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Show THE RICH COUNTY REAPER, RANDOLPH, UTAH ? The Vale off Aragon fred McLaughlin Author of The Blade of Picardy ll Copyright by WNU Service.! Bobbs-Merri- CHAPTER XI Co. Continued 17 Of course, said Pin! absently, of course. His dark eyes considered Polito, and I Imagined that I could read the plan forming In his crafty brain. With the lieutenant as his prisoner he held a powerful card in his game of Woman that he doubtless Intended to play, for the Senoritas beauty had cast a spell upon him, and the love she bore her brother might be used. . This lieutenant prisoner of ours, Garde, must be taken to a safe place. Aye, my colonel." And I fear, almost, to give him In charge of a squad of Indian soldiers, for the men of Venezuela patrol the streets of Valencia, and the life of Lieutenant Lamartina might therefore be endangered. If I may prevail upon you to escort him to the calabozo and to deliver him into the keeping of Captain Lopez ? Assuredly. Pini thought a moment. You understand, Garde, that you will be held personally responsible for the prisoner?" Have no fear, my colonel. There was apprehension In Dulces eyes, and she whispered anxiously, as I bent over her hand: Do you leave me thus, Loren?" I must save Polito," I said softly; I will return within the hour." I A little craft, smiled reassuringly. my own, a little guile, and we have won." She gave me a divine smile, kissed her brother tenderly, and then we went out, leaving the Senorita and Pini together. Take hold of my stirrup, Polito, I said, and walk beside the horse, as a prisoner should. We traveled two streets eastward and then turned north. If you are unfamiliar with the city of Valencia, Major Garde, I might tell you that the calabozo lies southeast." Therefore we go north, Polito, for I do not like calabozos ; and you must be very soon upon the road to Puerto Cabello. Senor, he cried, you cannot do this thing! I cannot permit you. It is not that you permit, Polito you are my prisoner. Your life is in danger, Polito, and because of you, your sister, who loves you, is in deadly danger. Perhaps I am stupid, he said. Dont you see, my friend? Colonel Pini is at present commandant of Valencia, his word is law. If the fascinating colonel, whose amours are notorious over Venezuela, fails in his attempt to win the favor of the Senorita as, indeed, he must he will use your life as a cudgel to compel submission on her part. She loves you, Polito, and, therefore, would save your life at any cost. Must we purchase freedom at your expense, Senor? I laughed. No harm will come to me. Cheer up; I will put you on the road to Puerto Cabello. Then I shall return with all speed to Colonel Pini, who may have other errands for me." Halting anon, before a tiny fonda, lifted the fat somnolent storekeeper I out of a late siesta by aid of a lusty yell. From him I purchased a simple, e suit of blue, a wide sombrero, and a pair of alpargatas for my prisoners feet. I helped him transform himself from a lieutenant in his majestys service to a lowly peon. We will look you up, Polito, some day, for peace will come to this unhappy country now. Please remember that Major Garde has killed Colonel Fuentes, so you may go back in safety to your service. If the star of my luck does not forsake me I shall deal definitely with Colonel Pini before another hour has passed. Now adios. He took my hand, tears in his eyes, then he turned and bent his steps toward the port of Cabello. I gave my horse his head and we raced through the streets of Valencia, to the danger of all and sundry, for my mental picture of Pini and the Senorita was not a pleasant one. I had determined, at last, to settle my affair with the clever colonel The Senora Ybarra let me in and, as I heard a murmur of voices from the chamber I stopped at the portal and, hidden by the rude portieres, listened. The voice of Colonel Pini was pleading, passionate. Do not say no, my lady, he cried ; I was mad with wine that day in Maracay, and for that I offer humble apologies. Every hour since that moment I have been filled with contrition. Will you not listen to my words of pleading, Senorita? ' I heard her frightened murmur, and I am a poor Pini went on again: slave, Senorita, to my love for thee; I am a moth burned in the flame of thy beauty. May I ask?" two-piec- No," she said, no! Ah, Dios always and for ever no!" When one is mad with love, Senorita, one might do regrettable things. The city of Valencia belongs to me, dear lady; as commandant I hold the power of life and death over those within its limits. For only a small portion of your love that power of life and death will be put into your keeping. What do you mean, Senor," she Will you tell me, Senor, gasped. what is in your mind ere I go mad? Assuredly; .your comely brother, Lieutenant Polito, whom you doubtless love with a sisters sacrificing love, waits even now for the hour of his execution, for Spain has taught us how to deal with prisoners. It may be my desire, as commandant of Valencia, to save him. Is Ah, Mother Mary! she cried. your design so evil a thing . . . can a man, professing his love, harbor so vile ?" She stopped, her face flaming, slim hands pressed against her bosom, for I had stepped into the room. Loren, she gasped, ah, dear G d, Loren! . my body. CHAPTER XII The Lure of Lamartina On his knees," I said, laughing, accursed knees and not, I think, s on-hi- in prayer! Pini leaped to his feet, black anger written large on his face. Forgetting the presence of the Senorita, he rasped a potent oath. Oh, my colonel, I would apologize for thee! Give yourself no trouble, major, I will make my own apologies. If I should order you to report yourself under arrest to the officer of the calabozo " I would be compelled to refuse, colonel, for I do not know the way to Which was a stupid the calabozo. and tactless thing to say, for I should have kept him in ignorance of Politos escape. Dulce gasped, and I continued : Besides, General Bolivar, in your presence, gave me his permission to offer challenge to you after the battle of Carabobo should be won. We have won that contest, therefore, I am asking now for the pleasure of our post- poned meeting. You have a sword," said Pini, smiling. Aye, my colonel, and the opporafford me a fine to use shall it tunity delight. The wily colonel knew, of course, that my wounded arm would take from me at least of my efficiency as a swordsman, and acting as usual upon impulse, I had given no thought to my injury, or to anything, in fact, except my wild desire to kill him. If you do not know the way to the prison, he inquired, this young lieutenant brother of the Senorita " Is entirely out of your reach, Senor, which leaves the Senorita free to act as the dictates of her heart shall indicate." Now she ran into my arms. Loren, my own, you should not have done it. He will make you pay. Ah, dekr heart, it is a noble thing for you to do, yet your life Your arm, dear heart, you cannot handle a sword with a wounded arm. I smiled upon her confidently. My arm is well." The Senorita then, shall witness a said Pini, who, during our duel, He aside, had written a note. thrust his head out of a window and emitted a shrill whistle, whereupon a sergeant and a squad of twelve soldiers marched into the room. The colonel proffered this note to the subofficer. That, sergeant, is an order for the execution of Major Garde, who stands before you. If, after our duel, the major is still alive, he is to be taken under guard to the calabozo, where, as early tomorrow morning as light may permit, he will be shot." Dulce clung to me, sobbing softly. This note explains to the commanding officer of the prison that Major Garde has permitted aye, aided a Spanish prisoner, Lieut. Polito Lamartina, to escape ; a prisoner that I, commandant of Valencia, gave into his keeping. Pini turned to me. Have I spoken truth, Senor? Exactly, my colonel; I could not have expressed it better myself." You will station your soldiers along the walls of this room, pini and you will directed the offer no interference to our duel." Yes, Colonel, said the sergeant. The room was quickly cleared, and we confronted each other in the center of it. Dulce stood by the ornate mantel, one hand upon it to support herself, the other pressed against her heart, her face pale, lips parted, and a haunting fear in the deep blue eyes. I turned to face her, and raised my You will see me, blade in salute. dear one, said I In French, win another contest with tyie sword. one-ha- lf sub-office- r, I caught the Senoritas eye, and smiled reassuringly, yet she must have seen my helplessness, for there was no answering smile on her face only that expression of haunting terror. And a new and reckless determination possessed me. I would win because I must win, I would kill this man if I had to do it even after his steel had found my heart. My benumbed arm grew weaker, so that I could barely feel the blows that I tried to parry. Had I not twisted my body in swift, ridiculous gestures his point would have found me a dozen times. He cried out in vexation: fence, Senor, or do you thus Do you take your afternoon exercise? Stand dp and Are you unfamiliar with the sword? He attacked furiously, and I must needs retreat before his wild frenzy, keeping clear of the walls, and offering ineffectual parry until my arm had lost its vigor and my wrist its power to turn his blows. The weapon, wrenched from my grasp, fell, clattering to the floor, and Pini drove at my chest. Realizing that I was unarmed, he Pick it up, drew back, waiting. Oarde, I do not stab a defenseless man." Yet I think, but for the presence of the Senorita, he would have done so. I knew that, as far as fencing might be concerned, my right arm would never save me, so I gripped the hilt of the sword with my left hand. My left arm and wrist would be, I was sure, inept, but they would lack no tithe of strength, and strength might be,' after all in a contest with as unskilful a duelist as the colonel suffight. ficient. As his dashing charges became more deliberate, and the force of them relaxed, my confidence increased, for the professional smile had left his lips, his dancing eyes grew somber, and a pallor of fear touched the olive of his face. Then I advanced in attack, slashing and thrusting with no skill but with a deal of power, for the blows that he parried shook him from heel to crown. Had I one arm only, my colonel, you should have vanquished me with ease but now " He gasped a fervent oath, and I continued: You would leave an order for my execution eh, my sophist and Providence has ordered yours. You would sell to the Senorita the life of her brother? A clever scheme, and worthy of you." Carraca ! he gasped. He made one last, incautious lunge at me and missed. The impetus of his falling body drove my point into his chest. He went to his knees, his fingers fastened around the naked blade. That order of execution, sergeant, he cried, you will see to it; you will take him to the calabozo, and tomorrow morning as early as light as as early . . . He crashed, face down, upon the floor, and the sword broke under the impact of his fall. Now I felt the Senoritas arms around my neck, felt the tender touch of her lips, and I heard her voice calling my name over and over again. (TO BE CONTINUED.) Too Ricky On his appointment the new manager of a certain bank was given much publicity, and photographs of him were reproduced in newspapers. All were By Jtnten HlKt !Ct isi IS. It ll IS I Great Southern University Vanderbilt university, a institution of higher learning, located at Nashville, Tenn., was founded by Cornelius Vanderbilt of New York, who in 1873 made a donation of $500,-00which was afterward increased to $1,000,000. The charter of the university was taken out in 1872 in the name of Central university. In 1873 the name was changed to Vanderbilt university. 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Commercial Rates Service Garage la Connection. was. And are you the manager of this ! Western Made for Western Trade Is a slogan all should heed. Since Intermountain Products Can supply our every need. Just a little - A little boosting done, Will oust old man depression , And pat him on the run. VIRGINIA DUKE, Ogden, Utah. itlUSk Itiiy not printed attractively. A depositor wandered in, walked! up to the manager, produced one of his photographic reproductions, and asked, Is this your picture? The manager assured him that it bank? The other admitted that he was. Well, give me my money ordered the depositor. THIS WEEKS PRIZE STORY Sally Sez Please God, Loren, she whispered, We contend, Major Garde, said Pin) with a light laugh, for a pretty prize indeed. Aye,, my colonel, the prize is worth our best efforts." I knew that, losing, I should leave her helpless. The morrow, with its firing squad, gave memo uneasiness ; it was with this hour that I had to deal. Then guard, Senor. Aye, my colonel." His overconfidence, because of the weakened state of my right arm, might, I imagined, be a handicap to him, so I permitted him to beat down my guard in the first wild, thrusting attack that he made, parrying only enough to protect my body from his drives. He was a good, but not a master swordsman, and but for my injury he would not have been in any sense a match for me. I must use, therefore, defensive tactics until he should tire, for greater strength and greater endurance was mine. He laughed aloud, for I think he felt the weakness of my wrist, the former strength of which had been my pride. I could only offer my blade in parry, yet I kept his point away from me, for I was quicker on my feet than he, and I had a more complete control of 145 So. 5th JOE H. PEPPER, Manager East Phone Was. 3965 Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lakes Only Family Hotel |