Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1921-01-28
CHAPTER xvII-continued.

i1veQ Tor your Duiis S'uh's'
jerks reminded him In English. won
der If the beggar'l wilt or VIII e go
through smiIin' like my sainted Emery
on the syme spot"
She need not have worried. IL re-
mires a strong man to be dictator OF
a roman candle republic for ID 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 Gene
terry and placed his back against H.
negligently, in the attitude OF q oeVii-
may-care fellow without worry IN
life. The sergeant waited Respectfully
until Sarros had finished his cigarette;
when he tossed II away and straignt-
ened to attention. the sergeant knew
he was ready to die. At his command
there was a sudden rattle OF boits as
the cartridges slid from the magazines
into the breeches; there followed mo-
mentary halt, another command; the
squad was aiming when Ricardo huey
sergeant, do not give the order to
IRE"
The rifles were lowered and the men
sazed wonderingly at Ricardo. Hes
too brave" Ricardo complained.
% him, can't kill him as ! would
a mad dog. I've got to give him
chance"
The sergeant raised his brows ex'
pressively. All. 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
reant's mind. But my general" HI
expostulated, "Senor Sarros cannot ac
cept the ley fuga. He Is very lame
That il not giving him the chance YOU
t. Excellency desires he should have"
Il wasn't thinking Of that" Ricardt
replied. II was thinking I'm killing
him without a fair trial for the rea
son that he's 80 Internally ripe TO
the gallows that a trial would hav'
been q Joke. Nevertheless. am real
" killing him because he killed m.
fnther-and that is scarcely fair. N.
father Wis q gentleman. Sergeant. 1
your pistol loadedr
~Yes, General"
~Give Il to Senior Sarr0s"
A the sergeant started forward Z
comply Ricardo drew his own servic
revolver and then motioned Mothe
jerks and the firing squad to STAN
aside while he crossed to the center
the nnkexy, sas->a~n--bs-es1fszA's
d rs mali i've. When the sergean
gives the command to Gre, shall ope
IRE on you, and you are free to do tn
same 10 me. Sergeant. II he kills m
and escapes unhurf. my orders are Z
escort him to the bay In my carriag
and put him safely aboard the steam
e."
Mother jerks sat down on q tomb
stone. "Gord's TRUTH" she gaspet
nut there's q rare plucked 'un." Alou
che croaked: Don't be q bally as
sir"
silence !" he commanded.
The sergeant handed Sarros the n
volver. you heard what said?" RI
cardo called.
Sarros bowed gravely.
You understand your orders. Ser
geantr'
Yes. General"
svery wen. Proceed. II this pris
oner fires before you give the WORD
have your squad riddle him."
The sergeant backed away and gaze
owlishly from the prisoner to his car
tor. Ready 7" he chilled. Both revol
vers came up. "Fire!" he shouted
and the two shots were discharged 81
multaneously. Ricardo's cap few OF
his head. hut he remained standing
while Sarros staggered hack agains
the wall and there recovering himsel
gamely, fired again. He scored a cleal
miss, and Ricardo's gun barked fhre
times: Sarros sprawled on his face
rose to his knees. raised his pisto
halfway. fred into the sky and Sill
forward on his face. Ricartle stood he
side the body until the sergeant ar
n preached and stood to attention, hi
attitude saying:
ut II over. What next. Generalr
! 3 Take the squad hack to the arsenal
0ergesnt." Ricardo ordered him coolly
I ana walked back to recover his uni
Germ cap. He was smiling as he RAJ
his finger through a gaping hole In tn
upper half Of the crown.
~weIl. Mrs. jerks" he announces
when he rejoined the old lady. ''tha
was better than executing him with
firing squad. gave Hmm square deal
Now his friends can never say that
murdered him."
He extended his hand to help Moth
e. Jerks to her feet. She stood erec
and felt again that queer swelling o
the heart. the old feeling Of suffocs
fion.
STEADY, lass 7" she mumbied "'Ol,
on to me. sir. It's my bally haneurism
Gor'-Tm-chokin'-
He caught her In his arms as sh
lurched toward him. Her face wa
purple. and In her eyes there was
queer nefce light that went out sud
denly. having them dull and glazed
When she commenced to sag In hi
arms. he eased her gently to the groun'
and laid her on her back in the grass
the nipper's safe, Emery" he hear
her murmur. I've raised 'er a lydy
s'elp me-she's back where-you foun