Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1921-03-25
cAAPrER xvII-consInued.

CHAPTER NVll-Continueo.
10
eff you'd cared to play a gentleman's
game. you blighter, you might ave
lived for your bally country" Mother
Tenks reminded him In English, won
der IL the beggar'll wilt or win e go
through smilin like my sainted Emery
on the syme spot"
She need not have worried. 10 re-
Quires a strong man to be dictator OF
q roman candle republic 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,
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 a mo-
mentary halt, another command; the
squad was aiming when Ricardo Ruey
called sharply:
Sergeant do not give the order to
fire."
The rifles were lowered and the men
gazed wOnderingly at Ricardo. Hes
too brave" Ricardo complained.
Cd him. can't kill him as would
mad dog. I've got to give him a
chance"
The sergeant raised his brows ex-
pressiveiy. An, the ley fuga, that pop
ular form Of execution where the pris-
oner is given a 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
Exceilency desires he should have"
II 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 a trial would have
been a Joke. Nevertheless, l am real
" killing him because he killed my
father-and that Is scarcely fair. by
father was gentleman. Sergeant, Is
your pistol loaded7"
Eyes, General"
"Give 1t 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. ySarros," 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, IL 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
r."
y w fssthera jerks sat down on a tomb
stone. CORDS truth I" 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-
yolver. "You heard what / said?" RI
cardo called.
Sarros bowed gravely.
"You understand your orders, Ser
geants'
Eyes. General"
Very well. Proceed. If 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 "Readyl'' he called. Both revol-
vers came up. "Firei" he shouted,
and the two shots were discharged ST.
simultaneously. Ricardo's cap few OF
his head, but he remained standing,
while SarrOs staggered back against
the wall and there recovering himself
gamely fred again. He scored clean
miss, and Ricardo's gun barked three
tlmsZ; sarros sprawled on his face
nee raised his pistol
70 the sky and slid
Nicardo stood be.
~ til be sergeant ap-
m Ached attentiOn, his
attitude
1T Is eneral9"I
arse
c