Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-25
XIX Continued.

Meyer sat immovable. Even
poor shot could hardly miss the target
at that range. His pale-glass eyes
regarded Bruce with fury. but with
more respect than he had before &C.
corded the other. He had physical
courage enough to watch the pistol
center upon his heart and not pro-
!. Wait" he spoke jerkily. IAN
;sWeIl," Bruce checked his trigger
finger.
The delay was enough. Something
muffling and soft, was wound around
Bruce's head and@face from behind.
A hand knocked up his exploding
pistol and he was borne down by men
who surged from behind the window
To Bruce. stiled in the thick folds
Of cloth presently Meyers voice came
again.
VIII you open the safe? Nod your
head"
The muffled head OF the man on
the floor moved; from side to side.
Then we will open it, 5pig!" the
voice snarled. Not tonight, perhaps.
but another night. We will blow 1t
also your letter TO Noel! Do you hear?
We. have your letter to Valdez; we
will get your letter. to Noel. He shall
never receive 1t or know. You will
die in Rio Nabuco for nothing, for
nothing. So?" F
Bruce did not move. HIS glasses
had not been broken He hoped he
might keep them, and keep them
whole. 1t would be easier If one
could see distinctly, through the
long days. He did not even shake his
head on a second denial lest he injure
that which was now his last ambition
and his last protection.
If only he had shot Jacinto Mercy
ON sight!
Deep in the second night, the jaif
or of Rio Nabuco reused from sleep,
listening to a tumult at the gate.
someone was shouting-he heard the
guard calling him. Grunting, tousled
from his sleep, he hurried to the door.
A shining automobile stood there,
its doors SURROUNDED by a group of
men. AS Manuel CAPPED, three men
Edragged out a prisoner, a peasant by
ms ragged, soiled garments; garments
Of which there were only two. a
cotton shirt and trousers. The
prisoner seemed either ill or in liquor,
ne staggered in stupehed submission
to his captors, SO that they had to
0o ASou III III III
the men thrust a paper at the jailer;
an order from the magistrate, he
stated CURLY. Escaped prisoner re-
turned to custody! Strict connne-
ment for him; in solitary!
Manuel peered at the handcufed
man, and uttered an ejaculation as
the lamplisht shone across the droop-
ing head.
Yes. In with him. This time he
stays. And a word in your ear" the
man beckoned Manuel aside from the
group. mo doubt he will act the
injured role, and promise rewards!
Pay him no heed. . Above all. If you
would not lose your place here, carry
no word from him to the Senior Gen
eral Dom David Noel. You under
stand? The Senior General is
he led the way through. the long cor
ridor to a door which he opened.
The men thrust in the prisoner so
roughly that he reeled' into the cell
and fell there on the earth floor.
The group Withdrew. Hideous,
1absolute darkness filled the cell like a
viscuous liquid holding in solution
foul odors.
Half an hour passed. an hour.
1880 osAAASN ou0 put OuI HE
hand in the grouping gesture of his
night awakenings in Villa Noel. The
hand touched wet mold instead of
clean linen. He started up. straining
his eyes into the INCONSISTENCIES
The nightmare had come true.
He dared not risk lying down upon
the unseen cot, There was the little
Bald One who had died %comically,
from some such carelessness, He was
las weak, as water, but the cell. door
was l6athsome to. the thought He
fumbled about until he found the
three-legged stool. then he sat down.
elbows on knees, head in his hand.
His outspread. fingers Touched the
glass of his spectacles. He caught
his breath. like a child in distress
comforted. There was dawn to look
forward to, then! And he had beaten
Jaeinto Meyer.
He was not a broken man., He wa.
not like the dog David Noel had shot
from pity. He was Corey Bruce,
iAmerican gentleman.
He was here for America; not as a
convict, but az a soldier.