The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-06-07

Neville put an arm over my shout,
der. II will go out and see. Fran
co.'s: remain here"
NevilIe's voice, demanding TO know
the reason for this intrusion. came
cIearly-as well as the sergeant's an
swer: II have orders. Lieutenant Ne
vile, for the arrest of Captain Vigny
for the murder of Captain Lestrange.
Anything eIse?" cried Neville. fore
ing laugh.
Yes. sir: for an unpr0voked attack
on his superior officer. Colonel Migue;
Lopez! 7"
MY Cd" gasped Cupido. Are
you mad. Francois? This Is your
death-warrant -
My death-warrant! Now, consider
ing this thing in the light of reason.
| knew that IL was. AT last Madrel
las alluSinn TO the moose was clear
TO me. | found my cap and put II on
Il will see If Captain Vigny is
home; will be out in a moment, ser
geant."
Neville came in and under the
lamp, his face was as pale as death
Very tenderly he put his great arms
around me. "FrancOis." he whispered
Name of G-d-Francois 7"
There is no use for me to deny
-" | began.
There is no time for denials: death
awaits You. With Lopez against you
there is no hope Escape is hardly
possible. An. dear friend. 1t is the
end-and we love theel"
Escape is always possible" said
Cupido the practical. This window
opens on to narrow cObbled alley.
and the soldiers in the patio are on
rhe opposite side of the house ON
on the street You have fair chance
for freedom for then the city is open
to you. and all the vast mountain ana
forest area that surrounds Us Re
sides, you are Madrella. as well as
De Vigny."
Each took hand. then those tive
good friends of believing me
guiIty-helped me through the win
dow.
AS the window out OF which they
had assisted me led from my own
room. Neville and Cupido were safe.
for the sergeant. on forcing my door
and finding the window open. woulG
assume rightly that had escaped
So I directed my steps southwark.
turned west into Avenida ManZani.lo
thence south again.
From a trusted officer on the staff
of Macmillan, with eight years of
honorable service distinguished by
recognized deeds of valor. and flu
ture brighter by far than many an
officer of the French army, had be
come, in an hour, fugitive from jus
tee, a murderer whose very flight was
an admission of guilt. Yet. with Col
onel Lopez against me- | was sure
that a cOurt-martial would be a mat.
ter of form; was condemned ere
appeared before it.
La Anita. in spite of what she NAV
have desired. would have to testify
to what she thought was truth, and
say that she had seen Captain Vigny
kill Lestrange, receive a wound in
his own shoulder, and attack Lopez
Was there any defense<thar | could
make? Even 70 the LAST detail of my
wounded shoulder the case against me
was complete. Besides. my murder
Gus attack upon a superior officer
would have hanged me in any mill
tary court in the wOrld. Defense.
therefore was useless.
Now. hopeless and utterly miSer-
able, came to the outskirts of the
city. took the broad. tree-lined
Tlalpam road. mile along this
boulevard brought me TO the Candel-
aria gate. which was an outpost. and
here a sentry put gun across nv
path.
He saw only the mark of my rank
for the night was a wall of impen
etrabIe darkness, and rain came down
in an overwhelming flood. He saluf-
ed, and passed on: free. at least.
from the lines of the city.
forced my failing faculties TO the
utmost, for I must reach the shelter
Of the woodland before the night had
gone North of COyOacan | left the
read and took TO the fields as the
clouds broke away and the rain
ceased and deep purple sky-with
it's pinpoints of sprinkling stars-be-
gan to show.
AS the night waned, and the gray
of dawn began TO fill the world.
climbed through fields of small grain
and of hay. through orchards. and
over a double line of low pomegran
ate trees. where ! filled my pockets
with the questionably edible and ey-
otic fruit. Reaching the shelter of
the timber al last dropped TO the
soft blanket of needles under a giant
pine tree. and, lying exhausted. hope
less-a prey 10 hitter defeat and dis
couragement-l watched the sun come
up over the smoke-plumed crest of
Popocatepetl and | listened TO the
gentle chimes of the bells of San
Angel.
And lying thus. fatigue exacfed its
toll. and | slept. When | awoke the
sun had gone and the moon had come
again. My garments were dry. a hit
ter cod possessed me. and the pangs
of great hunger made me forget
until tried To arise-the pain of q
Wounded shoulder The pomegranates
accorded ME an hour of labor and
slight appeasement of my appetite:
then ! SAT and looked upon a moon
bafhed world
had at least. another day of lib
erty and the timbered businesses
would he my refuge In his dubious
~ dual role of linperialisI and Liner
al InIeZ 1 knp,p uf,riId Sooir mo