The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-06-14

aah, MIC" uAm- D
-Madrellal
He turned into the gateway that
led 10 the home OF Pasqual. and. slip
ping the short cane knife into my
belt, | made for the shelter of the
corn. 1 remembered thai Dolores had
taken the pony and gone TO Cuerna-
vaca. so Pasqual would be alone at
the house.
Had Madrella come for me. or had
he. by chance, merely stopped on his
way 10 the camp of Benito Iuarez
for a drink of water and n word or
two? A strange exhilarafion pos
sessed me. long dead and forgotten
desires awoke within me again. |
thrilled TO the game. The mantle of
age fell away from me ] was De
vigny and he was Madrella-and the
world was far foo small for the two
of usi was grateful for the sturdy
employment that had engaged me. and
for the long nights of sleep and the
substantial food that had rebuilt me
and strengthened my muscles again.
because | was going 10 need them In
this. my last fight with my arch en-
envy.
Silently | slipped into the back door
OF the house. and. listening. knew
from the sounds of their voices that
they were in the patio. "a drink of
water"-Madrella was s~peaking-'is a
little thing. yet the blessings that
GO"
He stopped short In that hypocrit-
ical sermon that be was about TO de-
liver and turned a calculating eye up
on PasquaL. Have | not seer you
before. senior? Did you not work for
Manuel. of the Hotel M~ontezuma-
bringing hay from the hills?"
Pasqual nodded. That he had not
recognized MadreIla was evident, for
his posture was not one of defense
nor his words those of evasion.
Then you are Pasqual," said Ma
drella. and | could not fail to get the
menace in his one.
"Yes, senOr. | am Pasqual. butt
And you climbed into a window
OF Manuers hotel one early morning.
finding two men fighting there; is
that not So"
Pasqual took a long time to answer
Now he knew Madrella. of course.
"Are you dumb? Answer me, doIt !"
Il found two men fighting. senior
and | kept one Of them from shoot
ing the other. Had be succeeded he
may have had regrets"
Madrella laughed harshly. a kind
Iy thought indeed And did you know
PasQual. that the man who wieldad
the stool was Captain yigny, of the
French?"
~ do-now," said Pasqual.
And that he murdered his friend.
another officer?"
"a pityl"
do you know that a thousand
pesos has been offered for him-or
ever for his body?"
"A deal of money, senior.
"You know all this, Pasqual?"
The Indian thought a long moment.
Il do not believe all of it, senior, for
he is not a man who would murder
his friend"
Madrella's face was grim "He is
not a man, Pasqual; you say he is
not? Then you have een him-yoU
know"
The Indian launched his 1.-THE body
as Madrella's right hand-beaTing a
flaming pistoI-whipped from a vol
luminous coat. Madrella was never a
mar TO be caught off guard.
Pasquars cIutching fingers missed
their mark. and be fell headlOns TO
the packed earth that was the floor
of the patio.
Now anguish tore at the chords of
my heart. Pasqual-fine honest Pas
quaI-had offered up his life for mel
And Dolores Name Of Cd
what could | tell Dolores? Rage
possessed me. red rage-a blind fury
that shook me like a palsy. trem-
bled with the fervOr of a sudden
hatred; the old, Ieng-fOrgotten lust
for killing overwhelmed me again
This man had brought about the
death OF Pasqual, my friend. he had
wrecked my career, my life, had made
a hunted thing of me-a murderer,
a deserter-had killed the love that
the Senorita Arrellanos had for
me
As he stood. pistol in hand. l
stepped into the patio. He raised his
eyes. well. old man. is this your
master?"
Then he hadn't sought me after all
81 have no MASTER" | said.
"Humph truculent." He
laughed a little. Does another mar
live in this house? Answer me quick
ly before | break your backI"
"OnIy Dolores and Pasqual and I
have lived in this hOuse-and my
back is hard to break. enor."
Rattle" said he. "a falling Leaf
should make less noise. Has a French
officer been here? Don't lie 10 me
lest | lay this gun across that use
less skull of thine! When was he
icIc Ghu NhAthSi oNu NC SfONn
up!'' He came close TO me and pushed
the pistol under my nose.
| struck his wrist sharply. dislodg-
ing the weapon from his hand. for
the blow had surprised him. | kicked
the gun across the patio before he
had time 10 recover his wits, then
| waited. fully prepared for any at
tack he might care TO make. He o
softly. @You are not so old. senior.
Not so old" | agreed. thai ] have
forgotten any of the things that you
have done 10 me-
Mother of G-d!" he gasped.
There was a touch of awe the shock
of a great ~surprise-and consferna-