Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-21
Dayton shook his head.


Dayton shook his head
mo, | hardly think So They were
stocal brutes. YOU know One couldn't
tell what they thought half the time.
J know Wingarde showed them the
idol and the stone. and asked them II
their people ever had anything like
them, and all they did was grant
something about their god living
way up in the sky Struck mo they
rather looked down on the stuff"
Once more Dual addressed Laredo.
"Of course. you know the history of
what this stone may have been. At
the time of the Mexican conquest by
Cortez, the worship of Quetzal, the
earlier Aztec god, had largely fallen
before that of Huitzil Montezuma.
the socallcd child. OF the sun, wor-
SHIPPED the war god
AT the same time the priesthood of
Ouetzal still existed and among the
temple ornaments was an immense
emerald worn during the religious
rites. Quetzal translated into English
means shining with green gold fire.
Quetzal himself was the god Of agri-
culture rather than violence and war.
Unlike the other Aztec deities he
was said TO be of totally different
physognomy from them, and to have
long hair falling TO his shoulders.
"The conquistadores looted the
various temples, but they did not find
the great Eye of Quetzal' 1t disap'
peared That brings us to the legend
itself. The priests have always de-
clared that Quetzal would be reestab'
lished as the national god.
AS result, when his temple jewel
disappeared, a story started that not
until it was recovered could the now
cnslaved Indians be freed; but should
it be brought back. then Quetzal
would lead his children out of bond
age
Even yet, so great is the power
of suggestion and superstition, that
fancy should one appear with the
jewel IN his possession. he might find
IA fanatical following waiting to follow
his leadership in an attempt to over.
throw the present government of the
country. Now, | do not pretend to
say upon what data the professor
stumbled, but in some way he must
have learned that the great stone had
been carried into the north. Have
you ever heard of such thing, Senor
Laredo?"
Il have heard, yes. To such a
story | give no credence," said Lare-
do. "Yet, when YOU named the stone
but now. it startled me at first.
You appear to be well informed con
corning the ancient peoples, Senior
Dual
Il have read somewhat returned
Semi
We lapsed silent A soft breeze fan
ned along the yeranda, The great
stars winked ont of the night sky like
a thousand eyes From where we sat
we could see the dark outline Of the
great gorge Of the Colorado
None of us spoke for time. Each
was busy with his own thoughts.
Somewhere out there under the night
man was lying dead If Dual was
right Other men went to and fro
searching for his body.
Upstairs his daughter was waiting,
hoping, counting, doubtless the slow
drag of an eternity Of minutes, Until
she should hear Of his finding. And
she did not know!
glanced at Dual He sat silent
his face in the shadow, nscrutable
calm apparently unmoved by the emo
tons which stirred in the breasts OF
us other. less impassiye mortals. My
gaze rested ingeringly on his strong,
Swallowed features; and as though he
sensed all | WAS feeling, yet keeping
from volcing, he began to speak.