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Show :T5H-TYYYYTYY-rS l The Triple Murders ! of Hacienda Nopala, B By Kenneth C. Kerr. ,'fgic ' StJI TiTtOGYfOrOOYTYlOTTOr0YCHOTa4a4,L Old Mexico is full of Interesting spots, even If the country does present such a barren aspect to the traveler Hitting through in a Pullman train. Its people and Its customs; the historical reminders remind-ers of a post era and the beauties of its scenery, all combine to create a lasting Impression upon those who pass any length of time within its borders. The Mexicans fully appreciate the fame of their country, and when once a tourist evinces even the slightest degree of interest, in-terest, a story of the nearest point is at once forthcoming. There is one story, however, that has not been generally told, principally because be-cause the scene of its enactment is remote re-mote from the railroad, and tourists seldom reach that part of the country, the southern valley of Zacatecas. Here the barren plains disappear and in their place are fertile fields, well watered and developed. To the west rise the Sierra Navarlt mountains, while the table lands, extending north from Rlncon do Romos, make a complete com-plete barrier on the east, thus forming a retired and rich valley lying betweon. For centuries It has been tho home of wealthy and cultured people of Mexico, many of whom have had their country homes In the favored spot. The shooting shoot-ing has been excellent In the past, and for years It was the gathering place for the sportsmen of the country. Not far from Villa Xueva, traveling by the well-kept road leading towards Guadalajara, one passes Borne of the most picturesque spots In the whole of Mexico, the valley being filled with ranches that have been productive for centuries and whose queer houses fully attest the antiquity of the State. In one of the most beautiful parts of the valley, set down amid a grove ofl trees, Its walls almost covered wlththo growth of years, stand the ruins of Hacienda Ha-cienda Nopala, originally built In 1737 and rebuilt In 1S30. when EscamJllo Cresslda brought home his bride from far away Oaxuca. Cresslda was one of the wealthiest and worst men in the region, and at once surrounded his wife with all the luxuries of a perfect home, only omitting omit-ting tho Important item of being a model husband. His station and wealth had caused the parents of thp girl to urge the marriage, and she had consented, con-sented, although for some time previous to her meeting with him she had been deeply In love with a young man of Oaxaca, Manuel Garcia by name, handsome hand-some and of good family. It was not ions.-, before Garcia found his way to Villa Nueva, and naturally became a part of the gay life throughout through-out the valley, which brought him in communication with the owners of Hacienda Ha-cienda Nopala. Ho was not very slow in realizing the neglect of Cresslda towards to-wards his young wife, with the result that he became her confidante, In the guise of an old friend. This state of affairs went on for some time, and at last Cresslda was mado aware of the Intrigue between his wlfo and Garcia, but. saying nothing, he began be-gan a systematic watch upon them and even went so far as to encourage Garcia Gar-cia to come to the house, and showed smuLuat 11 lenuniiess towards him all the time, however, secretly preparing prepar-ing for his revenge. One evening he announced that he had to leave for Ague. Callente at once and would not be back for several days Great preparations were iriado for the Journey and at dusk he and his servants ser-vants rode out of the courtyard toward the cast. Once outside the range of vision of those left at the ranch, tho wily man turned his horse, bade his servants await him nnd, by a roundabout road retraced his steps to Hacienda Nopala and. Just as he expected, he found his wife and Garcia in the dining-room. Just sitting down to an elaborate sud-per. sud-per. In an Instant the deed was done. The girl, completely paralyzed bv her terror, ter-ror, was forced to see her husband murder the handsome young fellow by fin1.?5 ,m asRhl and aSttl". "When the lithe figure was reduced to a limp Mnseless mass and was thrown on the floor the murderer turned to her and. after forcing her to look upon his lato handiwork, he ortured audits Lt and finally ended her life n way as he had killed her yonu h T Then he fled, rejoining his eSS,, the overland trip to Agua Cal -i The 'whole region was itlrnfj,. Bak horrlble murder and, althcnti'j k was strongly suspected, no "id U of the crime could be pnv'wtfi unlived un-lived for several raontklawi !.. shunned by his neighbors r- u visited by the former partrri -' '? 1 wild life. ill' In Nueva VJUa there UveJ u-iii an old priest who had knotm: w neglect of the young wifeaciteb band's former conduct Ha fi.-njf ffcil lleved that the man was gulltjii murders, and thought to trap lib 5, a confession. So one day, InLji TT room Just off the church InNcni ? , la, he had a sort of hole dugjjlin r1 enough for a man to crouch ti.1 l was covered over with the l!ocsti iMt one little hole about thelr'ii tali lar was left. A table was'-a iy, over tho spot and the coveriifta over it. j When all was ready the prtetK! . ' the services of a citizen of thi r& rfu and then wrote a note to Hiclei P 1 pala asking Cresslda to code!m his office. When the latter to b iUnt approaching, the priest hid tbi O ioti In tho hole. "Buenos dios," said Crtssldiu! tered nnd the old priest rnoL'fc to be seated. ITTu The man awaited the wcrditfr-prlest, wcrditfr-prlest, who was looking at h!5 rw-P most Intently. Suddenlr h tf' menclng his conversation words of his long acquaint -"V the family and how as the spWtsv .j viser of the region he had a." m in every member of the jor&! j- ? lie told the man how the nellVf Mf6 was accusing him covertly of fr ful murder, and that It wash-JW tell tho man what was him. With this Introduction h'r? RP Cresslda to a full realization cfBj ilcu rfble crime and. Just as the prt expected, he was soon niakiof 1" confession, telling everythlnf ffcta beginning up to the time tb; j. the two bodies In the dlaJDS-rco -hurried off to Agua CalLnte. But at the end of the the priest that he had mad fession to him as a repref, nx the church and not as a dU!- fore it would never b ta" iifc j priest dared not betray tr ' trust- .. , .v. eL' ifti "Quien Babe?" replied ,-"but ,-"but others may have heard r- fession." ..cfj z, "Oh, no." replied the o" gWi pala; "there is no person tE "Yes," replied the priest, Tcs "There is no man alive " ii save you and I," said CrewM Tho priest pointed urdw u Cresslda quickly pushed u Just as quickly pulllns; "P " J"1 showed the man In the cavi was quite dead. . sJ When Cresslda rst entered w, jja he happened to sec a nosj; v pulled down through the ; no. , divined the trick in "Kjy p. 1 he seated himself he Zt h ts, out his foot and coverea" Wj thereby keeping " vation. All throush h!3 reJ was In a low. evenly ' he felt the hand which w M trying to remove his foot. ,t iy , and weaker, and at 'Atii V together. Then he ; knew tb ! was dead. But hof."Ls t " , thought to the suffoc w gfis "iftfc, tlnued his recital with cCyfS- f and keeping his eyes J priest throughout the t me. When the horrified Pj"largjt senses Escamilio CrMd t- Jjfc peared and from hat d" word was ever received fjb t,kKX& valley, and Hacienda . f p,mx lowed to fall into -.bfcc.l stranger travel throu j l t, little office of the PreKJfti out. and then wl foj oj fin!! the tragedy. TVTien I fRi?1 hearer can be shown tnj KKJ once beautiful house tt$t Intervening years, can egB now overgrown, that once ,f Manuel Garcia and the I Escamllio Cresslda. W |