The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-01-15
The VALE OF ARAGON

hesitated, not because | was afraid
of Colonel Fuentes, but because / be-
lieved that the clean courage of this
boy would win.
You have weapon in your hand
Adolfo, and you should not be afraid
to use it. | might tell you that my
left hand in my pocket also holds q
pistol You have been a traitor TO
Spain in your service, and a traitor
to honor and decency in your love. If
you have spark of courage left you
will use your pistol before I kill you
like the dog"
A deafening report filed the house
with thunder, and. an instant later,
another shot added volume to the din.
Sonora Ybarra held to me for support.
1T is murder" she gasped, "mur-
der {. My poor housel'
l heard the choking cry of a man
In agony and the crash of a heavy
body falling to the floor | waited
for the sound of voice, waited anx-
iously. Finally, it came:
"Polito, ali, Mother Mary. Polito!"
"You will notice, my sister," said
Polito coolly, "that it was not | who
fired first"
As l pushed through the portieres,
the knocker changed loudly on the
front door. Dulce screamed at sight
of me, for she must have imagined
that was an apparition, then she ran
into my arms, sobbing and crying my
name
Loren, ali, Loren! Polite has killed
him, my brother has killed Adolfo!"
Over the shining curls / looked at
Colonel Fuentes, who lay motionless
in the sprawling posture of his fall.
"a good thing, my own l said; "Po-
Ito has only saved me the task of kill
ing him."
l loosed her and Lieutenant Lamar
tina proffered his weapon to me. Il
will be a prisoner, Senor-eh?"
Yes, Polite, for l fear there will
be no chance for your escape. The
forces of Venezuela hold the city"
As I stood over the PROSTATE man,
the pistol in my hand, Colonel PM
appeared at the portieres. He ap-
preached the Senorita and, cap in
hand, offered a deep bow before her.
May apologize for Maracay, Senorita,
for a madness must have pos
sessed me?''
My mind is closed to Maracay,
Senor," she said coldly. All. what
regal poise of her head, what imitless
heights from which she looked down
upon himI
Pretty quick work, major; you offer
valiant service in aiding US to win the
battle of Carabobo, and then you rush
away to attend a few personal feuds
that you have accumulated. | con-
graduate you-a buster man I have
never seen.''
was sure that Dulce would not be
safe in the city so long as this man
was commanding officer, for the rule
of Valencia was martial law, and Col
onel PM himself, for the present at
least, was the law. l determined.
therefore, to settle my affair with him
as quickly as possible.
'.Your words of praise warm, my
heart, Colonel, for have as you init
mate, made a most excellent begin
ming; yet there are many important
things that l must do"
His eyes narrowed. ''Who, may I
ask, Garde, will be the next on your
list now that you have finished with
the estimabIe Colonel Fuentes?"
mot So" said Polito. Major Garde
was not"
You will be her brother-no?" PM
laughed softly, for there must have
been deal in this situation to please
him. lone would imagine that the
Senorita Lamartina is well squired."
AYE, so she is, my colonel lied,
"and so shall she be. Long ago Adolfo
de Fuentes forfeited her regard in
such manner as to render a challenge
from me imperative. As you can
readily see, he has paid most griev-
ous1y for it. 1t was my right,
Colonel"
Dulce cried out in dismay and Po-
Ito bent an astonished look upon me-
Nothing could be gained by charging
the lieutenant with the death of his
commanding officer, and much, l knew
might be lost. ''The Lieutenant
Lamartina,' l continued, 'was anxious
TO take from me the honor of defend
ing the Senorita, yet he was prisoner,
and could not permit it; besides, a
soldier may not attack his superior
offiear-iS If not so nv colonel ~