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

Now / directed my attention to Pas
quail. and discovered to my great joy
that he still lived The bullet had
barely grazed his skull. rendering him
unconscious. He opened his eyes and
made feeble attempts to get to his
feet, which. with my assistance, he
finally managed to do. he leaned
against the work bench for support.
studying the silent figure of Madrella.
"He-shot me, senor?"
Yes, Pasqual."
"And you killed him?"
/ nodded.
"What with, senior: the gum"
l shook my head.
He laughed shortly. The senof
has regained his strength. What will
we do now? Something will have to
be done with hint; the garrison
and-and the iefe at Cuernavaca
Does he look very much like
you, senor?"
Now I got the picture in the In
dams crafty brain. $50 much like
me, Pasqual, that l hardly know
which Of us is dead"
"Others then will be ever less GER
tain"
There was a chance, I knew. Cap
tain Vigny was a deserter from the
French army. and that in itself was
sufficient TO hang him without the
charge of murder, which-with Ma
dreIla dead-wouId now be impossible
TO disprove. His capture by the
French would mean his death-swift
and certain. That | knew. for always
Colonel Lopez would stand between
me and the emperor; there would be
no hope of clemency. no opportunity
to reach the ear of his majesty with
explanations. Surely then II would
be the height of folly to maintain the
identity of Captain Vigny whiIe-free
he remained a fugitive. and-cap-
tured-he faced the moose.
~Pasqual." said l. determined at
last to take that fatal step so fraught
with potent circumstances. "yonder
lies the body of Captain Vigny. The
Empire has offered a thousand pesos
for him alive or dead. Shave him
and get him into that uniform of
mine. then take the placard which
tells the story of my crime to the
Cuernavaca garrison and ask there
for Lieutenant Brugiere. See none
other. Tell him privately that the
body of Captain Vigny lies at you.
home. Come hack with him; insisi
that nc one else accompanies you"
ct is easy. senior ii is all too easy"
While he was thus engaged I went
through the wide hallway 10 the back
porch which offered a view of the
valley, where I SAT. Voices and the
thudding of horses hoofs awakened
me from a strange reverie. Pasqual
and Dolores in the cart approached,
and behind them rode Brugiere. l
retraced my steps through the hall
and sat in a shaded corner of the
patio. waiting.
Brugiere entered the opened way.
into the court The workbench had
been cleared and the body OF Ma.
QTeiia-COftTcu ny d Tuue CiOlu-tdN
upon It Dolores came through the
doorway and. seeing the still figure
on the bench. ran to it-heedless of
the rest of us-and dropped TO her
knees beside il. "Pancho." she cried.
-ah-Pancho Move have loved
thee"
Her unhappiness was mor than I
could bear. I got up. walked over
to her. and laid a hand upon her
shoulder. Dolores. do not give thy
self"
-Pancho-is II Pancho? ] do not"
Brugiere whirled upon me. "Saerel'
he gasped. "Name Of a name-whaf
sort of game is this you play?" He
took me roughly by the shoulders
who are you-ancientg"
Now I smiled into his flaming face.
who am I? Is this yonr gratitude
TO me. Brusiere. after I have opened
up q you the wine cellar of the fat
ManueI?-
Gro BE CoNTiNuED.)