Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Times-herald. (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 1920)
T.VIii'ttMt'x A ttt0. T H W ,T I ML K ft It tt It A Ii 1 ItARffKY 0 O UN ORKOOK PAGI3 TH.KT5M Swatni Ram's Reincarnation Dr FItANK DLIGIITON Copyright, SYNOPSIS. rff ArTFIt I Wltlto his train , In held r" Tnm l:Lvciinorl. unslneor of tvT,m 1 .1 m t ted. bcconioa Intori'Metl In n ffitAluttJir nml I ti Vital 1 Willi IHJ uintuiiiiB nrmw fk 1(1 I 1 1 u 111 u 1,111 1 mm mum lllilUe UVHIHin IIIV MOIII rte ucquulntincc o( tlio !nt;rnn. JUcntlrn. , wbo n 1 utft Indian. T)i.lltnUcO u U II WJItlnnts, thotmh pnln. i r ivon .Jllonilfn, wlin lute r the wrocli. Thu lltiuli, irrntUtido.; VJIIIan.ii L re (i telling htm Mexican h. vo srlxeri his liillio. i lure." niul killed or driven tne A" Prtdief X himself, would not' htiVtt i sumo to lay bunds upon i i the Indolent Mexican .stss aulllclent Initiative to hi. no Vtl'IMUI. i.. .. . Itlti titvittnrttf nf tltii tintf. .... I tkllMllx tit lift ttlsJ llttt mil 1 1 ii iii - - - - it... f iinlinnwn. III 1111? .Wll-M Fnchcco's ileatli wur, iiMtl forever . t k. . ..t.t l.nfJlltm llilrtlf t. ....... iuiIi.ua TltniltA l All 1(1 mi riiw KMT n ii 1 1 1 . c iiv.mui , 1.1 ..vitlnlfi II He timed to glance nt too li'tfo ... I ...11..... ... i. . . nivn Hit. lintli-i'll Hint. ii. .....n..,.tl.ti. Ihnm Hiii atrl il I nrfli llliv -u, - i .....II m..... f I ..... .1 u t l i I'i'ii . , , . . --v -" ml hlnm'lf. Tin mysterious demise of thplr cup . . m .a.. . . t . ...itl i liM It must be because tfellnlte order mil illyito.illlon othurwlFO tlm rlflon r tn hnnillt cfininmml would, ere thin, . & t... - .....Jn..d ...wt.. t.lll "Jltcntlrn," whlipcrcl WHIIama. , The Hindu turned. nVhnt was It tlmt killed Pachecol" "Tlie venceanco of Vtehnu, wddb," "I do not utHlfrstand," replied the bine owner. He was a llttlu Irritated fl IIHIIB llllll HIT. ! m UD K M J tlllV B A iknipiiiv na n mm r in Hnninvr iiiirnt. I L M I .. Invoked apparently occult power with iich startling result. Jltendra's handa were, tied ai 'were LI. t.n Vi a Modi .inall. Inp on the Dony wrins wnere uie iui rawhide was shrinking la tM heat of the sun. The yenKcaace of Vlshna," it last he tnechanlealy repeated, whea the Hindu bad apparently failed to sotlce his remark. "Yen, Sahib Buck." The squalid adobe structure of Zapatlllo wero now clearly in view. inc soiuicrs sat a nine more errci, closed their rKK'd ranks into slightly strnlBhter lines, and the horses, sens ing a delayed meal moved forward at a swifter pace. .Still Jltcndrn did not vouchsafe any eiplnnntlon. Only at the gate of the enrcel itself u few mluutes later, did Ituck illiiuns cutch u low tnunnur of words. Ho listened eagerly. The Hindu seemed to be chanting, but thu words were English: They reckon ill who lv me out: When me they tty I am the wlaf. I m the doubter and the doubt, And I the hymn the Urahmln sines. CHAPTER V. IncarceraUst. Tlie jail nt Zapatlllo wus a structure in which one would not particularly cure to remain for a prolonged period. The Intensely hot, humid day made the wal s rerk with a stench from the Insanitary conditions which IwHys prevail in prisons, wo'ruatter how well (leaned. Tho food wns unspenkablc; the wa ter Jrinilf fleiit nnd unpalutnble. Uuck vuih,n8 and Jltcndra Jointly ocnip.ed u black,' fetid hole on the level of the. street. It opened on the corridor, not fur front the wain gate, A soldier in the passage guarded them, notwithstanding the thick eartkv en walls, with oak doors, traversed by heavy burs of wrought Iroa. which, ef themselves, were certainly capable f I KciuiiiiiiK two mea wiuseui touts w burrow or gnaw throug thera. The Arncricaa bad set wilUagly ea ertd the cell. X In fact, ho had streaaeaely objected. In terse Spanish idiots be .demanded to be first tukea before the Jefe po htico, an olllclalr correepondlag to aJ circjlt Judfc'o In his own country ' His demand was ignored. Then the tleer In him boiled up. Ills hands had I'Ofcn unbound after the main gate of the prison closed behind him, With choratti 'istlc, dcuperutf cournge, Uuck h'irlcd himself on u toldlor und aoized bis "VKUPOII T'ut the others, with n slnlr.tcr de- fit mi, Mn8i(lerjna tho tnlno own- " irx ncejved theory hat riomii '! us and ninllgn inlluonco wua i ' mi Jiis suizure. covered him and- t.'.l V ill twelve to'onD. a j.i . -t..'. l..wl'..iA.in.v1.l. UIIIl'IU UIU lUitl llliUUBIIIIUl v pit h'e 'c'f!&l 'Wis AMi-'cn-ara Wttlt 'n iiupemtlng tragedy, Buck, glaring With tilalevolGtit eyes Into tho faces of hs guards, kiiew that lie could never hope to leave tlmt hor Hide hole "hIIvo If ho perslHtcd in his frantic Impulso to force hit. way out against such odds. A curious sense of helplene over whelmed him; his strength seemed to bo ebbing away, llo paused, Irreso lutely, unheeding the sharp commnud of the captain of the guard to surren der. Jltendra, Impassive as a sphinx, stood ttslde, but thu glitter of his shy, brown eyes showed that no. detail of tho yeone before hint was unnoticed, 'Lho rile rattled to tho earth at Duck's fet't. He turned nt tho Imperative gesture nf tlio commanding ofllcer and meekly ontenid tho cell tbwnrd which' lie nnd' Jltendra btul been wnUdnir. lnsiiio tlio ell, once tho door closed behind them, hif lljrllt.wav dim,' ' Jlteiulra submissively seated hlinselti Tow-IeBRod hi-; oho onruer and rc- imlned utterly silent. Tho AiiK'rleiin Uwnrdly raglnjt nt his own undecount' ihlcj aurrondur find the moinory of the Injustice to which ho lmd been aubject ed. paced up and down, truo to Ills designation of "El Tlgre." The Hindu luokcd at him calmly. "Hahlb Duck wishes to leave this place?" "Leave It?" roared the, American. "Did I try to break Into It?" llu loosened the collar of his shirt and reoptHHl the perspiration from his) neck. The foul apology for air was suffocating. "See here. Jltendra, de you want to; help me get nut?" "Aisuredly, sahib. j "Then get up. ge to the door, sad demand that the British ambassador bo notified of your nrrest. When yon get out, as you surely will, stud n tele gram to William Hcott, International hotel, Nogales, Arlxona, U. 8. A., tell lng him I'm here. That may help a lit tle. There's something golK n here that I don't understand at all, Jltendra. I didn't link you to come with meI did tho best I could to get you to go on about your own ImisIiivsm. Ho there's no reason at all for you to bo locked up, and If there'H any why I uhould be, I want to know it!" "Do you. Indeed?" luck leaped townrd the sound nml peered through the tiny, grated orlllce In the Iron-bound oak .door. The query wua In Kuglisb, but It carried n mock ing sneer which worked tho mlno own er Into n now frenxy. Ho could not make nut the features of the speaker In the senA'darkness, yet he fancied ho bad heard (ho voice eo ; some other occasion. "I sco you do not recognize tac," blandly went on the samo speaker. "Well. .Mr. Williams, I'm Herbert ilnrdlnge you recall thu name don't you Hardlnge, agent for the United Kingdom Kxploratlon company?" "Yes." replied Wllllama bniHuely; "that is. If you are the same Hardlnge that tried to beat me out of the W j mi 41... min Wkll I Tlsre Drooerty five years ago. What of It?" ' "I just beard of yoHr plight." smoothly answered thu syndicate agent, "and hurried down to sec If I could be of any assistance to you." Williams hesitated. Herbert Hardlnge had consistently and relentlessly opposed him in the past. Their litigation over the owner ship of El Tlgro had been expensive to both nnd It had only ended when the J highest court In Mexico upheld hi own prior rlKhtH. But blood 1h thicker than water, and t w Anglo-Saxon love of justice some-1 times causes whlto men In foreign i, liiuus 10 loigei piisi uiui-m m ... ..rw perils. So Williams replied: "That's mighty white of you, Har dlnge. I don't know why I'm here, for I've done nothing to merit Imprison ment. Of course, I don't want to stay I want to get back to Kl Tlgre and if you can help me out I'll surely bo grateful to you." "I think tho matter can be very eas ily arranged," suavely answered the Englishman; "otherwise I should not have bothered! about coming down." "How?" "If you will transfer El Tlgre mine to the ownership of my company, promise to return to tho United States without delay, and give a pledgo notjlo re-enter Mexico for five years, you will bo free In half an hour." Wllllania could not cr-dlt his hear ing. Wlint had El Tlgro' ownership to do wth bis arrest, or In what man ner could the abandonment .of his property be made an excuse 'for re leasing him? "I see that you do not thoroughly understand your present posltioa," satirically observed Hardlnge as Wil liams groped vainly for words with which to voice bis Indignant surprise, 'Tow are right I don't, Hardlnge. But, before you go further, let me tell you this; I returned to Kl Tlgre only yesterday' frern the United State. I was aet upoa by y former mine foreman, bound while asleep, and he started to brig me Here. He offered no explanatlea or .his 'extraerdlnary and Illegal, conduct. "He died, frow seme cause I can not understand, while en the way. But J did not jeopardise myself by return ing to Mexico with any intention of being coerced Into signing awuy the property I have fought for years to develop. Why stfould I purcluiHO free dom by voluntarily surrendering El Tlgro, when I came back hero to )ioH It, at all buzardu?" "I would not ndvlHO baste In ft do- cllon." I ardlnge'H one wna fr Kid. "You ought to tJilnlt tl. a n' vcr j and Avolgh' th HBh fltrofUlly,.lW)llnm8, lief oro oohitng lo.-n cont.lui-.gli may tuny invoivo you uinner, "How can It' Invoivo mo? What mutter nre you referring to?" "Tho ofllclala of tlio govornniPlit. at Mexico City, who decided that yuti. wero tbo' rl(ihtjftil owner; of Kl Tlgro httvo been superseded, by other men.' "I krtow that, Ilnrdlnge. lint even tho ones how In power will tint pre fiume to declaro my titles Invalid with out a hearing on the merits, 'n6(r up hold nil arrest for peacefully occuay lng my pmpet'ty surely, at lest,'not before tliq reopening of a case which waH settled buforo their hlghwt court." "No?" The query carried an un dertone of lusoient sarcasm., "Nol" Tho doHance In the prison cr'fl voice wna unmistakable, "I suppose!!, Wllllntns, that you had been In. Mexico long cnoiiKli .to. under- Htiiud tho unslabH charactot' 6f the 1 . ....! ....... '...A . ill... govornmnir.. ui you .are evnieniiy unawarti that aluco ,youc dopnrtu're from the Hint, or yliialtia It luW 'He ceded." ... 1 "I hat not. iieard of It." . "Nor that (lenernl Juali Moreno Is now thu piovlHlonal govemor of the' province'!" "U'h nil news 16 mo.", " luirtijlnod It would be. Now, lot us bo frank, I ntn uncommonly gener ous with you, Williams. Ah governor of (his province. Uunerul Moreno has declared tltlen to nil property held or acquired by Americans within the past ten yenrs void', and they bav been conllBciitcd. Hereafter iio American can acquire, nor hold, by. purchase or otherwise, property In Blnttloa, during tjio existence of this provlHloaal gov ernment, nt least, Thla decree baa tho support of Moreno's advlsora und tho upprovul of a large majority, at least, of the residents of tbo province. You s.o where you are, don't you?" Williams gasped. Tbo sheer miduclly of tho thing wan Incredible. Yet, what could be or other Americana nxpect from tho bun gling way tho whole "Mexican prob lem" scented to have been handled at home? "Hut wlm t, has t til h to do with my nrrusl?" ho savagely demanded. "Hveryllilng," bluntly retorted Har dlnge, "You wero un Interloper und a trespasser on properly now owned und about In be operated by (be Uni ted Klilpdoiit Kxplonillon company. Or ders wore Issued by (lovernor General Moreno liltnself that you should bn brought In, If you came back to 131 Tlgre. You returned and Captain Manuel 1'aebeeo, ouo of Moreno's own staff, wns sent to carry out the order. That U why you aro hero." "I see," bitterly exclaimed the; prh- oner. "Hut why wna I not taken be fore the Jefu politico and warned about this new law?"' "(Jovernor Moreno has suspended the civil statutes until the province Is entirely pacified." "Then why was I not taken before him?" "Ah! I think yea will acarcely be anxious to fare a military tribunal ,,,,1 0f (leneral Moreae'a oilcera, . WIIllnniH at least, if you attll the discretion with wblcb I bate al ways credited you." "Why not? What have I to fear from him or his officers?" "You ought to know. .Captala Pachceo did not return to Zaputllllo with his command, did he?" "I realise It. But what has that to do with me?" "You are accused of murdering bins this morning." I "KiiIk!" ,.Th() mUlinry court, .Venly re- , ,Iim),IIK x HH ,nfonni.(1, w, HCcon, H M,Hr Mh HfU;rnoon vrttmMy wthI, l01r yol know wJmt mt H, nflcH wt! , y() were armed and arrested by Captain Pacheco, He was munlered they have brought In his body. You are Hceused. The lieutenant of the com mand, who succeeded to Pacheco'a title, the sergeant nnd other officers, as well as some of tho privates, were giving their testimony before the court when I was admitted to the carcel." Buck Williams laughed contemptu ously, "That Is why I came," severely continued Hardlnge, "to see if I could help you out of this ugly mess. I've fought you, but I don't particularly wish to see you backed against the wall of the carcel and shot to death ut sunrise tomorrow morning, I'm a persistent enemy, Williams, but not a vindictive one. Now, what do you say to my former proposition about get ting out of Mexico?" "If that's the best card you have up your sleeve with which to hoodwlak me out of El Tlgre, Hardlnge, you'd, better go back to your exploratJoa company and wait for Moreno's ft ring squad to shoot. Why, ntaarlt'a ab surd! I was tied, band and feet, tbe back of a borne, whea Pacheco kicked off. Hew can they reason I klHed a mas in ouch circumstances?" "They don't need any reasons aa escwta la vaough," laughed Hardlnge brutally. "Pacheco was. well and strong when be left. He died la some way not yet determined 'Just after striking you. The physician who per formed the autopsy says bo was mur dered." "Does 'that prove killed him?" "Who els"e? Paehcco'st own ,raea certainly did not they worshiped him. Yoii nr against tho guns, Williams literally, But If you want to- be, ob atlnjiti, don't fancy I'm trying to per miado you to do tbo only thing that j will lot me help you. Your mine 'or your life tako your chulce or lose ... ,. T,.,f ,,,..,. ,ooU ,t0 Ul() rJ(lo8 oM,10 flrlHg 6(mtj d,nt to yoyrsolf nt leant that tt.It0M,t0-:5ve y6U.' ; , liimweriii lho" er. "Hut wny UilM suilden so iicituue, UHniinfioV' ( "Purely ,a mutter of (expediency rin anchor to'lcewnrd, we'll say. Gov ernor Moreno lias already Issued us a legal title to 151 Tlgre. If (bo provi sional government Is permanent, we'll need nothing more, If It fallw, we will then liiive your transfer of title to us and continue operating It. as If nothing had happened Tbo exploration com- 4 i i tat pany. m in,ieresiea in mining not pon tics."'. - - -' "Hut I see no reason to belleve'that you can de what yon prgmlse-or jylll. Why should I permit myself to, be frightened Into transferring a title to a Ive-mlllloa-dollar mine ami -for-haiis bo shot down, just the samebd tw!cd tn're mill' the border? - If, I'm up against, ,n ,brAce gnino, Hnrtllnge, go rtlicnd with ttr X have associates lh tho United States who put nioitey Into tlmt properly. They, trust me." "J uiifully awaro of tlini' "I have full power to net for them In any why that seeniH best to, protect their Intrsre.iitf," hotly went on Wilt liitiin. "IHil If ,1 did what you usk me to do I'd bu u blltliurlng asx. Ycu could tako tho deed and buvu me shot, aiyway they'd only think I'd bo trayed tliem nnd lied with their money. Then, again, I may bo out of boro tomorrow and . then whore would I be? Suppose Moreno's provi sional government goes down? Your company would then have Kl Tlgre without payliHC a nickel. Nix, Har dlnge I you've got to show 'me more than that to get. my signature." Hnrdtftge grlHttfd evilly. The saturnine features of Ills pow erful face leaped sudilealy Into the blnxe of the match with wblcb be was lighting a cigar. His' hard eyes gleamed with, amusement as bo half turned away from the door. "All right! A man about to be idiot Isn't altogether In a poaitloH to make terms, Williams. Believe It or net I can do what I've promised, and peo ple who know me will tell you that I nlwnys do as I promise. It ho hapten that General Moreno will be quite will ing to mlllgato your sentence In any way I might request; but you don't have to believe that, either, unless It suits you to do so. Well, I'm going. This foul air Is giving inn a headache." Ho turned nonchalantly aw'ay. Buck, with n feeling of supremo despair, tried to steady his voice for another question. "How do yon happen to have such a pull with General Moreno?" "I'm surprised that you ask, Will lams. Moreno whs ambitious to bo come governor' and w-uttcd to start a revolution. That meant arms, men, money. He had none. The United States has forbidden their export to rebels, so he talked thing over with ue. lu return for certain mining con cessions In Slnaloa we supplied what be needed. It's very simple, but of course I'll deny that I ever made this admission If you should mention it to anyone else. However, I guess there's little danger you're Incommunicado. No one will see you until the wnteace la carried out tomorrow morning." Williams pondered. Hardlnge's statement Imprewted him as truthful. But he played bis last card with aU the coolness of a pokrr player who has beeu called for bis final chip. "Tills other fellow, Hardlngo," be Jerked his thumb toward the Interior of tho cell "he's a British subject and a stranger here, who thinks he ewes me something because 1 pulled him out of a train wreck near El Paso on the way down. Ah a British sub ject yourself you won't mind notifying the British ambassador he's here will you no mutter whut'happens to me?" "I certainly will not," angrily snap ped the syndicate agent. "What the devil do you take me for a fool?" "No," drawled the American, with a deliberation that brought a red Mush to tho Englishman' face, "not a fool, Hardlnge, but a cold-blooded, calcu lating dog who will deliberately plan to murder a rival to gain his ends. Go on with your fake court-martial, you white-livered beast I I'd rather welter In my own blood a thousand times than give you the satisfaction of putting over a thing llko this to rob me nnd the men who have backed me with their confidence and money. Shoot and be damned to you I" He turned to savagely resume pac ing his cell, His furious anger at first kept him from realizing tlio peril which Har dlnge bad depicted. He tried to be lieve tlmt such an atrocity would never be permitted, even under the official sanction of a provisional government, tuck as the Kagllshmaa had' declared to exist. Tkoa ho suddenly remembered tbo indignation la II Paso tbo sight bo bad last started for W Tlgre. Mob 1b tbo hotel wero dlscwudng tbo UtootdlaBatchos frow Washington ordering all Amerleaas-to leave Mm Ico forthwith, after turning over to tbo Ame rloan consul In their locality a Hot of .the property they left behind. Kveryone thought the story im probable at that time, It sounded al together too ridiculous for belief. But new, la the'fetid, call,-with Hardlnge's threats still ringing in bis oars, tho wine-owner realised that It must be true. Because of this; the more he ana lyzed the situation the more he felt suro Hardlngo laid voiced no Idle tbreAt, If u New York gunmun will kill a man for u thousand dolliirs, why should Hardlnge got squeamish now, wiien.hla pvlxo was live millions? Tho syndicate agent had never shown an ovfirsuppl.Y of conscience, and he would, run little datujer In t .'ountry where' anarchy Jm.d replaced Arf-iv tW 'nid 'liU 6flo iKhnw ffffVl '?nb day to niinthbt' What might come next.. .Burk's thoughts leaped back to the property. He recalled tlio covetous look on the face; of Manuel Pnchcco the day William bad personally fol lowed a small "vug-hole" rif ore Into a chamber which had panned out a cold Sfty thousand n sheer accidental t discovery made while drifting down on the main "lead." No one could say how much El Tlgre would ultimately pan out, Ho believed so ' thoroughly In the property that healritady regarded him self as an embryonic millionaire. He wife almost la striking distance of the five-hundred-fooi level.' , The great vein , was constantly wid ening and growing richer. Oitqe Into the mm I n ere-body tho values would be fabulous. , 1 V i .1 .... li. ,i . . . i as lie inousfitrJi an over no curscu himself for .lit' fata, blindness. rucbece hud undoubtedly been draw ing double pay nil tho time ho. had been", foreman. A Mexican 'is always1 an uncertain, treacherous proposition. TIo Will smllo nt you, and when you turn knife you in tbo back without warning If ho thinks by go doing he can get an extra peso to wager on a - Scock - llght or spend for mescal. "What a trio of crookHl" muttered Buck, clenching his hands In futllo rage. "I'ncheco tells Hardlnge how wo aro getting on willi Ihu develop ment; Hardlnge goes-to the smelter, bribes a clerk and gets eoples of our liquidation' sheets, eiHillnnlng Pache co's 'Inforayjlim Moreno premlee Harillnge lsfjTfgre la return for f nan clog Mo revelation ; Pnohoce hi made a captain. ' All Of the time 1 have been digging n mlno not for Buchanan WIHIama, but for the UnHed Kingdom Kxploratlon company and Hie min ute I amble hack here like a prize boob I cinch Ike wbolo game for them." His bitterness grew. Ho wondered whtre ffcotty was and If he had succeeded In getting through to CHllnran along the coast route and arousing the other Americans still In that city until they realised the urgent necessity to stand together, But, oven If bo bad, Buck could nut reasonably expect n rescue. The lime was too brief bo would be shot at sunrise unless Hardlnge had'llcd. Scotly might never learn where he was until long after the execution. Bo sides that, n handful of Americans, no matter bow well armed and brave, would have their work cut out for them, lighting from Cullaean to Za paillllo tl nRH to tho military organ ization .Mo mo bail built up with the syndicate's generous subsidies "There's one silver lining In all tbo clouds, anyway," mused Wllllntns. "Pacheco got his.. That wns a devilish funny thing swift, sure annihilation. I wonder what killed him?" The door opened suddenly. An offi cer and a file of meu stood In tho cor ridor. "Sennr William I" called the man In command. "What do you want?" growled Buck. "General Juan Moreno presents his compliments and requires your pres ence, with that of your servant." The American squared his shoul ders, threw back his bead, and strode toward the open door. Jltendra, with out a word, rose and meekly followed. Tb fllo of men, with fixed, murderous bayonets, closed round the pair and the procession moved down the corri dor. CHAPTER VI. Stranisty Set Free. "My friend, we have less than twelve hours to live." Buck Williams gazed down at the stoical Jltcndra, The Hindu wns sit ting In one corner of the cell, a dark er blotch against the gloom, save for hlsjmowy turban and gleaming eyes. If ORDER YOUR Fruit Cakes, Pies, Nuts, Lettuce, Celery, Etc., Popcorn, Oranges, Oy sters, Grapefruit, Grapes Page's WK HAVK A REPUTATION Do you know what DEPENDABILITY ? It moans Wo knew know that it moans constant vigilance lost wo permit tbo QUALITY of our wnroo to bo lowered, H nlooi means unvarying oaurtooy and attention to each and every customer. When you trade with this groat Family Store you aro assured of those two advantages pretootkm'aiid aervlee. KVKKYTI1ING TOR THK FAMILY, AND ALL DKPBNDABLK We BOllclt your cutitora with thla iuaranteo. Brown ' s Satisfactory Store Bums, : 0rcon . . .i... mi l.f.lit.,,u litLrVt li Vvo carry goous lUiveriiscu 1 i j Tlfo-frtWIfHl cifiUtt-I'mTl'Min tvlir WW eluded. Mexican Justice lmd been rtono, nnd Hardlnge's prophecy verified In. dottill. "I am very sorry you persisted In following; me Into this diabolical coun try' regretfully went on tlio mlno' owner. "I knew tllere was bound to bn trouble. You have sacrificed your self uselessly." A paradoxical expression swept over the Hlndu'R face. "What is to be, will be, Sahib Buck. It Is as Vishnu and Slvn ordain but we are not yet dead." The. reply Irritated Wllllntris. "', "It Mr, Vishnu hns any pull in thfrt precinct, I suro hopo lio'll do some thing for you," he sarcastically ob served. "I wouldn't bother about send ing him any thoughtless messages, HlfAndra. If I knew Vishnu well enftugh I'd brace him for n good gun i A . ... I "nd ""lt"t.y fr2Sd Of courso Moreno's men might get inc. but It would be some satisfaction to havon little company ncross tho river tomor row morning DO you suppose Vishnu cou'd slip us a .30-.30 Itj, here, Homo bow?" "Sahib Buck wishes n gun?" "In tho absence of anything that will assist Us both to dissolve and float out of iiere through the keybolu yw I'll bo Very glad to Jmvc n gt.n. 1'vo hoard How people Jn India grow pllintx from seeds under a cloth In n few mln- 1 A M . .. 4S ' UtQSJi vjjvvs is. Ji'U vail Miii it, misietr like that, only -grow mo a gun Instead of a plant one that won't miss fire or jam cartridges In the magazine Pll guarantee to make mighty good use of It. Do you happen to hnvo any gun seeds or ammunition sprouts with yon?" Jltendra grew thoughtful. "Very well, Will the sahib not first seek re pose?" Williams sneered. "We'll have plenty of sleep a little after sunrise," he remarked, ' "Why waste the time now?" "What says the Ancient Wisdom: 'Sleep Is a lake wherein the soul finds food,'" politely returned the other. "In sleep many strange things come to one is it not so?" Tbo -mine owner sat down with it sardonic smile. Jltcndrn was chanting softly. Even tho proximity of death bad not changed him In the slightest. As Williams pondered and listened to the regular tramp of the Mexican ou guard In tbo corridor, something oC tbo utter fatalism of llxTc or death came over him. Why cry out or struggle ngalnst tbo Inevltnble? Sooner or later bo must t .rvae rw mif r vatae naei mill nil n rimr certainly pnsn from out the ferment nf . a ... .. i. . .....r I humanity, IIU liil;iiivu an numu quiet corner. It might as well be now an any other time, except for ono thing El Tlgre. For an distant a finmt nf bitter hatred blazed up as tie thought of tho crafty Hardlnge. Had It not been for that subtle, human scorpion ho would not be lying In this horrid hole, wait lag the summons which would termi nate bis ambitious life. But the bitterness died away. Hardlnge wan only another puppot of fate a stuffed doll llko himself, a mere marionette In the drama of ex istence, for fate bears rule over all. Presently he, too, would be thrust back Into the cosmic trunk by the Great Property Man of the whole fantastic show, and death, the wardrobe mis tress, would recelvo the battered au tomaton, the same as she would claim blm ut sunrise. 1 Tbo voice of the chanting Hindu" grew fainter. The drowsy American felt that ha wns falling Into tho abyse of all things the place from which ho bad sprung. Around blm mynterloua cieatures, with ealtu. untroubled countenance, like Jltendra's face, swirled on sound less wings. J (Te bo continued next week.) o SWEET SHOP TO SUgTAIN to live up to a refutation for . on wio i v' ,.,. .,'b M