Vernon Parish Democrat., 1921-06-16
cHAPTER xvII-contInued.

lived for your bally country" Mother
jerks reminded him in English. "Won-
der if the beggar'n wilt or will e go
through smilin' like my sainted Emery
on the syme spot"
She need not have worried. 1t re-
quires strong man to be dictator Of
roman candle republic for 10 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 1t,
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
ne 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
ere"
The rifles were lowered and the men
gazed wonderingly at Ricardo. "He's
too brave" Ricardo complained.
cd him, 1 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 pris-
oner is given running chance, and the
firing squad practices wing shooting
If the prisoner manages, miraculously,
to escape, he is not pursuedl
A doubt, however, crossed the ser
geants mind. "But my general" he
expostulated, "Senor Sarros cannot ac-
cept the Icy fuga. He is very lame.
That is not giving him the chance your
ExceIlency desires he should have"
81 wasn't thinking of that" Ricardo
replied. "I was thinking I'm killing
him without a fair trial for the rea-
son that he's SO Internally ripe for
the gailows that trial would have
been a Joke. Nevertheless, am real
gy killing him because he killed my
father-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, 81
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 tC
escort him to the bay In my carriage
and put him safely aboard the steam
Ar."
Mother jerks sat down on tomb
stone. "Gord's TRUTH" she gasped
shut there's rare plucked 'un." Alout
she croaked: "Don't be bally ass
Ar"
"Silence!' he commanded.
The sergeant handed SarrOs the re
volver. "You heard what said2" Ri
cnrdo called.
Sarros bowed gravely.
"You understand your orders, Ser
geant?"
ayes. General"
ayery well. Proceed If this pris
OAer fires before you give the word
have your squad riddle him."
The sergeant backed away and gazet
Owlishly from the prisoner to his cap
tor. Ready" he called. Both revOl
vers came up. "Flre!" he shouted
and the two shots were discharged 81
multaneously. RicardO's cap few OF
his head, but he remained standing
while Sarros staggered back agains
the wall and there recovering himsel
qamely. fred again. He scored cleal
miss and Ricardo's gun barked thre
times; Sarros sprawled on his face
rose to his knees, raised his pistC
halfway, fred into the sky and sill
forward on his face. Ricardo stood be
side the body until the sergeant az
preached and stood to attention, hi
attitude saying:
.Tt is over. What next, Generalf'
'sTake the squad back to the arsena
Sergeant" Ricardo ordered him COOL!
and walked back to recover his un
form cap. He was smiling as he ra
his finger through gaping hole in tn
upper half Of the crown.
'Wen, Mrs. jerks" he announce
when he rejoined the old lady, "ths
was better than executing him with
dring squad. Kgave him square dea
Now his friends can never say that
murdered him."
He extended his hand to help Mott
er jerks to her feet She stood ere'
and felt again that queer swelling
the heart. the old feeling Of suffoci
tion
aSteady. lass" she mumbled. "'0l