The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-03-28
-coNFUCTUs"
CHAPTER III

AllAn had noticed the tiny trickle
~ blood from q fresh bruise on the
oeggar's right temple; now he be-
can 10 observe certain other details
which gave him a queer feeling In
lne pit Of his stomach. II see where
hey socked him, but-but what else
happened 10 the poor devilP Did he
yet run through a sausage machine
ioynetine-or something's"
"Ah-you mean those old scars
That happened before your time
sr mine. Pope was once q store
;eeper In San Saba. He did well
Ind 1t was rumored he had q hid
len hoard Of gold somewhere. He
Ras kidnapped by bandits. When
he wouldn't tell them where the
money was, they tortured him to
make him talk, They sliced OIL
his ears, pulled This tongue out by
the roots, and finally ripped the
soles from his feet. He was never
the same after that experience"
II believe YOU" said the Amer
lean, and cleared his throat. HE
didn't give UP his secret2"
HE couldn't. There was no
hidden hoard. when they were
convinced Of that, the bandits
turned him loose. But his mind
was affected, and he took to wan
dering about the countryside and
living on the charity OF Indians
and fishermen: He Is quite harm
less. though he has one queer
habit"
wouldn't blame him II he had
q dozen. What Is IT,"
whenever q stranger appears
laereabouts, Pope will go up to
him and stare at him hard. Some
people think he Is trying to find
the leader Of the bandits who Grip
pied him; II he ever does, they
say he will kill the man."
II wish him luckl" said Allan
fervently. Are there many ban
dts like that around here now2"
he added thoughtfully.
"Oh, dear me, mol Occasionally
some Silly fellows try TO revive
those old customs, but we soon
bring them TO book. Often they
try TO escape and are shot" The
black eyes twinkled. "You see,
not ell the old customs are deadI"
Allan smiled at the reference 70
Tho famous ley de fuego Sheer
murder by Anglo-Saxon stand
ards, OF course, but damned efti-
cient. Then he loked from the
figure at his feet to the sedan.
II was on my way to the Inn
OF One Thousand Delights, but my
car appears, to have reversed the
idea. Can't put this poor chap
-Pepe-in back and drive him 70
doctorp"
Indeed, senior, you are the Good
Samaritan come TO hfel II you
viii do that, I will be happy to
accompany you and take charge
OF the affair when we reach the
village. ! have already missed my
appointment there, but $50 there Is
aiwayes tomorrow" He snapped
his fingers lightly. "Hola, CHI
quitol VengaI"
Etis horse, which had wandered
ofY In futile quest for forage,
came trotting up obediently, When
he had helped Allan put the I'M
conscious Pope In the rear seat
OF the sedan, the Mexican swung
himself into the, saddle and led
the way at O canter. Parboiled
himself, Allan thought the fellow
must have q strain Of Salamander
In him to look 50 trim and cool
after oil he'd ben through.
Half an hour later, when they
had abandoned their charge to
the tender mercies OF the local doc
tor, the two men stood o moment
beside the car for @ farewell word,
"You are going 70 stop o while
ut the hotel, Senorr In that case
we Shall surely meet again. But
first, may I ask your name, and
the nature Of the business that
brings you TO this little out-of-
ti1e-way community"
Allan hesltated, then was moved
TO assert himself mildly. After
eli, he had been invited himself
not 70 ask queStionsl He smiled
dlSuFHllnBly'
certainly. But may I ask who
IL asking2"
"Ah, senior, 9 thousand par
donsI" He seemed genuinely con-
trite. " should have introduced
myself at once. am Col. Alfredo
Escobar y Carvajal, OF the Rural
Guard. ! am over here on leave
from my regiment, which Is sta
toned across the Peninsula at
Ensenada." He added with a
slownesS which gave emphasis TO
his words: Moreover, ] have the
honor 10 be responsible for the
preservation OF law and order In
this district"
50 that was II. Allan had come