Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-02-18
CHAPTER xVIl-Continued.

lived for your bally country Mot'lei
jerks reminded him in English. won
der If the beggarll wilt or will e go
through smllin' like my sainted Emery
on the syme spot"
She need not have worried. IL re-
Ouires strong man to be dictator Vi
roman candle republic for 10 years
and whatever his sins Of omission or
commission, Sarros did not lack AMI
mai courage. Alone and unattended ne
lmped away among the graves TO the
wall on the other side of the GENE
terry and placed his back against IT,
neglIgently, In the attitude OF devil
may-care fellow without a worry N
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 sudden rattle of bolts as
the cartridges slid from the magazines
Tito the brooches there followed a mo-
mnntary halt, another command +; the
squad was aiming when Ricardo Kuey
called sharply:
Sergeant, do not give the order to
fire"
The rifles we're lowered and the men
gazed wonderlngly at Ricardo. Hes
too brave Ricardo complained
d him, l can't kill him as | would
mad dog. I've got to give him a
chance
The sergeant raised his brows eX-
nresslvely. 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
II 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 ac-
cept the ley fuga He is very lame.
That is not giving him the chance your
Excellency desires he should have.
81 wasn't thinking OF that Ricardo
replied. Il was thinking I'm killing
him without a fair trial for the rea,
son that he's so Internally ripe for
the gallows that trial would have
been joke. Nevertheless am real
" 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 ii to Senior Sarros."
AS the sergeant started forward to
comply Ricardo drew his own service
revolver and then motoned Mother
jerks and the firing squad to stand
aside while ne crossed to the center OF
the cemetery "Sarros,' he called, y
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 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
err"
Mother jerks sat down on tomb
stone. Cords truth" she gasped
but there's a rare plucked 'un' Aloud
she croaked Don't be bally ass,
sir"
silence ~ he commanded
The sergeant handed Sarros the re-
volver. "You heard what l said?' Ri
cardo called
Sarros bowed gravely.
"You understand your orders, Ser
geant"
"Yes, General"
Every we'll Proceed. II this pris-
oner fires before you give the word
have your squad riddle him"
The sergeant backed away and gazed
owlshly from the prisoner TO his cap
tor. Ready" he called. Both revol
yers came up. Fire" he shouted
and the two shots were discharged 81
simultaneously. Rlcardo's cap flew OF
his head, but he remained standing
while Sarros staggered back against
the wall and there recovering himself
gamely, fred again. He scored clear
miss. and Ricardo's gun barked three
times Sarros sprawled on his face
rose TO his knees, raised his pisto
halfway. fired into the sky and sliC
forward on his face. Ricardo stood be
side the body until the sergeant ap
preached and stood to attention, his
attitude saying
at Is over. What next, General?
take 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 raj
his finger through a gaping hole in thu
upper half of the crown.
well, Mrs. jerks" he announced
when he rejoined the old lady, "tha
was better than executing him with
firing squad gave him a square deal
Now his friends can never say that
murdered him"
He extended his hand to help Moth
err jerks to her feet. She stood cree
and felt again that queer swelling o
the heart, the old feeling of suffoca
ton.
STEADY, lass !" she mumbled. "'Ol'
on to me, sir It's my bally haneurlsm
or'-I'm-chokin' -"
He caught her In his arms as sh
lurched toward him. Her face wa
purple. and in her eyes there was
queer fierce light that went out SUD
denly, leaving them dull and glazed
When she commenced to sag In hi
The Dixie Line.
ms. x~t-l~.Y Nuao. I'D ntynySc Igv,