Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-07-02

squad ADMIT TO yourself at least tnaL
/ did all could to save you."
"Thank you," dryly answered the
prisoner. "But why this sudden so.
licitude, Hardinge?''
"Purely matter of expediency-
an anchor to leeward, We'll say. Gov
ernor Moreno has already issued us
legal title to Ell Tigre If the provi-
siOnal government is permanent, We'll
need nothing more If it fails, we will
then have your transfer of title to US
and continue operating it as if nothing
had happened. The exploration COM
pany is interested in mining-not poll
tics"
"But see no reason to believe that
you can do what you promise-or will.
Why should I permit myself to be
frightened into transferring a title to
fve-million-dollar mine-and per-
haps be shot down, just the same, be-
tween here and the border? If I'm
up against a brace game, Hardinge.
go ahead with it. have associates in
the United States who put money into
that property. They trust me-"
II am fully aware of that"
II have full power to act for them
in any way that seems best to protect
their interests" holly went on Will
Jams. "But if did what you ask me
to do I'd be a blithering ass. You
could take the deed and have me shot,
anyway-they'd only think I'd be-
trayed them-and fled with their
money. Then, again, may be out Of
here tomOrrow-and then where
would be? Suppose Moreno's provi-
siOnal government goes down? Your
company would then have Ell Tigre
without paying nickel. Nix, Har-
dinge; you've got to show me more
than that to get my signature"
Hardinge grinned evilly.
The saturnine features of his pow
erful face leaped suddenly into the
blaze of the match with which he was
lighting a cigar. His hard eyes
cleaned with amusement as he half
turned away from the door.
''All right! A man about to be shot
isn't altogether in, position to make
terms, Williams. Believe it or not
I can do what I've promised, and peo-
pie who know me will tell you that l
always do as promise. 1t so happens
that General Moreno will be quite will
ing to mitigate your sentence in any
way / might request; but you don't
have to believe that, either, unless 1t
suits you to do so. Well, I'm going.
This foul air is giving me headache"
He turned nonchalantly away Buck,
with a feeling of supreme despair,
tried to steady his voice for another
question.
allow do you happen to have such
a pull with General MorenoY'
"Im surprised that you ask, Will
Jams. Moreno was ambitious to be-
come governor and wanted to start
revolution. That meant arms, men.
money. He had none. The United
States has forbidden their export to
rebels, so he talked things over with
us. In return for certain mining con-
cessiOns in SinalOa we supplied what
he needed. It's very simple, but of
course I'll deny that ever made this
admission if you should mention it to
anyone else. However, guess there's
little danger-you're incommunicado.
No one will see you until the sentence
is carried out tomorrow morning"
Williams pondered. Hardinge's
statement impressed him as truthful.
But he played his last card with all
the GOODNESS Of a poker player who
has been called for his final chip.
'"This other fellow, Hardinge," he
jerked his thumb toward the interior
of the cell--"he's a British subject
and stranger here, who thinks he
owes me something because l pulled
him out of a train wreck near Ell PasO
on the way down. AS British sub
ject yourself you won't mind notifying
the British ambassador he's here-will
you-no matter what happens to me?"
81 certainly will not" angrily snap
ped the syndicate agent. What the
devil do you take me fora fool?"
| "No," drawled the American, with a
deliberation that brought red flush
to the Englishman's face, mot fool,
Hardinge, but a cold-blooded calcu-
lating dog who will deliberately plan
| to murder a rival to gain his ends.
Go on with your fake court-martial,
you white-livered beast! I'd rather
welter in my own blood a thousand
times than give you the satisfaction of
putting over a thing like this-to rob
me and the men who have backed me
with their confidence and money.
| Shoot-and be damned to your
He turned to savagely resume pac-
ing his cell.
His furious anger at first kept him
from realizing the peril which Har-
dinge had depicted. He tried to be-
lieve that such an atrocity would never
be permitted, even under the official
sanction of a provisional government,
such as the Englishman had declared
| to exist.
Then he suddenly remembered the
| indignation in Ell Paso the night he
had last started for Ell Tigre.
Men in the hotel were discussing the