Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-24
CHATTER XIX.
THE COWARD.

spirit flowed into Bruce's. mind Al a
pouring stream nils a droAght-parch-
ed lake. now that his decision was
made. He was beaten, yes. but he
would make some last struggle before
Jacinto Meyer trtumphed over him
and counted him out. Now. riding
among the hills or the. new railroad
whose construction had been com.
pleted within the year and had made
ter Of the time it had required wha1
Benito arst brought him down the
river and across the mountains to the
house Of David Noel, Bruce thought.
Of the many actions he might have
taken while he wa still at home.
Meyer had said his people would
not allow the other man to reach the
capital. Bruce believed that; yet he
might have smuggled q message to
the governor, telling him Of Meyers
threat and so forestalling min. He
and this thought occurred to, him
many miles from >Rio Nabuco-he
might have concealed himself from
Meyer, perhaps in the prison itself.
after leaving a note for Granados
with >the doctor, to be delivered when
the patient reEained consciousness.
Such a note written before, this eve
ming might saw him, II he could
succeed in any one OF these schemes.
he might defy Meyer. after all! For
even thought they put him In Rio
Nabuco then, later Noel or some OF
Under the. stimulus Of these
thoughts, Bruce burned for action.
He found the railroad unendurably
slow. If Only he had thought Of
these measures before leaving the
villa before Meyer came that night,
He had fingered too long at the
prison. \ Moreover, the railroad did
not run within ten miles Of Rio M.
buco, or within fve1pf the villa. He
had to ride: He saw night overtak-
ing him As q rider overtAkessa man On
foot.
1t Yves eight o'clock In the evening
when his. exhausted horse stumbled
to a halt before the Casa Noel. Cow
cred with dust that graved hair and
skin, Bruce slipped to his feet, waved
aside the servant who met him, and
ran into the villa. Reckoning to Ped
70. the steward, to follow him, Ne
sped upstairs. IN his room, he. sat
down At his desk. His hand shaking
with WEAKNESS AID excitement,. ls
scrawledy = letter to Dr.. Valdez. tell.
1uS IlAlI " >NQSySI - Lx0p AIy0 Lac II}8u y
resolve to- set at ,Noel's papers: Ad-
dressing and sealing the note, hs
turned to Pedro, who stood silent and
"a MIN most take that to the ,capi.
tai, to the Paiacio, at once" hS %:
>piained. ,APerhaps it would be bsst
to sepdNone Of the cars and q chAai1,
feur. The messenger nus not Dets
nit Himself 70 be stopped. TosSapy
auestioner On the way, let him SAY -
4 going for . prescription ordered ~
the.doctor. And, he make
Pedro svantshed, the letter in nj
hand. without wanting time on elf.
conSratulatton over this result &tte3HS
%. Bruce hurried 70 GranadosH ~
The physici.n ~. just leaving ths
bedside, a slender case IN his hand.
MY THERMOMETERS hey explained,
.super1uously. His Fat face wa 'dts.
TURNED as he bowed. "YeughsNe jour.
neyed Tar. Senhor Brucs. : ~
"YesNt Bruce ahsssaly assenttA,
peering lat tie nick man.
IN bandatsd5 arit was moved hish6s
on IN broad schef. Bruce bent oYlE
him, wondsktng that tho injured arm
alds!.s ~ ettF,ed q tAatstnAhimats
snid-y,asss 5ad.ss iii arm
SHSno. II DE doctbr ,exclaiaaed.
Eitaittns1 ~ " pfs9rsess teaafa I'm
[deo!a sslt. q gshesseeeaeess -.
hs s. , sssei ~ Ey.tss.ssnssssss
tsssss ~, "a Aintrsea1 eessdsnss \
abf ucurs9s. n nodded.searatesSiy