Evening star., 1935-03-29
CHAPTER XLIII.

|
~HEY worked with Juan-Silva
silently, wiped the red from
the lips of the dead man and
Il drew him back in his chair so
| that his head was at a bal
ance, supported against the high back
of the chair.
Now" said Montana, and he strobe
on past the fountain, to the door
of that farther room out of which
the voice of a great-throated Estrada
was making a steady rumbling.
Then he thrust the door open and
saw the general walking back and
| forth. The major and Jack Lascar
we're sprawling in chairs out of which
they leaped at the sight of the Kid.
He smiled back at them, a very
slow smile of a genuine amusement.
"Juan-Silva wants to speak to Gen.
Estrada" said the Kid. "Juan-Silva
wants to talk to the general alone
or with me present"
The general looked rather wildly
about him.
Stay here!" urged Lascar through
the twisting side of his mouth.
Go, for Gods sake!" said Maj.
Alvarez" Or are We to stay forever
in this hell-hole?"
With a frown of military courage
Estrada strobe straight for the door
as one resolved.
The general is coming called
the Kid, over his shoulder, and as
Estrada crossed the threshold he
| quickly closed the door behind him.
Turning, he heard a soft beating
| in the air That was all.
So they bore the general into the
middle of the room.
BY that time his two guns were
in the hands of Montana, and the
weight of the revolvers seemed to
clothe the Kid with new strength.
Perhaps it was mere chance that
made the friar deposit Estrada in
the chair opposite to the death grin
of Juan-Silva. But the sight of that
hideous grimace turned the governor
rigid.
He offered no resistance as the
Kid tore his uniform coat open and
reached inside it. There, in soft
coating Of chamois, he felt the hard
ness of metal, and knew that his
guess had been right. He gave one
glance inside the leather and saw the
green Of the emeralds. That was
enough. He flashed the gold and the
green at Rubriz and then dropped it
into his pocket.
Brother Pascual and the outlaw, In
the meantime, had bound the general
to the chair he sat in.
Mateo Rubriz standing back from
the bound and gagged general, folded
his arms and they rose almost to
his chin with the greatness of the
breath he drew. But then, gradually
relaxing, he was heard to mutter:
San Juan of Capistrano, keep my
hands from him. Save this dog meat
for the dogs"
Now - Mateo-now, Pascual we
have the other pair. Here we have
guns. And there are only two. You
first, Mateo."
Mateo looked at his friend side
wise, with grin wider than that of
snarling cat. Then he went to the
door, with Montana at his heels, and
threw it open. The housekeeping
Pascual was right behind them.
They went over the threshold with
their guns before them, walking gin
gerly, as men must do unless they
wish to disturb their aim.
There was not word spoken. Then
the two put their hands above their
heads. To ask for mercy was folly.
They said nothing as the cords were
fastened about their wrists. Then
Pascual took them out of the room
to the table where the dead man
and the living prisoner already waited.
They were bound into chairs.
Search them, flrst-search every
inch of them" said the Kid.
They searched, quickly, using the
fiat of the hand carefully to feel
whatever Law in pockets, And that