The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-05-10

force OF IL upon my shoulder. and
only half succeeded.
I saw the flashing lights of speed.
ing stars. and heard the thunder
of thousand seas: my nerveless fiE
gers. cropping blindly. found only emp
finess. and falling Unreasonable dis
tances. came finally to utter silence.
darkness. and great and abiding
peace.
Voices aroused me. voices very
faint at first, but clearing gradually
as the roaring In my head abafed
NO" said the other: I'VE cannot
kill him He Is De vigny; and when
JuareZ sees him. and we explain 70
the general how well known the cap
tain is TO US. firing squad :"
oil lamp. hanging from crOss-beam,
lighted the meager room | sat, bound
and helpless. In spacious chair. and
Leroux and Besancon faced each 9TH
er across the table under the light
My head ached. and the bonds cut
me cruelty; my body was the abiding
place of all the pains In the world.
My fate now was a thing of minor
Importance. ] had failed; after an
effort which had so nearly approached
success, ! had failed The detection
of these two soldiers of France burt
me-a hurt that seemed to reach my
very soul. And the Senorita Arrel
lanosi Never again would | look up
on her lovely face. nor hear the mu.
sic of her yoicel sighed. and lie
roux, hearing me, approached.
"Does my disposition include tor,
ture" I asked.
He apologized. untying my bonds
while BesancOn stood back. gun held
ready. Freed. I lifted my shoulders
stretched my arms and legs. breathed
deeply.
My face. somehow. had an unfamil-
lar feel raised hand and cried
out in dismay. My beard was gone
I'VE have done our hest" said Le-
rOux, pride and depreciation in his
voice. "For swift and secret barber.
ing we may not have done so badly" "
Now held to my chin. horror
doubtless showing In my eyes.
BE not downcast," syinpathized Lee
rOux; -whaf is mere heard? Cheer
up: the loss of vour beard can only
anticipate that of your life ny few
pa!try hours. There will scarce be
time TO mourn; and the beard. friend
of ours. would have been serious
hindrance To our plans. We take you
before BenitO JuareZ and we say to
him: This man is nor MadrelIa. he
is Captain de vigny; do not we. ex-
celiency. know De Vigny. have we not
served three years with him under
the Empire. could any one be better
known to usT
And you will do this. Leroux-for
what reasOn?"
His gray eyes studied me. found
10 them a gentle raillery. as well as
a smoldering light of hatred. ''We
will do this because. primarily. we
would have his excellency march on
Cuernavaca, and because. senior. we
have waited-Louie BesancoD and
"Rut Cuernavaca," cried. will"
YES" BesancOn interrupted harsh
~, 'd'uernavaca. We heard you tell
Benito Juarez about the defending
forces of Cuernavaca. about the trap
that Macmillan has laid; and when
we prove you De vigny we will have
proved your story false" He gave
a short hard laugh. and. shaking the
gun under my very nose. continued :
1--WE have waited for this hour. Pab-
10. weary weeks we have waited /:
and when you have said Good morn
ing to rhe firing squad. and Good
by to this neautiful earth, and Gen
eral JuareZ has led his characterization
army into the trap that our emperor
has SET for MIN. then the rrue story
of our treachery may he told"
wait | said "wait-wait !" Ny
brain was seething-
Ibid you imagine amigo mio." said
I.eroux, a deep aud vibrant tender
ness in his voice. thar we. who have
served France. would ever offer serv
ice To her enemies? Did Won think
that we. whom the emperor has hon
ored with his love could ever turn
our faces from him?'
-Ah-Rene." ] gasped. verify hast
thou delivered me into the hands OF
my enemies: yet. because of what
thou nast tuId me- ! am gtad-giad r.
"He speaks to us In French-in
French-Lonie; and he says Rene
Leroux caught hold of my shoul
der. looking deep into my eyes. hun
CRY eagerness in his fine face. | tried
To smile. hut the bruises doubtless
made of IL a sorry caricature. Final
iy he spoke in a gasping whisper /:
Mon Dieu-it is Francois !"
"No-nor said Besancon.
-None other. my Infants"
Now they were upon me- with arms
around my shoulders and voices soft
and rich with tenderness and sym
pathy "Had we not been so sure
you were Madrella we would have
recognized You oui of hand
And nearly killed you with the
chairi But why do you thus imper
senate Madreila. and puf your pre-
cious life in ieopardy?"
First" said [. TO block the ar
tack on cuerhavaea-whirh Is :Iififul
~ Northumberland last 10 see twc
n,,ble sons of France"
while We" exclaimed Rene lie
ruux. were planning what we deemed
clever trick upon Madrella How
the gud of chance must laugh al usi
-Where then. is your twin-fbe es
rimabIe i'abln?' questioned Besanron
1 left him and rhe far Manner
Sf,Ii,inn The l.r.Aa.ks u rho a..x.r ~