| Show j 66 H Harti of f e 99 I e r T Tale ale 0 of Hidden Treasure Love am and Adventure Adventure- I Ii 1 London i By Jack London Author of II The The Call of the Wild II The The Valley of the the Moon Tire The Sea Wolf Volf The Tho Iron Heel White Fang and other famous novels I Gringo GrIno cur Torres retorted as with an open back handed blow he struck Henry on the mouth n U On the tho Instant Henrys Henry's foot shot out ant and the kick In Torres' Torres sid sido a drove dro him staggering In tho direction direction tion of ot Francis Francia who vv w weds s no l less sS' sS quick with frith a kick of oC his own B Hack cl and forth like 1110 a shuttlecock shuttlecock shuttle shuttle- cock between the battledores Torres was kicked from rom ono manto manto man manto to the other Tho The gendarmes and recoiled In fear tar crossing themselves them them- selves 1 muttering prayers and ejaculating The Blind Brigand Brig ri- ri and andl Tho The Cruel Just One Oner Onci The They arc are his people We arc aro lost But Kut the much-beaten much peon lon sprang forward and fell on on his hlA hl bleeding knots knos before a stern- stern faced raced man who appeared 1 to be tho thI I leader of or the Blind mind Brigands Brigand's men From tho the mouth of the peon poured forth a stream of ot loud lou lamentation and outcry for justice jus jus- tice tire You know that justice to which you ou appeal The leader spoke gutturally Yes the Cruel Justice the peon replied I know what It means to appeal to the Cruel Justice Jus Jus- tice yet ct do I appeal for 1 I seek Beck justice and my m- cause Is Just the Cruel Jus- Jus Il I 1 too demand Jus- Jus Iee i cried with flashIng flash flash- In Ing ens ees althou although h she added in an undertone to Francis and Henry Whatever cr tho the Cruel Justice Is It will have o to go goo some to be than the Justice we can expect from Torres and the jefe jere H Henry nry replied In similar undertones undertones under under- tones then stepped forward boldly bold bold- 1 ly h before the tho leader and said loudl loudly And nd I 1 demand the Cruel Justice The Tho Ica loader leader lr nodded The Jefe Objects i tic Me le too loo Francis s murmured low lo and then made matte loud demand Tho The gendarmes did not Seem scent to toI I count In la the matter malter while white the h signified their thell willI willingness will will- I Inness to abide b by whatever hat v r justice jus jus- 4 tree tice the Blind Brigand might mete out to them Only Onh the Jefe jete ob- ob jested 3 Maybe you ou dont don't know who I t am tam he blustered I am Mariano I y HUos of long Illustrious name and ant long and honorable ca career career ca- ca reer I am jefe politico of ot San Antonio the highest friend of oC the governor o and high in ht the confidence confidence dence of or the thc government of or the republic of or Panama J T am the law There is but hut one law and One ono justice justice jus JUs- I tice which is of Panama and anti not the Cordilleras I protest n against a l this mountain la law you call the Q truel Justice I 1 shall hall send an arm army against your our Blind Brigand l and the buzzar buzzards s will pack his bones Lont's In San Juan Yes Yc as asseverated tho the peon The They have beaten me and without without with with- out cause My I head Is blood bloody My 1 body IB is bruised bruise anI and torn lorn Again i T I appeal to lo the Cruel Justice and andI I charge these two men with Injustice in injustice injustice In- In f justice The leader lender nodded and antI to his own Indicated the e disarming of or orthe the prisoners prisoner and aull the lIC order of oC mar mar marn h Justice l I I demand equal Justice Jus Jus- tire tice cried out My 1 Juls hl are tier tied behind m my back All 11 hands handa should be DC so tied or no hands belIO he be eo lIO tie tied Besides It is very er difficult difficult cult to walk when one Is so 80 tied The Tho shadow of a n smile mile drifted on t the lips III's of the h leader as he directed ti hi his men to ml ut the lashings that 1 hl lr advertised the Inequality lt It ity complained d of or o. o Huh Francis grinned to Leoncia Leoncia Leoncia Leon- Leon cia and Ii Henry en r I have ha a a. vague memory that somewhere around a million years cars ago I used to live Ina Ina in ina a quiet old bur burg named New cw York Pork where we foolishly thought wo we were tho the wildest and wickedest that ever cracked at a golf ball electrocuted an Inspector of oC poll police e battled d with Tammany or bid four tour w with Ith five fhe sure tricks In n nones none's ones one's own hand Blindfolded for or a number of oC miles at the last the prisoners still NUll blindfolded were l led d Into the cave where the Cruel Justice reigned When hen the bandages were removed remo the they fount found themselves es In Ina a vast and lofty cavern lighted b by man many torches an and confronting 1 them em a blind and amI while haired man in sackcloth h seated on a 3 rock hewn throne with beneath him her shoulder at his knees a pretty preLL mestiza woman roman The Thc blind man spoke and his voice olce was the thc thin and d like bell-like sliver silver of or age arid and wear weary wisdom The Cr Crul 1 Justice has been invoked In- In oled Speak Who ho demands de decision decision de- de and equity r All 11 held back and not nol even the could summon heart o of courage cour cour- ago age to protest against Cordilleras Ia law There Thore Is a woman present continued the Blind Brigand Let Lether Lether Lether her speak first All mortal men and sand women are arc guilty of oC something or else arc charged cd b by their fellows fellows fellows fel fel- fel- fel lows with some guilt Leoncia Goes For Forward For rard TT ro for jj iv and Francis i r H aJl w w cro v. v TV her but ut with an equal smile mlle to them she addressed th the Cruel Just JU l One In fn clear and ringing rinsing tones I I I on only I ha have aided alde the man I Iam Iam Iam am engaged to marr marry to escape from death for murder he did not commit commil v You have n n. n said salt the Blind Brigand nd Come forward to toIne tome me Ine Piloted b by sackcloth men while th the two Morgans who loved lo her were restless ts an and perturbed she was nia made to kneel neel at the tho blind blindman's blindman's mans man's knees The mestiza girl Irl placed his hr hand on Luanda's Leoncia's head For a r full ant and solemn minute si silence silence si- si lence lenco obtained while the stead steady fingers fingers fin fin- In- In gers bors of or the Blind One rested about her forehead and registered the pulse beats of oC h her lief 1 temples Then rhen he ho removed his hand and leaned back to decision Arise Senorita he pronounced Your heart Is clean clan of oC evil You go goo free Who ho else lse appeals to the tho Cruel Justice T Francis rancis Immediately stepped for for- ward I likewise lewise helped the man to escape cs- cs capo cape from Crom an undeserved death The man and 1 I are of the tho same name nome and distantly of the same blood He Ife loo too knelt and felt It the he soft oft lobes finger pin play delicately over ocr his brows and temples and come to rest resl finally on the Iho pulse of or his wrist It Jt Is- Is not all clear to lo me said the tho Blind Wind One You are arc not nott at t rest or at p peace ace with whit your our soul There Ther Is trouble within you ou thaleR that thal vexes eR you ou Suddenly the peon stepped forth and aud spoke unbidden his lilb voice voice oice evoking olein a thrill as of at the tho shock shack of oC blasphemy front from rom the s sackcloth I man Oh Just One let It this man go 0 I said the peon Icon Twice w Wd wal as I weak wak and h betrayed him to his enemy rued and twice this da day daj has hashe hashe I he hc protected mo from lom tho the enemy enem and saved me Ine And lh the peon once 3 again aln on his knees hut but this time at nt th the knees Inces of at justice thrilled and shivered with superstitious awe as he felt wander over him the light but bul firm finger cr touches of ot the stran strangest cst Judge man ever knelt knell before Bruises and lacerations were swiftly explored even cn to the shoulders shoulders ders deIs and down the back The other man goes Joes free the tho then s 's n Cruel Ono announced d there thero theres Is s trouble and unrest within him Is hl one one here who ho knows and will sp speak up The Thc Trouble Within And nd Francis knew on the Instant In- In slant stant the trouble the he he blind man had divined within him the him the full Cull love that burned in him for or Leoncia Leon Leon- cIa cla and that threatened to lo shatter shatter shat hat hatter ter the tho full ull loyalty he he must ever cr bear to Henr No Xo less q quick lck was Leoncia In Ip knowing and could the blind man manhac man manhave manhave have ha beheld the tar Involuntary glance of oC knowledge the man and woman threw at each cach other and the im immediate immediate im- im mediate embarrassment ment of averted a eyes eves ho he could have unerringly dl- dl hr tro u hl TH The 0 in t-e t OH li ll 71 girl Irl saw and with a n leap at her heart henrt scented a love a affair Likewise had harf Henry seen and unconsciously un- un consciously consciously- scowled The Ju Just l One spoke An n affair o of heart undoubted u ly h. h he dismissed the matter Tho eternal vexation of oC woman In tho the heart t of man Nevertheless Xe this stands free tree Twice In the one Ja Jay day lids has he succored the man who betrayed him Nor has the trouble within him aught to do with tho the aid he rendered the man said to be bo sentenced to 0 death cath un un- un deservedly Remains to question this lastman last lastman man mati also t to settle for this beaten creature before me Inc w this cIa day has hns proved pro weak OUt o of selfishness selfIshness self self- and who has just now pro c proved proved- bravel bravely strong out of at un unselfishness unselfishness un- un selfishness for another Ho Ito leaned forward and placed hl his fingers over o the tho face tace and brows of oC- oC the the peon Ire Are re you ou afraid to die he ho asked Great and arl Hol Holy 1101 One I J am sore oro afraid to die was tho the peons peon's re- re pI Ply r Then sa say that you jou ou have hac lied about this man sa say that his his' twice succoring of you ou was wasa a a lie and you u shall shaH live lI Under the Blind Ones One's fingers ers the peon Ileon cringed and nd wilted Think well earn came the solemn warning Death Is not not good To Tobe To Tobe be forever fore unmoving ln as the clod and rock Is Is' Is not good Sa Say Say that you vou have lied Hed and life lire Is ours yours Speak But although h his voice shook from the exquisiteness of oC his fear the peon lose toso to the full spiritual stature of ot a man Twice this da day did lid r I betray him Hol Holy One Olio But BUL m my name is not Peter Not thrice in this da day will I betray him I r am sor sore afraid but J cannot betra betray him thrice The blind judge jude loaned leaned back and his face beamed and glowed as If It tran transfigured Well rell spoken he said You oll have ha the makings s of a a J. J man I Inow Inow Inow now la lay m my sentence upon you ou From now on on through ugh all your our days das under umer the sun you shall al always always always al- al ways think like a man act like aman aman a aman man be a man Better to die a a. aman man mart all any time than Ive I've O i t beast he-ast forever In hi time The Wt was wrong A de dead d lion Is al always al- al I ways better than a live Jo Jog doh Go free regenerate son go So fret free But as aM the peon at a signal from Crom the mestizo mestiza started to rise tho the blind LUnd judge stopped hire Jn In In tho the beginning b O 0 man who but hUl this day has b been en born born bornman man what was waft the cause of oC all your our troubles troubles' My 1 h heart hart art waa weak and antI hungry hun hun- gry r 0 O Holy 1101 One for for a n mixed mixed- breed woman of the tierra call- call ente I 1 myself am mountain born horn For tor her I put myself t in debt to the tho hacienda for tor the sum of oC 00 I She fled led pesos with the mone money and another man I remained thin tho slave of the who ho Is not nota a bad man but who first firm and al always always al al- ways was is hf a I have tolled been beaten benten and have hae suffered for five long years can and m my debt Is now become O pesos ami yet ct I 1 possess naught but these ra rags s and antI a bOil body weak weal from Insufficient food A profound silence fell teIl within the cavern while the the Cruel Ono One meditated for a space At Ai tho last with a touch dared darel of ot familiarity the pretty mestiza touched him and roused him to remembrance of the lie peon still crouching at his feet I pronounce judgment he hepol spoke pol e. e You have havo received man many blows Each blow on your OUr bol body Is quittance In full ruIl of ot the thc entire debt to tho the Go free tree I But Bul remain In tho the mountains and next time love e a mountain woman woman wom wom- an tn since woman you ou must have ha and since woman Is IR Inevitable and eternal In the affairs of men Go free You are half hat Maya lara Z I Love tier Her I II I am half Maya Ian the lie peon murmured murmured mur mur- Iff My Iy father is a Maya The Cruel Just One waited alted and without waiting Henry stepped forward I am an tho man roan he stated boldly boldly bold bold- ly 1 sentenced to lo the death undeserved unde served for the killing of a man manI man manI I I did not kill He was ryas the tho blood- blood uncle of or tho the girl I 1 love loe whom I Ishall shall marr marry j jf if there bo be true rue justice justice justice jus jus- tice here herb In this cave cavo in the Cordil Cordil- leras But nut the Jefe Interrupted Before a score of or witnesses ho he threatened to his face to kill the theman man Within tho the hour we wc found Cound him bending over O the mans man's dead hod body that was yet et warm and limber lim lIm- I ber with departing life lire He lie speaks true Henry af at- firmed I 1 did threaten the man both Loth of oC us hea heady from front strong strong- atron drink dr and hot blood I was so found bending over oYer his dead warm bod body Yet I 1 did not nol kill him Nor or do 1 I know nor can Iguess T I guess buess the coward hand in III the tho dark that thai knifed out his life through the tho bacic back from behind Kneel Knee both bolh of you ou that I ma may Interrogate you OU the Bind Blind Brigand Brigand Brig Brig- and commanded Long he hc InterrogatEd with his sensitive questioning fingers Long Longo and still longer unable to attain decision his fingers played playe over O the faces and pulses of or the tho tho two menIs menIs men Is s there a woman he asked Henry Morgan lorgan pointedly A woman wonderful J I lo love 11 her cr It Is 18 good to be so ve vexed c f fora for fora r rI I a 3 man by a n woman Is only I half a man the blind judge vouchsafed ed He addressed the Jere Jefe No Xo woman y s 's you ou yet cl clarc arc are you oU tro troubled bled But Dul this man indicating Honry I I cannot tell fell enIC if IC all his vexation Is Is- due to lo wom wom- an Perhaps In part parl Jt it ma may be due to you jou ou or to what some prompting of oC evil e may make him meditate against you nu Stand up both men of you I 1 cannot annot jud Judge e between you jou Yet is there tho the test Infallible the test of the Snake and anal the Bird Infallible It Is Is as God Is infallible for tor bj by such ways does docs God still maintain truth Inthe inthe In J the affairs of oC men As s well docs does mention just such I methods of or determining the truth b by trial and ordeal To all Intents It might have been a Un tiny ring hun that pit In Inthe inthe the heart of ot the Blind Brigands Brigand's domain Ten feet foet In depth and thirty In diameter with wilh level le floor loor and |
