh lpe gem. ' DSS.....,>.- - .g "A