Year: 1873

the blood that flows in my veins; and thirty years ago, when but an infant, my father died, and left me an unsul- lied name, the memory of his brilliant reputation as soldier, and the grandest and wealthiest old place in Mexico.

 My fathers nearest friend, or rather officer, Colonel De Leon, was appointed my guardian, and in his hands rested the entire control of my property.

 "When ten years of age was sent to Europe, and remained there, receiving my education in the best universities, until was twenty-one, and then I re- turned to Mexico to find Colonel De Leon, my guardian, had gambled away all of my wealth, except the home of my childhood, and of my grandfathers before me. In this he was living, and to my reproaches upon his conduct turned me from it almost beggar.

 ''I went to law to recover my proper ty, but not peros could I get, nor could punish him for his perfdy, as my father, in perfect confidence, had given him complete power over all. ''In frenzy of disappointment, I de- termined to seek revenge and drive him from my home, and, with picked number of men, I went to the hacienda one night and demanded admission. I intended to take him from the house, make him sign certain papers, and then force him to leave Mexico under pain of death if he ever returned to the country. Contrary to my expectations, he resisted me, fired upon my men, and, as I gained an entrance into the house, attacked me with 8 drawn sword.

 "I ordered him off, but he still ad- vanced, and, in self-defence, I fired upon him, and he fell dead at my feet.

 'The deed was done, and had no course left me but to fly, for he was loved by the neighborhood, stood high in authority with the Government, and I knew death would be the penalty of my crime:

 ''I took from the house some valua- bles which had belonged to my ances- tors, and which, strange to say, he had not gambled off, for they were jewels of great price, and, telling my companions to help themselves, I seized candle and set fire to the mansion where those of my name had lived for many long years.

 "By it's bright light I fled from the spot toward the mountains, resisting, with arms, the forces sent to capture me-for the servants had alarmed the neighbors, and they had turned out in large numbers to revenge the death of Colonel De Leon.

 "It was bloody path we left behind us that night, and it's cruel deeds throng upon me, in memory; but it was brought on by his resistance, for, by the Virgin! l intended him no personal harm.

 "But to the end: I was outlawed by the government and my race, so be- came bandit. My band strengthened day by day, and each year the name of Melincho became more and more dread ed. waged war upon the enemies of Mexico, attacked government trains to pay my men, but spared private citizens and their property, and never allowed one of my band to shed innocent blood.

 "When Maximilian came to Mexico fought against him and his followers, and ceased my war against my own government, for knew that all of our country's s soldiers were needed to resist the Franco-Germanic usurpation of Mexico.

 cit was the year after I met you, Colonel, and shortly after the execution of Maximilian-who, had he caught Juarez, would have dealt him like fate, and Americans would not have felt the same sympathy for the Mexican, fighting for his country, that they did for foreign prince, battling for power to rule the people of another tongue yes, it was shortly after Maximilian's death that I came across party of my men who had surrounded carriage containing an old gentleman and his daughter. They were Americans, tray cling through the country, the old gen tleman having visited Mexico to look after some mining property he had there. @

 My men, contrary to my orders, had fired upon the carriage, and the coachman and footman were both killed, while one ball had seriously, but not fatally, wounded the gentleman. For tunately, the young lady remained un- hurt, and though her face was pale with fright and her eyes wore an anxious look about her father, I never gazed upon so beautiful a woman.

 "Her reproachful glance met mine as advanced toward her, and at once assured her that everything should be done for her fathers comfort, and my men should be punished severely for disobeying my orders.

 "I then gave orders to have another horse hitched to the carriage in the place of one that was wounded, and to my utter surprise, not man moved. I repeated the order, and then one of them, tall black bearded fellow, whom I had once before caught in mischief, stepped forward and said:

 "This is too rich 8 prize to let go, chief, and I, for one, am not going to lose it."

 "I repeated my order, and for the last time, for, seeing hewould not obey me, I raised my pistol and shot him through the heart"

 "Another of the band sprung toward me with drawn knife, but sent him to join his comrade. and this cowed the others, who instantly obeyed my orders.

 1T had Mir. Rodman and his daugh- ter conveyed to hacienda near, and there made as comfortable as possible, and myself watched over the wounded man during the weeks of recovery"

 "It was two months before MT. Rod man was able to resume his journey and leave for the United States, and ill those two months I had learned to mad ly worship Ellen Rodman, and I wrung from her 8 confession that were I not 8 bandit she would become my wife, for she admitted her love for me, she 'urg- ing me to relinquish my wild life and to leave Mexico, when could flee from my bitter past, but telling me at the same time that while her father lived she would never leave him"

 "Thus we parted, MT. Rodman thank ing me warmly for what had done for him, but with certain manner that showed me that, in his eyes, was but robber chief, though his daughter might believe me not altogether cruel and crime stained.

 "Ellen Rodman, whom I so wildly loved, returned to her home in New