The Washington times., 1919-07-08

forgotten me!'' he breathsd. fsrvently,
then turned to the several friends
who accompanied him There he
Is, the creature without reason or
shame, who has ned his debts TO
me. Seize him! ! shall put him on
his back for q month from the beat
ing he shall FeceiVeE"
So speaking the haeiendado
sprang around the rump Of Leon
cis's mule; and the peon, ducking
under the mules nose, would have
won to the freedom Of the jungle,
had not another Of the hacienda
dos, with quick spur to his horas's
sides, cut him on and run him down.
In q trice, used to such work, the
haciendados had the luckless wight
on his feet. his hands tied behind
him, . lead-rope made fast around
his neck.
In one voice Francis and Henry
protested.
Seniors" the haeIendado replied,
my respect and consideration and
desire to serve you are a. deep as
for the noble Solano family under
whose protection yoS are. Your
safety and comfort are sacred TO
me. will defend you from harm
with my life I am yours to com
mand. Ny hacienda Is yours. like
wise all possess. But this matter
Of thu peon Is entirely another
matter. He Is none OF yours.
He Is my peon, is my debt who has
run away from my hacienda You
will understand and forgive me, 7
trust This Is q mere matter OF
property. He is my property.
Henry and Francis glanced at
each other in mutual perplexity
and indecision. It was the law OF
the land, as they thoroughly knew.
1.-The Cruel Just One did remit my
debt, as all here will Witness" the
peon whispered.
ut Is true. the Cruel Justice re-
mitted his debt" Leonica verified.
The haciendado smiled and bowed
low.
But the peon contracted with
me-" he smiled "And who Il the
Blind Brigand that his foolish law
shall operate on my plantation ana
rob me Of my rightful $50 peSos?"
Hes right. Leoncia." Henry ad-
mittsd-
'sThen win 90 back to the high
Cordilleras," the peon asserted.
take me back to the CordillePas."
But the stern leader shook his
head.
Here you were released. Our
orders went no further. No further
Jurisdiction have we over you. We
shall now bid and depart"
Hold or Francis cried, pulling
out his check book and beginning
to write wait . moment. ] must
settle for this peon now. Next.
before you depart, have . favor to
ask Of you"
Eay H SstSa
He passed the cheek to ne Ia
iendado, saying:
Il have allowed 10 pesos for ne
exchange"
The hacisndado glanced at the
check folded II away In Ais pocket
and placed the end Of the rope
around the wretched creatures neck
In Francis hand.
Inc peon - now yours, hO 8A1d-
Francis looked At the rope and
laughed
Behold! I now. own . human
chattel Slave, you are mine, my
now, do you understandE
Yes. senoT." the poem muttsred
humbly. 1T seems when I became
mad for the woman I gave uD nay
freedom; for that God destined nae
always afterWard to be the prop
ePty OF some men The Cruel Just
One Il right It Is Gods punish
ment for mating outside my r1cA"
You made . slave OF yourself for
what the world has always con-
sidered the best Of al eauSeA .
woman" Francis observed, cutting
the thongs that bound the pOSals
hands -"And so, make q present
of you to yourself" So saying, he
placed the neck-rope In the peou's
hand. ''Henceforth, lead yourself
and put not that rope In any mans
hand"
While the foregoing had been
taking place. q lean. old man, on
foot, had nosilessly Joined the cir
Gle. Maya Indian he WA pure
blooded, with ribs that corrugated
plainly through his parehmsnt-lIks
skin. Only q 6reech-clout covered
his nakedneSs. His unkempt hair
hung In dirty-gray tangleS about
his face, which was high-ehesksl
and emaciated to cadaYeFousness.
Strings of muscles showed for his
calves and biceps. A few scattered
snags of teeth were visible between
his witIered lips. The holloWs IN
der his cheek bones were prodig-
ious. While his eyes, beads OF
black, deep-sunk In their sockets
burned with the Wild light OF q pa
tient in fever.
He slipped eel-lIke through the
circle and clasped the peon in his
arms.
He is my father" proclaimed
the peon proudly. Look at him.
He is pure Maya, and he knows the
secrets OF the Mayas."
And while the two reunited ones
talked endless explanations, Fran
els preferred his request to the
sack cloth leader to find Enrico
Solano and his two sons wander
ing somewhere in the mountains,
and to tell them that they were
free of all claims OF the law and to
return home.
They have done no wrong~ the
leader demanded.
NO, they have done no Erong,"
Francis assured him.
Then it is well, I promise you to
find them Immediately, for We know
the direction of their wandering,
and to send them down to the coast
to join you.
"And in the meantime shall you
be my guests while you wait" the
hsciendadO invited eagerly. There
is a freight schooner at anchor in
Inlet now or my planta-
ton. and sailing for San Antonio.
I can hold her until tho noble En-
rico and his sOrs come down fron