THE
O V 8 T AVE A I M A
TRAIL
CHAPTER VII. (Continued.)
The president looked round the assem
bly, rose in the midst of a profound si
lence, stretched out his arm toward the
.general, who stood cold and passionless
before him, and, after darting at him a
withering glance through the holes made
-In the crape that concealed his face, he
aid, in grave, stern and impressive
voice :
"Caballeros, remember the words you
re about to hear. In the first place, in
-order to reassure you and restore your
freedom of mind, learn that you have
not fallen Into the hands of Indians
thirsting for your blood, or of pirates who
Intend to plunder yon first and assas
sinate you afterward. When you have
acted as Impartial witnesses you will be
at liberty to continue your Journey, with-
out the forfeiture of a single article. The
men seated on my right and left, although
masked, are brave and honest hunters.
The day may perhaps arrive when you
will know them ; but reasons, whose im
portance you will speedily recognise, com
pel them to remain unknown for the pres
ent" One of the travelers belonging to the
-second caravan stepped forward ; he was
-a young man, with elegant and noble
features, tall and well built.
'Caballero," be answered, In a dis
tinct voice, "I thank you, in the name of
my companions, for the reassuring words
yon have spoken. I know how implaca
ble are the laws of the desert; but per
mit me to ask you one question."
"Speak, caballero."
"Is It an act of vengeance or justice
you are about to carry out?"
"Neither, senor."
"Enough of this," the general said
haughtily; "and if you are, as you assert,
an honorable man, show me your face."
"No, Don Sebastian," said the presi
dent, "for in that case the game would
not be even between us."
The general attempted to smile, but In
eplte of himself the .smile died away on
his lips. The president looked round
with flashing eyes and began speaking
again in a sharp, cutting voice.
"Now, listen, senores," he said, "and
Judge this man Impartially; but do not
Judge him according to prairie law, but
In your hearts. Gen. Don Sebastian Guer
rero, who is standing so bold and upright
before you at this moment, is one of the
greatest noblemen of Mexico. His for
tune Is immense, almost incalculable.
This man, by the mere strength of his
will, and the Implacable egotism that
forms the basis of his character, has al
ways succeeded in everything he has un
dertaken. Coldly ambitious, he has cov
ered with corpses the bloody road be bas
followed to attain his proposed object,
and he bas done so without hesitation or
remorse ; he has looked on with a smiling
face, when his dearest friends and nearest
relations fell by his side; for him noth
ing which men respect exists. He had a
daughter, who was the perfection of wom
en, and he coldly lacerated ber heart ; he
finally drove her to suicide, and the blood
of the poor girl spurted on his forehead
while be was triumphantly witnessing the
legal murder of the man she loved, aad
whose death he resolved on because he
refused to palter with his honor. This
human-faced tiger, this monster witn the
locking skeptical face, you see, senores,
bas only . one thought, one object, one
desire to attain the highest rank, eveq.
tt, to effect it, be were compelled to clam
ber over the panting corpses of bis near
est relations and friends; and if he can
not carve out an independent kingdom' in
this collapsing republic, which is called
Mexico, he wishes to seize, at least, on
the supreme magistracy, and be elected
president. This man is Gen. Don Sebas
tian Guerrero, military governor of So
nora." "Oh!" the audience said Involuntarily,
as they Instinctively recoiled In horror.
"If this man is the ex-governor of
Bonora," the hunter who had already
spoken said. In disgust, "he is a wild
beast, whom his ferocity has placed be
yond the pale of society, and it is the
duty of honest men to destroy him."
"He must die I he must die I" the new
comers exclaimed.
CHAPTER VIII.
"Nonsense," said the general, shrug
ging his shoulders with a contemptuous
mile. "I know now who you are; your
hatred of me has nnconscously discov
ered you. Remove that veil which Is no
longer of any use. Ton are the French
hunter whom I have constantly met in
my path to impede my projects, or over
throw my plans."
"Add," the hunter Interrupted, "and
whom you will ever meet. Brothers," he
added, turning to his assistants, "my mask
alone must fall; retain yours, for it is
important for my plans of vengeance that
you should remain unknown."
The four men bowed their assent and
v the hunter threw away the crape that cov-
ered his features.
"Valentine Gulllolst" the general ex
claimed ; "I was sure of It."
1 "Listen then," the hunter coldly eon
tinned ; "when my unhappy friend fell at
Gnaymaa, in my paroxysm of grief I
allow that I Intended to kill yon ; but re
flection soon came, and I saw that It
would be better to let yon live. Thanks
to me, one week after the Mexican govern
ment, not satisfied with disavowing your
conduct, deprived yon of your command
without inquiry aad refused to explain to
ft the saotivos of tWIr edneC"
RED
5
R D
"Ah, ah," the general said, "it was to
you, then, that I owe my recall?"
"Yes, general, to me alone."
"I am delighted to hear it."
"You remained, then, in Sonora, with
out power or influence, hated and despis
ed by all, and marked on your forehead
with that indelible brand which was im
printed on -Cain, the first murderer ; but
Mexico Is a blessed country, where ambi
tious men like yourself can easily fish In
troubled waters, when, like yourself, they
are not restrained by any of those bonds
of honor. But you could not remain long
bowed beneath the blow that had fallen
on you and so you resolved to leave So
nora and proceed to Mexico, where,
thanks to your colossal fortune and the
Influence It would necessarily give you,
you could carry on your ambitious pro
jects. Your preparations were soon made
listen attentively, general, for I assure
you that I have reached the most Inter
esting part of my narrative.
"As you fancied, for certain reasons
which it is unnecessary to remind you
of, that your enemies might try to lay
tome ambush for you, you thought it
necessary to take the following precau
tions, the Inutility of some of which I
presume that you have recognized. While,
for the purpose of deceiving your enemies,
you started In disguise, and only accom
panied by a few men, for California, in
order to return to Mexico across the
Rocky mountains; while you gave ques
tioners the fullest details of the road you
Intended to follow, with your men your
real object was different. The man in
whom you placed your confidence, Don
Isidro Vargas, who had known you when
a child, and whom you bad converted
into your tool, took the shortest, and,
consequently, most direct route for the
capital, having with him not only twelve
mules loaded with gold and silver, the
fruit of your plunder during the period
of your command, but a more precious ar
ticle still, the body of your unhappy
dn ughter, which you had embalmed, and
which the captain had orders to inter
with your ancestors at your Hacienda del
Palmar. Your object In acting thus was
not only to divert attention from your
Ill-gotten riches, but also to attract your
enemies after yourself. Unfortunately,
I am an old hunter so difficult to deceive
that my comrades gave me long ago the
glorious title of the Trail-hunter, and
hence, I alone was not deceived."
"Still your presence here gives a strik
ing denial to the assertion," the general
interrupted.
"You think so, senor. That proves you
are not thoroughly acquainted with me;
but patience, I hope that you will, ere
long, appreciate me better. Again, you
have not reflected on the time that has
elapsed since your departure from Her
mosillo." "What do you mean?" the general ask
ed, with a sudden start of apprehension.
"I mean that before attacking you, I
resolved to settle matters first with the
captain."
"Ah 1" -
"Well, general, It Is my painful duty
to inform you that four days after he left
Pitic, our brave friend Don Isidro fell
into an ambuscade resembling the one
into which you fell to-day, with this ex
ception "
"What exception?" the general asked,
with greater interest than he would have
liked to display.
"My men were . so Imprudent," the
hunter continued, "as to leave the captain
the means of defending himself. The re
sult was that be died, bravely fighting to
save the gold you had Intrusted to him,
and the coffin containing your daughter's
corpse."
"Well, and I presume you plundered
the caravan, and carried off the gold and
silver?" he asked, contemptuously.
"So, most probably, you would have
acted under the circumstances, Don He
bastian," the hunter answered, "but I
thought it my duty to act differently.
What could you expect? I, a coarse, un
educated hunter, do not know how to
plunder, for I did not learn it when I had
the honor to serve my country. This is
what I did; so soon as the captain and
the peons he commanded were killed for
the poor devils, I must do them the jus
tice to say, offered a desperate resistance
I myself, you understand, friend, I my
self conveyed the money to your Hacienda
del Palmar, where It now remains in safe
ty." The general breathed again, and smiled
Ironically. "Instead of blaming you,
senor," be said, "I, on the contrary, owe
you thanks for this chivalrous conduct."
"Do not be In such a hurry to thank
me," the hunter' answered ; "I have not
told you all. Captain Don Isidro Vargas
not only escorted the money, but there
was also a coffin. Well, general, why do
you not ask me what has become of that
coffin?"
An electric shock ran through the audi
ence on hearing the ironical question so
coldly asked by the hunter.
"What 1" Don Sebastian exclaimed.
"The assassin can have no claim to the
body of his victim, and you are morally
your daughter's murderer, I have robbed
yon of this body, which must rest by the
side of him for whom she died."
There was a moment's silence. The
general's face, hitherto pale, assumed a
greenish hue. At length be yelled la a
hoarse and hissing voice;
"It Is not true; you have not done
this. Yon cannot have dared to rob a
father of bis child's body."
I bare loei It, I tell yea," the heater
said coldly. I have taken possession of
the body of your victim, and now you
understand me; never shall you know
There this poor body rests. But this is
on' the beginning of my vengeance, What
I wish to kill in you is the soul and not
the body ; and now begone, and remember
that you will find me in your path every
where and ever."
"One last word," the genera! exclaim
ed, affected by the deepest despair, "re
store me my daughter's body ; she was the
only human creature I ever loved."
The hunter regarded him for a moment
with an undefinable expression, and then
in a harsh and coldly mocking voice,
"Never 1"
Then, turning away, he re-entered the
grotto, followed by bis assistants.
Don Sebastian, who was the more over
whelmed by the last blow because it was
unexpected, stood for a moment like a
man struck by lightning. At last a heart
rending Bob burst from his bosom, two
burning tears sprang from his eyes and
he rolled like a corpse on the ground.
In the meanwhile the Jester had or
dered the peons to saddle the horses and
load the mules. The general was placed
by two servants on a horse, without ap
pearing to notice what was done to him,
and a few moments later the caravan left
the fort of the Chlchimeques.
When the Mexicans had disappeared rn
the windings of the road Valentine emerg
ed from the grotto, and walked courteous
ly up to the hunters.
"Forgive me," he said, "not the delay,
but the Involuntary alarm I caused you ;
but I was compelled to act as I did. You
are going to Mexico, where I shall soon
be myself, and it is possible that I may
require your testimony some day."
"A testimony which will not be re
fused," the first hunter gracefully answer
ed. "What!" the hunter exclaimed In
amazement, "are you French?"
"Yes, and ail my companions. We
have come from San Francisco, where,
thanks to Providence, we amassed a for
tune, which we hope to double in the
Mexican capital. My name is Antoine
Rallier, and these are my brothers, Ed
ward and Augustus; the two ladies who
accompany us are my mother and sister."
The hunter pressed the hand his coun
tryman offered him.
"Then," he said, "I will not let you
go alone! These mountains are infested
by dangerous bandits, but with my pro
tection you can pass anywhere."
"I heartily accept the offer; but why
do you not come with us to Mexico?"
"That is impossible for the present."
Two hours later tho Fort of the Chl
chimeques had returned to its usual soli
tude; white men and Indians had aban
doned it fore-er.
CHAPTER IX.
We will now leap over about two
months, and Invite the reader to accom
pany us to the heart of Mexico, to the
capital. Half-past nine was striking by
the cathedral clock at the moment when
a dull sound resembling the rustling of
reeds shaken by the wind was audible on
the gigantic highway joining the city to
mainland. This Bound soon become more
distinct, and changed into the trampling
of horses, which was deadened by the
damp air and the ground, softened by a
lengthened rain. A black mass emerged
from the fog, and two horsemen wrapped
in thick cloaks stood out distinctly in the
moonlight
These horsemen seemed to have made a
long journey. They at last reached a low
roofed house through whose dirty panes a
doubtful light issued, which showed that
the inhabitants were still awake.
The horsemen stopped before this
house, which was an Inn. and without
dismounting one of them gave the door
two or three kicks and called the host in
a loud, sharp voice. The latter was In
no hurry to answer, and would have prob
ably left the strangers for some time in
the cold if the man who had kicked, prob
ably tired of waiting, had not thought of
an expeditious means of obtaining an an
swer. "Ah !" he shouted, as he drew a pistol
from his holster and cocked it, "since this
dog is resolved not to open, I will send a
bullet through bis window."
This menace bad scarce been uttered
ero the door opened as if by enchantment
and the landlord appeared on the thresh
old. "Believe me, senor, that if I had known
what a distinguished caballero did me the
honor of stopping before my humble
dwelling, I should have hastened to open,"
he said.
."A truce to such impertinent remarks,
and open the door."
A glance was sufficient for the travelers
to understand the place to which acci
dent bad led them, still they did not dis
play any of the disgust with which the
sight of this cut-throat den Inspired them.
They seated themselves as comfortably
as they could at a table, and the one who
had hitherto addressed mine host went
on :
"Look here, we are dying of hunger,
patron ; could you not serve us up a
morsel of food?"
"Hum!" said the host with an em
barrassed air, "It is very late, caballero,
and I don't believe I have even a maize
tortilla left in the whole house."
"Nonsense," the traveler replied, "I
know all about it so let us deal frankly
with each other; give me some supper,
for I am hungry, and we will not squab
ble about the price."
"Even if you paid me a piastre for ev
ery tortilla, excellency, I really could not
supply you with two," the landlord re
plied, with Increased constraint
(To be continued.)
What the Stork Learned.
The Owl Twins, eh? Ain't yon
afraid they'll displease yonr patrons?
The Stork Certainly not Cupid
ays he often hears 'em telling each
other that two can live as cheaply ar
-rocs.
Emm
If yon have anything to say to a
mule, say it to his face. Chicago
Dally News.
Anthropology Instructor Whnt effect
has the climate on the Eskimo? Stu
dent Cold feet. Harvard Lampoon.
Officer Seen anything of my bag
gage, sentry? Sentry She's waltln
round the corner for ye, sir! Regi
ment "Did I tell you the story of the old
church bell?" "No. Let's heur It"
"Sorry, but It can be tolled only on
Sunday." Cleveland Plain Dealer.
He So they got married and went
off In their new motor car. She And
where did they spend their honey
moon? He In tho hospital. Loudon
Tit-Bits.
Foote Llghte Has your sister a
strong part in the new piece? M Us Sue
Brette Why, yes; she has to carry
around one of those heavy spears I
Yonkers Statesman.
Mrs. Kelly TU another of thlin
soovyneer post cyards from me darter
Maggie the foorth this month, 'ibe
gorry! She Binds me wan every, totue
she changes her place. Puck. -
Anxious Mother I hope you are not
thinking of marrying young Clurkson.
He spends every cent he earns. Pretty
Daughter Oh, well, he doesn't earn
very much. Chlcugo Dally News.
"Do you ever talk back to your
wife?" asked the solicitous friend.
"Sometimes," answered Mr. Meckton;
"a very little; just to show her Unit I
have not gone to sleep." Chicago Dully
News.
Tommy Does It make any difference
if baby takes all his medicine at once?
Baby's Mother (In horror) Good heav
ens! Of course it does! Tommy
But It hasn't made any difference.
Punch.
Mrs. Wlckwlre If you go first, you
will wait for me on the other shore,
won't you, dear? Mr. Wlckwlre I sup
pose so. I never went anywhere yet
without having to wait for you. Illus
trated Bits,
"Any accident in your motor trip
through Italy and France, Morgan?"
"Nothing worth mentioning. My wife
was thrown out and bruised a bit, but
the machine never got so much as a
scrateh."-,Llfe. ,
"So Jack's been made secretary "and
treasurer of the company, has he?"
"Yes. He has to copy all the letters,
and take all the deposits to the.. bank,
and, oh, Mary, I'm so proud of him."
Harper's Bazaar.
Church I like to see a man who con
forget an Injury. Gotham Well, there's
that neighbor of mine; he's suing the
railroad company for an Injured leg,
and every once In a while he forgets to
limp ! Yonkers Statesman.
A kind old gentleman, seeing a small
boy who was carrying a lot of news
papers under bis arm, said: "Don't
all those papers make you tired, my
boy?" "Now; I don't rend 'em," re
plied the lad. Cnnadinn Courier.
"But to my mind," said the clerical
tourist from the East, "a plurality of
wives Is unspeakable." "Huh," snort
ed the good-natured Mormon. "I never
even heard of one wife tlmtwns un
speakable." Philadelphia Press.
Young Lady You are a wonderful
master of the piano, I hear. Professor
von Spieler (hired for the occasion)
I blay nggompanlments zometlmes. "Ac
companiments to singing?" "Accom
paniments to gonversations." Tattler.
Walter Mr. Brown's left his umbrel
la again, sir. I do believe he'd leave
his head if it were loose. Robinson
I dare ay you're right I heard him
say only yesterday he was going to
Switzerland for his lungs. Ally Sloper.
Church See that man going along
with his head In the air, snlfllng with
his nose? Gotham Yes; I know him.
Church I suppose he believes In taking
In the good, pure ozone? Gotham No ;
he's hunting for an automobile garage,
I believe. Yonkers Statesman.
"I cracked a lawyer's house the oth
er night," said the first burglar, dis
gustedly, "and the lawyer was there
with a gun all ready for me. He ad
vised me ter git out." "You got oil
easy," replied the other. "Not much I
didn't! He charged me $25 for. do ad
vice." Philadelphia Press.
"In the summer," remarked the obese
passenger with the big diamond stud,
"people should eat nothing but cold
food and drink the coldest water ob
tainable." "Ah!" exclaimed the rail
way detective, "you are evidently a doc
tor?" "Not me," replied the o. p. "I'm
an Ice dealer." Chicago News.
Parson (on a bicycling trip) Where
is the other man who used to be here
as keeper? Park Gatekeeper He's
dead, sir. Parson(wlth feeling) Dead !
Poor fellow ! Joined the great majori
ty, eh? Park Gatekeeper Oh, I
wouldn't tike to say that sir. tie was
a good enough man. r I know,
ranch. ,
THE MOUND BUILDERS.
Burial la Thla Manner Practiced TJn
to Advent of Whites.
Mound builders of the Mississippi'
valley, In the manner of burial of their
dead, were In close touch with those
of the valley of the Ohio, and had
something In common with them em
bracing the Ideals displayed In the an-
cestor -worship of the oriental, as well
as antedating the custom of setting a
granite shaft as a mark of respect over
the graves of our departed at the pres
ent time. ' f
Formerly mound builders were sup
posed to have become an extinct race,
occupying the territory In which these
numerous burial mounds are found, pri
or to Its occupancy by the North Amer
ican Indians, but in the light of more
recent and more thorough investigation,
writes Richard Hermann, in Records
of the Past, It has been shown that
burial of the dead In mounds has been
practiced by the Muskawakles of the
Foxes, who occupied the territory up
to and Including some of the time when
the first white people setUed in the
upper Mississippi valley.
The former erroneous supposition
came about principally through the un
communlcatlveness of the Indian.
When questioned concerning the
mounds and their contents he would
Invariably act the Btolc, for according
to bis Ideas of ancestor worship the
subject was held sacred and was not
to be touched upon, nor were any of
the belongings which had been burled
with him ever In any manner to be
used again by any living man. For this
reason, when shown flint arrow or
spearheads they would profess Igno
rance and Insist that they were there
before the arrival of the Indian.
The conical mounds, Mr. Hermann
states, are generally Individual or fam
ily burial mounds. The earth, sand
and other material is carried there by
the members of the tribe or the nearest
of kin and filled around tho body. Ap
parently tho further the earth, sand or
other material of which the mound Is
being built Is brought or the more la
borious the work of carylng It to the
place of interment, the higher the re
spect paid to the dead. And In this'
respect they do not differ materially!
from the white people. We would dis
dain to erect over a grave In the mid
dle west a shaft made from the lime
stone of the local Galena formation,
but Instead get a granite shaft shipped
from Vermont or elsewhere, equally as
great a distance and at as great an ex
pense. VA8T IMPORTER OF RUBBER.
United States Purchaser of f30,000,
OOO Worth In a Year.
The United States imported an ag
gregate of $50,000,000 worth of crude
India rubber the year 1000, according
to a statement made public by the
bureau of statistics of the department
of commerce and labor. If to this la
added the value of old and scrap rub
ber Intended for remanufacture the
total will considerably exceed tbat
amount In the ten months ending
with October 53,500,000 pounds of India
rubber, with a value of $41,800,000,
were Imported. During the single
month of October 5,000,000 worth of
this product found its way into this
country.
The enormous growth In the impor
tations of India rubber Into the United .
States, which consumes more than one
half of the world's production, Is at
tributed to the popularity of the bicycle
and automobile, coupled with the In.
crensed use of electricity In the dally
affairs of the people. The Importation
of this product Into this country have
more than trebled during the Inst
twelve years and show now a Inrger
value In the Import list than almost
any other single product
The statement shows that tha vat,,
of India rubber Importations bas in
creased more than 200 per cent In a
decade. The Increase Is attributed tn
the great demand In the various part)
of the world for the use of this prod
uce.
The statement says the Indications
seem to Justify the belief that the
Philippine and Hawaiian Inlands are
capable of producing large quantities
of this article as a result of this gov
ernment's establishment of nurseries
In those possessions for the distribu
tion of rubber plants for use of rubber
plantations.
Possibilities of Cotton Stalks.
Some recent experiments have dem
onstrated that all grades of paper can
be manufactured from cotton stalks,
and In addition to this a variety of by.
products, Including alcohol, cotton fiber
and smokeless powder, can be secured
In commercial quantities. On the esti
mate that an acre of land producing
a field of cotton will also produce one
ton of stalks, 10,000,000 or 12,000,000
tons of raw material can be depended
on annually. Some enthusiast claims
that In addition to Increasing the value
of the South'! annual cotton crop by
$10,000,000 the removal of the stalks
from the fields early la the fall will
mean the extermination of the bol
weevil. Farming.
Men enjoy doing anything they ton't
have to do for a living. 4