The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-08-01
SHIFTINGSANDS
 Du EIHAn1nD MI IMCRAN
BY ELEANOR M. MGR.

was coming. and he did not want to hear it. He felt rather sick; ne would like to go outside, but 1t did | not seem decent to move. He knew something or martial law l in Mexico; it's suddenness and lack l cf ceremony; it's deadly f1nalfty. Moreover, this was a regimentai dis grace, to be hurried out of sight. The judges exchanged some brief, unheard communication. Zuniga listened, then slowly lifted his eyes | was paler than Carril, with the with cred palior of age; suddenly it had | become apparent that he was quite | an old man
 i Lieutenant Carril, you have been | found guilty of neglect of duty ana desertion of your post in time of
 war;" he pronounced. 'It is the sen- tence of, the court that you be shot | at dawn tomorrow. You will con- sider yourself under arrest from this | moment"
 Carril saluted without word. Col | onel Zuniga spoke to the white-faved l orderly, who went to summon the l guard.
 l They re-entered, bringing the pris- 1 oner Diego Torres, forgotten In the | greater interest.
 | IIANdtO LOl1 CSs oio 1 Carril order you to return to your | company and report him as taking | your placer" Zuniga demanded. ''Yes, Senor,'' he answered.
 ''Why did you not obey?" The man wet his dry lips: | 'Senor Colonel, I have a wife near | there not three weeks married. I went to see her that night. I thought | that I could report early next morn 1 ing end no one would ever know. But, when I heard of the battle, I was | afraid would be punished for being | absent was afraid to go back" | "You are little better than de-
 serter, Diego Torres" Zuniga stated coldIy. "But you have a good rec
 ord. and Mexico needs her soldiers. l You may return to your duties" | The orderly gave a, direction, and | the staggering Torres was thrust out 1 side. The guard moved toward | Carril, who stepped back to meet I them.
 l twill you give me your parole, Iieutenant?" asked the orderly, al-
 most imploringly. He and Carril | were friends; had shared plate and
 blanket on many a campaign. l "Yes, Martinez Carril consented | as quietly. ''Wil1 you let me have
 word with my friend here?" Billy stood up at their approach. | Martinez signed to him to follow as | they left the room. Under the brilliant night sky, by I the light of a dying fire. Billy grip ped his friends hand: "Carril," he choked, "Carri1, can't | I do somethin', anythin'?'
 The orderly drew back a few paces, l motioning the guard to do likewise,
 and considerably turned his back. | Nothing" Carril answered. "You
 had better go home, Graeme, toto | Miss Arden. Don't wait to see the
 last of me; a firing party at dawn | makes a poor magazine cover. Mar
 tinez will get you a guard you can | trust.''
 | Billy cast desperate glance
 around the dark forest: | "Carri1, bolti" he besought.
 'I have given my parole. Good 1 by-good luck!"
 | "Corril, can't you tell them what | they want? I-confound it. I'll swear
 you were with me!"~ l NO use, Graeme. Yes. there is
 one thing you can do, don't tell your | people about this. Good-by." | "CarriI-"
 Carri1 stepped back to Martinez. l Don't gather zapote melons with
 out looking at the tree" he counsel ed lightly.
 | D4lly SlOOo pST1cCliy Sllll. | after him. In some twenty-six
 hours he would be dead, and he was
 talking about Zapote melons. The l American shuddered, sick.
 Half an hour later the orderly
 came to the place where he was sit ting on a stump.
 ''You want to leave, senor," he
 commenced.
 "No!" Billy snapped. I'm goin' tt
 see it through"
 Martinez looked his surprise. | "Ohl Lieutenant Carril asked me
 to find you a guide"
 "All right" Billy hurtled, shame.
 lessly contradictory. "Yes, let me get out of this butcherin' place. The
 sooner the better'.''
 1 CHAPTER VI
 The Girl Who Remembered.
 It was a fretfu1. 1istless gentle
 man, pink only through sunburn
 who walked into the dining-room