The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-12-04

She nodded. "God preserve you,
Senor." she said softly.
"Adios. them"
She waved an arm and, bending
low in the saddle, disappeared in the
mouth of the canyon. The sounds of
her going had died away before the
revolutionists came to where l stood,
waiting. They circled around me,
guns to the fore. and raised empty
hands above my head. take me to
your officer" | said, great happi-
ness filling my soul.
So. closely guarded by at least a
score of horsemen, l rode slowly
across the amphitheater and through
the wide pass. coming at last to a
level space where a body of men en-
camped beside the road. None, so far
as could see, was in uniform except
one tall man. One Of my captors spat
out a stream of unintelligible jargon,
and the officers face grew grimmer as
the story proceeded.
Now he faced me- his black eyes
holding hostile CLINT. "You may tell
me who you are, my captain"
II am Lcren Garde, an American,
COME to offer service to Bolivar"
"In a Spanish uniform! A likely
tale, Senior. Why do you offer service
to our general?"
Because do not like the Spanish"
| said.
He showed white teeth in pleased
grin. IF you do not like the Span
lsh, Senior, why the uniform?'
Zone must get through the lines IF
Spain; this uniform has been Dor
rowed for the occasion, and the for
broken head" I smiled reassuringly,
but met no response in his eyes.
"Your story is interesting, Senior.
Now tell me, if your desire to serve us
is sincere, why you aided the Spanish
officer to escape"
What could say? Could tell him
that the Spanish officer was the
Senorita Lamartina, fiancee of Col
onel de Fuentes, and that l, coming
to offer service to Bolivar, had sent
her back to the safety of the Spanish
lines? Could l have hoped to make
him believe such preposterOus tale?
Perhaps" said the officer after
what he must have considered a suffi-
cient wait, perhaps this companero
of yours was the Dauphin in dis
guise-eh?'
ave might just as well call him
the Dauphin," said hopelessly.
He offered another mirthless smile.
"Tucayan, Senior, has left an evil
flavor in the mouth, and the blood of
many Spaniards will be required to
wash it out" He transfixed me with
an accusing eye. "Who sent you
here?"
Manuel" said I.
He gasped. "You say Manuel sent
you?"
AYE; the swarthy Manuel, the
clever ugly sailor who happens to be
that portion of the brain of Bolivar
which operates in Caracas"
"HTmph," he growled. He consid-
cred my horse, and saw an acquisi-
tive CLEAN in his black eyes, "a fine
horse. Senior"
AYE: a gift from Manuel"
"He would look well under col
onel, don't you think?"
"very we'll, Senior though, unfor-
tunately, do not expect to become
a colonel"
Now he laughed, but his eyes were
cold, and his laughter was not pleas
ant thing to hear. "The wings you
will soon possess, Senior, will render
the use of a poor earthly horse IN
necessary"
How | wanted to thrust my fist into
that smiling face of his, to discom-
pose the even order of his teeth, to
get my fingers
He must have sensed my murderous
passion, for he uttered q short COM
mand, and two of the llaneros grasped
me by the arms. This officer with
the bandaged head whose safety
seemed so precious a thing to you,
ScuOk, yOu uo hoI ICli lIC VIM hO 10.
"The Dauphin will do as well as
anyone" said l.
Every well; one life is little enough
to spend to save the Dauphin. l con-
graduate you. The sun, Senior, is
just coming over the rocky crest of
yonder mOuntain-an excellent time
indeed. You may view it as you die.
1t is more than many poor Vene-
zuelan has been permitted to do"
The soldiers must have anticipated
the wishes of their colonel, for a
squad of eight swung into line be-
tween US and the sun, turned TO face
me, grounded their guns, and waited.
(TO BE CONTINUED