Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-07-15

der II the beggsril wilt or viii e &
through slnllin' like ny sainted 'Enerl
on the syme spot
She need not have worried II re
euires a strong man TO be dictator OF
a roman candle republic for Is years
and whatever his sins OF omission or
commission. Sarrcs did net lack anil
NAL cours<e. Alone and unattended he
hmped away among the graves 10 the
wnli on the other side OF the GENE
tery and placed bis back against u.
negligently. In the attitude OF devil
may-care fellow without q 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 20 die. Al his command
there was a sudden rattle Of bolts SIS
the cartridges sid from the magazines
into the breeches: there followed q mo-
uentSry halt. smother command; the
squad was aiming when Ricardo Ruey
called sharply.
Sergeant do not give the order 10
fire.
The rffes were lowered snd the men
raEed wonderfully 81 Ricardo Hes
too brave Ricardo complained.
d him. ! can't kin him as would
a mad dog I've got TO give him 3
chance
The sergeant raised his br0vs ex-
preSsiveiy An. the ley fuga, that pop
ulzr form Of execution where the pris-
euer IS given a running chance, and the |
nrfng squad practices wing shooting |
II the prisoner manages. mlracuiously. |
70 escape. he Is not pursued
A doubt. however. crossed the ser
reanf's mind. But my general" he
e1poxtulafed. ~Senor Ssrr0s cannot ac- I
cept the ley fuga. He is very lame
That is not giving him the chance your
Erceilency desires he should have"
Il wasn't thinking OF that" Ricardo
replied Il was thinking I'm killing
son that he's 50 internally ripe for
the gallows that a trial would have
been a Joke. Nevertheless, ] am real
ly killing him because he killed my
fstker--and that is scarcely fair. Ny
father was . gentleman. Sergeant. is
your pistol Iosded,~
Yes. General"
-Glye Il TO Senior Sarros."
AS the sergeant started forward 10
comply Ricardo drew his swn 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. Il ,
am going 10 let God decide which one :
OF rs shall live. When the sergeant /
gives the command to IRE. shall spen I
IRE on yon. and you are free to do the ! {
same TO NE. Sergeant. n he kills me
and escapes unhurt. my orders are to =
escort him to the bar In my carriage
and put him safely aboard the steam Z
.r.- +,
Mother jerks sat down on a tomb
stone. Cords truth - she gasped. Il
bat ther-'s a rare piucked 'un." Aloud
he eroaked: Don't be a baIly ass. d
lr.- !.
-Sileoce - he commanded. s.
The sergeant handed Sarros the re- "
oliver you heard what sald7' RI
nrio called. 81
Sarros bowed grayely. q
"roa understand your orders. Ser Ia
eantT' "
Yes. General"
VERY well. Proceed. II this pris- hs
ner fires before you give the word. Is
ave your squad riddle him" hi
The sergeant backed away and gazed
EllShly from the prisoner 10 his cap en-
r. -Resdyi" be called. Both revol- 70
RS came up. ~Firer he shouted. 10
ID the two shots were discharged ST. a
Ricardo's cap few OF We
= head. but he remained standing. bu
bile Sarros staggered back against -Bi
= wall and there recovering himself INK
m@ly. fired again. He scored a clean We
SIS, and Rieardo's gun barked three
nes. Sarros sprawled on his face
So to his knees. raised his pistol
lfway. fired into the sky and slid ey,
rward on his face. Ricardo stood be- Bll
ie the body until the sergeant an ne,
cached and stood TO attention. his blv
titude saying: hin
1T is over. What next. CeneraI7- ~
rgeant." Ricardo ordered him coolly. "
d walked back 10 recover mis- uni gaz
IN cap. He was smiling as he -an ~,
finger through a gaping hole In the erie
per half OF the crown- a.
Well, Hrs. jerks" he announced sun
en- he rejOined the old lady. that hon
8 better than executing him with a ~
ng squad. gave him square deal. is n
his friends can never say that ! to n
rdered him" -,
lie extended bis hand to help Moth decl
Ienks to her feet. She stood erect "Y
felt again that queer swelling OF 81
heart, the old feeling Of sufroca- his
: him
Steady. lassi" she mumbled. "'Old -T
o me. sir. It's my bally haneurism ron
-rm-chokin-'" .y
e caught her In his arms as she tell
he'd toward him. Her face was dldn
lie. nnd In her eyes there was VIVA