The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1921-03-03
CHAPTER xvli--cOutIuusd.

Ntf u Ait btkhhA ~ WIZ VI WI ~
through smIlin' like my sainted Emery
on the syme spot"
She need not have worried. II re-
quires a strong man TO be dictator OF
a roman candlesrepubllc for 10 years,
and whatever his sins OF omission or
commission. Sarros did not lack ami.
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 II,
negllgently, in the attitude OF devil
may-care fellow without a worry In
life. The sergeant waited respectfully
until sarros had finished his cigarette;
when he tossed II away and straight
ened 10 attention, the sergeant knew
he was ready 90 die. At his command
there was sudden rattle Of bolts as
the cartridges slid from the magazines
into the breeches; there followed a mo-
mentary halt, another command; the
squad was aiming when Ricardo Ruey
called sharply:
Sergeant, do not give the order to
are"
The rifles were lowered and the men
gazed wonderingly at Ricardo. Hes
too brave" Ricardo complained.
3D. him. I can't kill him as would
a mad dog. I've got to give him a
chance"
The sergeant raised his brows ex-
pressively An, the ley fuga. that pop
uinr form OF execution where the pris-
oner Is given running chance. and the
firing squad practices wing shooting.
" the prisoner manages, mlraculously,
TO escape. he Is not pursued
A doubt. however, crossed the SER
geant's mind. "But NY general" he
expostulated, "Senor Sarros cannot ac-
cept the ley fuga lie is very lame
That Is not giving him the chance your
Excellency desires he should have"
II wasn't thinking Of that" Ricardo
replied. ~ was thinking Tn killing
him without a fair trial for the rea-
son that he's so Internally ripe for
the galiows that n trial would have
been n 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 loadedf
"Yes. General"
~Give II 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 10 the center OF
the cemetery. "Sarros." he called, II
am going TO let God decide which one
OF MS shall live. When the sergeant
gives the command to fire, shall open
hre on you. and you are free TO do the
same 20 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 a tomb
stone. Cords TRUTH" she gasped.
hut there's a rare plucked 'un." Aloud
she eroaked: "Don't be a bally ass,
SIR"
"Silence I" he commanded.
The sergeant handed Sarros the re-
voiver. you heard what saidT RI
cardo called.
Sarros bowed graveiy.
"You understand your orders. Ser
geanty'
Eyes, General"
very well. Proceed. II this prls.
ener fires before you give the word,
have your squad riddle him."
The sergeant backed away and gazed
Owllshly from the prisoner TO his cap
tor "Ready" he called. Both revolt
vers came up. "Fire" he shouted.
and the two shots were discharged ST.
simultaneously. Ricardo's cap flew or
his head, hut he remained standing,
while Sarros staggered back against
The wall and there recovering himself
gamely. Aired again. He scored a clean
miss. and Rlcrrdo's CUR parked three
times; Sarros sprawled on his face.
rose 10 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 APP
preached and stood 20 attention, his
attitude saying:
1T Is over. What next, GENERALLY"
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 ran
his finger through a gaping hole In che
upper half OF the crown.
"Well. Mrs. jerks" he announced
when he reioIned the old lady, shat
wnB better than executing him with a
firing squad. gave him square deal,
Now his friends can never say that ]
murdered him."
He extended his hand 20 help Moth
~ 3snks to her feet, She stood erect
and felt again that queer swelling OF
the heart the old feeling OF suffoca-
tioa.
-Steady, Iassl" she mumbled "'old
en- 10 me, SIR. It's my bally haneurism.
Cor Tine hOkin'----"
He caught her IN his arms as she
lnrched toward him. Her face was
pnrple, anu IN her eyes there was a
aueer fierce light that went out sud
'ienIy, leaving them dull and glazed.
when she commenced to sag In his