The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-07


foot Of, the pit-wall. the Jefe halted
in indecision. listening vainly for a
moment. then made q further. stride
that collided the rifle muzzle with
the wall. DE -Whirled- about and,
with the rife extended, like any
blind man felt out the air space Tor
his enemy. The muzzle would have
touched Henry had, he not sprung
away on a noisy and zigzag course.
a Hopeless Taak-
In the center. Of the pit he came
to a frozen pause. The Jsfe stalked
past yard to the. side and coliided
with the opposite wall. He eiFcied
the wall. walking cat-footed, his
rifle forever feeling out into the
empty air.
Next he Vsntured across the pit
After several such crossings, during
which the stationary bell gave him
no clue, be adopted . clever method.
Tossing his hat on the ground fer
the mark OF his starting point. he
crossed the edge OF the pit on -
shallow cord, extended the cord ~
. pace farther along the. wall and
and longer cord.
the correctness Of the paralleluszS
of the two cords by pacing back TO
his hat. This time, with three PAGES,
along the wall from the hat, he
initiated his third cord.
Thus he conbed the area Of the
pit, and Henry saw that he could
not escape such combIng. Nor did
he wait to be discovered. Thinking
the bell as he ran and zigEagging
and exchanging IL from one hR1d 20
the other he froze into immobLlity
in a new place.
The Jefe repeated the hboRouS
combing out process; but Henry
was not minded longer to prolong
the tension. He waited TIL the
Jefe's latest cord brought him d.
rectIy upon him. He waited till the
rifle muzzle, breast high, was with
in half a dozen inches OF his heart
Then he exploded into two stimuli
taneous actions. He ducked lover
than the rifle and yelled fire" in
stentorian command
So startled, the Jefe pulled the
trigger, and the bullet sped above
Henry's head From above, the
sackcIoth men applauded wildly. The
Jefe tore on his blindfold and saw
the smiling face OF his foe
at Is WeIl-God has spoken"
announced the sackeloth leader, -
he descended into the pit. The
man uninjured is innocent Re
mains now to test the other man"
Greetings. Jsfe.% Henry grinned-
you did try. to get me. It's my
turn now. Pass over that rifle
But the -Jefe, with curse, in his
disappointment and rage forget
ting that the rifle had contained
only one cartridge. thrust the mn1-
Gle against Henry's heart and pull
ed the trigger. The hammer fell
with q metallic click.
at is WE'LL said the leader. tax
ing away the rifle and rechargtng
it Your conduct shall be, reported
The test for you remains, yet must
II appear that you are not acting
like Gods chosen man."
Like a beaten bull in the ring
seeking a way to escape and gazing
up at the amphitheRter OF pttileSs
faces. so the Jefe looked up and saw
only the rifles OF the sackcloth men.
the triumphIng faces Of Lsoncie ana
Francis, the curious looks OF his own
gendarmes and blood-eager faces OF
the haciendados that were like the
faces ofsany -bullhght audience.
The shadowy smile drtfted over
the stern lips OF the leader as be
handed the rifle to Henry and start
ed to blindfold him
,. A Very Good Reason.
'TWhy. don't you make him face
the wall until I'm ready?" the Jefe
. IL
in his passion-convulsed hand.
Because he is proven Gods man."
was the reply. , "He has stood the
test. Therefore ne cannot do q
treachePous deed You now must
stand the test OF God. II you are
true and honest. no harm can befal
you from the Snake For such Is
Gods way"
Far more successful as the hunter
than as the hunted one did the Jefe
prove. Across the pit from Henry
he sGrove to stand motionlesS; but
out OF nervousness, as Henry's rife
swept around him, his hand trem-
bIed and the bell tihkled. The rife
came almost to rest and waYered
ominously about the sound. In vain
the Jefe tried to control his flesh
and still the bell .'-s
But the bell tinkIed on. and In
despair he huPg it away and threw
himself on the ground. But Henry,
following the sound OF his eneHY's
fall. lowered the rife and pulled
trigger. The Jefe yelled out In
sharp pain as. the bullet perfoFatSd
his shoulder, rose to his feet.
cursed, sprawled back on the
ground and lay there cQrsing.
Again in the cave. with, the mes
tia. beside him at his knee, the
Blind Brigand gave judgment
This man who Is wounded ana
who. talks much Of the Law OF the
tieFrs caliente shall new learn
Cordilleras law. BY the test Of the
Snake and the Bird has he been
proven guilty. For his life = ran
som Of ten Thousand dollars gold
shall be paid, or else shall he re-
main here, q newer OF wood and .
carrier OF water, for the remainder
OF the time God shall grant him 70
draw breath on earth. have
spoken. and I know that my voicS
is Gods voice, and I know thar
God will not grant him long to
draw breath IL the ransom be not
forthcoming" -- " '.'-