The Little River news. (Ashdown, Little River County, Ark.) 1897-current, 1920-11-10

render was tantamOunt to facing mr.
ing squad at daylight, the majority Of
these stragglers, with consummate
courage, fought to the death.
The capture Of Buenaventura was
alone sufficient to insure brief revo-
luton, but the capture of Sarros was
ample guarantee that the resistance to
the new order Of things was already
at an end. However, Ricardo Ruey
felt that the prompt execution of Sar-
ros would be an added guarantee Of
peace by effectually discouraging any
opposition to the rebel cause in the
outlying districts, where few isolated
garrisons still remained in ignorance Of
the momehtOus events being enacted in
the capital. For the time being, Ricar-
do was master of life and death in So
brante, and all of his advisers and sup
porters agreed with him that So
called trial of the ex-dictator would be
rather useless affair." His life was
forfeit hundred times for murder and
treason, and to be ponderous over his
elimination would SAVIOR Of mOckery
Accordingly, at midnight, priest en-
tered the room in the arsenal where
SarroS was confined, and shrived him.
Throughout the night the priest re-
NAMED with him, and when that ear
~ morning march to the cemetery
commenced. he walked beside Sarros,
repeating the prayers for the dying.
Upon reaching the cemetery there
was slight wait until a carriage
drove up and discharged Ricardo Ruey
and Mother jerks. The sergeant in
command of the squad saluted and was
briefly ordered to proceed with the
matter in hand; whereupon he turned
to Sarros, who with the customary
sang froid of his kind upon such oc-
casions was calmly smoking, and
bowed deprecatingly. Sarros actually
smiled upon him. "Adios, amigos" he
murmured. Then, as an afterthought
and probably because he was sufficient
of an egOist to desire to appear a mar
tyr, he added heroically: 81 die for
my country. May God have mercy on
my enemies"
eff you'd cared to play a gentleman's
game, sou blighter, you might ave
lived for your bally country" Mother
jerks reminded him in English. "Won-
der if the beggar'll wilt or will e 60
through smilin' like my sainted Emery
on the syme spot"
She need not have worried. It re-
quires strong man to be dictator Of
a roman candle republic for Is years,
and whatever his sins of omission or
commission, Sarros did not lack anil
NAL courage. Alone and unattended he
limped away among the graves to the
wall on the other side Of the ceme-
terry and placed his back against it,
negligently. in the attitude Of devil
may-care fellow without worry in
life The sergeant waited respectfully
until SarrOs had finished his cigarette;
when he tossed it away and straight
ened to attention. the sergeant knew
he was ready to die. At his command
there was a sudden rattle Of bolts as
the cartridges slid from the magazines
into the breeches; there followed mo-
mentary halt, another command; the
squad was aiming when Ricardo Ruey
called sharply:
Sergeant, do not give the order to
fire."
The rifles were lowered and the men
gazed wonderingly at Ricardo. "He's
too brave" Ricardo complained.
ID him, I can't kill him as would
a mad dog. I've got to give him
chance"
The sergeant raised his brows ex-
pressively. All, the ley fuga, that pop
ular form of execution where the prls-
oner Is given running chance, and the
firing squad practices wing shooting.
If the prisoner manages, miraculously,
to escape. he is not pursued!
A doubt, however, crossed the ser
geant's mind. "But my general" he
expostulated, "Senor Sarros cannot &C.
cept the ley fuga. He is very lame
That is not giving him the chance your
Excenency desires he should have"
" wasn't thinking of that" Ricardo
rsplied. 1T was thinking I'm killing
him without fair trial for the rea.
son that he's so Internally ripe for
the gallows that a trial would have
been a Joke Nevertheless, I am real
.ly killing him because he killed my
lfather--and that is scarcely fair. My
father was a gentleman. Sergeant, is
your pistol loaded?"
eyes, General"
"Give it to Senior SarrOs."
AS the sergeant started forward to
comply Ricardo drew his own service
revolver and then motioned Mother
jerks and the firing squad to stand
aside while he crossed to the center OF
the cemetery. "SarrOs," he called, II
am going to let God decide which one
of us shall live. When the sergeant
gives the command to fire, shall open
fire on you, and you are free to do the
same to me. Sergeant, if he kills me
and escapes unhurt, my orders are to
escort him to the bay In my carriage
and put him safely aboard the steam
er." 4.-. T.. -
Mother jerks sat down on tomb
stone. Cords TRUTH she gasped,
"but there's rare plucked 'un." Aloud