Cheyenne record., 1921-06-23
CHAPTER xv,I-con.'nued.

game, you hllghtefs you might ave
lived for your baby country" Mother
Jenks reminded him in English. "Won-
der II the beggar'll wilt or will . 60
through smilln' like my sainted Emery
on the syme spot"
She need not have worried. 1t re
quires a strong man to be dictator OF
Q roman candle republic for 1S years.
and whatever his sins of omission or
commission. Sarros did not lack AMI
NAL courage. Alone and unattended ne
limped away among the graves to the
wall on the other side Of the ceme-
terry and placed his back against II,
negligently, in the attitude OF oevil-
may-care fellow without q worry In
life: Tho sergeant waited respectfully
until Sarros had finished his cigarette; !;
when he tossed 1t away and straight
ened to attention. the sergeant knew
he was ready to die. At his command
there was q 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
IRE"
The rifles were lowered and the men
0axed wonderingly at Ricardo. Hes
too brave" Ricardo complained.
sD-him, can't kill him AZ I would
q mad dog. I've got to give him q
Shance."
The sergeant raised his brows ex-
pressively. All. the ley fuga, that pop
ular form Of execution where the prts-
oner Il given running chance. and the
firing squad practices wing shooting
II the prisoner manages. miraculously.
to escape. he Is not pursued!
A doubt, however. crossed the ser
Keants mind. 'But my general" he
expostulated. "Senor Sarros cannot ac-
eept the ley fuga. He u very lame.
That IL not giving him the chance your
Excellency desires he should have"
II wasn't thinking Of that" Ricardo
replied. II was thinking I'm killing
him without q fair trial for the rea-
SON that he's 20 Internally ripe for
the gallows that trial would have
been q Joke. Nevertheless, am real
II killing him because he killed my
father-and that 10 scarcely fair. Ny
father was q gentleman. Sergeant. u
your pistol loadedf"
, sYes, General"
"Glve It to Senor Sarros."
A. the sergeant started forward to
comply Ricardo drew his own service
revolver and then motioned Mother
Jenks and the firing squad to stand
aside while he crossed to the center OF
the cemetery. "Sarros," he called, Il
am going to let God decide which one
Of 10 shall live. When the sergeant
gives the command to IRE. shall open
nre on you. and you are free to do the
same to me. Sergeant, II 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
ef."
Mother Jenks sat down on tomb
stone. CORDS TRUTH" she gasped.
''but there's a rare plucked 'un." Aloud
she croaked: "Don't b bally ass,
sir." ,.
"Silence I" he commanded.
The sergeant handed Sarros the re-
volver. "You heard what saldf RI
cardo called.
Sarros bowed gravely.
'You understand your orders. Ser
geantr
Eyes. General"
"very well. Proceed. II this pris-
oner fires before you give the word.
have your squad riddle him."
The sergeant backed away and gazed
owlishly from the prisoner to his cap
tor. "Ready!" he called. Both revol-
vers came up. "Fire!" he shouted.
and the two shots were discharged ST.
multaneously. Ricardo's cap flew of
his head. hut he remained standing.
while Sarros staggered back against
the wall and there recovering himself
Gamely. fired again. He scored a clean
miss. and Ricardo's gun barked three
simes;. Sarros sprawled on his face.
sose to his knees. raised his pistol
halfway, fred into the sky and slid
forward on his face. Ricardo stood be-
side the body until the sergeant ap-
preached and stood to attention, his
attitude saying:
"It is over. What next, Generalf
stake the squad back to the arsenal.
Sergeant" Ricardo ordered him coolly.
and walked back to recover his uni
form cap. He was smiling as he ran
his finger through gaping hole in the
upper half Of the crown.
swell. Mrs. Jenks," he announced
when he rejoined the old lady. "that
was better than executing him with
firing squad. gave him square deal.
Now his friends can never say that I
murdered him"
he extended his hand to help Moth
e. Jenks to her feet. She stood erect
and felt again that queer swelling Of
the heart, the old feeling Of suffoca-
tion.
STEADY. larsi" she mumbled. "'old
- 10 me. sir. It's my bally haneurism.
0oe'-Tm-chokin@"
He caught her IN his arms - she
Iurehsd toward him, Her faes was
~anla .nA q, hAp 4vnn fhGEn WnD