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Show The Death Vine. By W. J. Lee. The Dos Hermanos, a clumsy, side-wheel river steamer, swung clear of the old dock at Living, ston, Guatemala, and headed for the mouth of the Dulce river, a sluggish stream having its head, waters in the mountains of Central Guatemala and emptying -its black waters into the bay ol Honduras at the foot of the promontory on which lies the thatched-roof town of Livingston. Among the passengers who were making their way into the interior of the country was a young, broad-shouldered American, clad in kakai, a field glass swung over his shoulder, as he stood on the upper deck of the little steamer going westward across the bay toward the clear blue waters of the Carribean sea. His initials stamped on the case of his field glass were a plain F. F., underneath which was the stamped outline of a star. Frank Fergus was foreign correspondent of the New York Star, and had just arrived from New Orleans en route to the old city of Antigua, east of Guate mala City, where he proposed writing up the ancient an-cient ruins of missions established in the earlj part of the sixteenth century by the Jesuits. The boat on which he had embarked ran between be-tween Livingston and Ysabel, something over one hundred miles up the Dulce river. There was but little of interest in the long, tedious trip save massive growths of mahoganj and palm trees on either bank of the liver, among the branches of which chattered and frolicked myriads' of wrinkled-faced monkeys, while the morning and evening air was made discordant dis-cordant with the chattering and shrieking of countless parrots and paroquettes. Every few moments mo-ments the ugly log-like back of a monstrous alligator alli-gator would bob up alongside the puffing boat, and then sink noiselessly beneath the black waters. Frank had taken out his note book and was busily engaged in jotting down items of interest which he had picked up in Livingston, when his attention was called to a commotion near the bow of the little steamer, then a yell followed by a heavy fall started him to his feet. He hurried forward toward the scene of the disturbance and found that the mate of the vessel had discovered a little wizen-faced Meztizo stowaway had taken free passage on the boat, and was trying to make his way to Ysabel. When Frank arrived on the scene he found the mate giving the stowaway a vigorous drubbing, winding it up with a threat to throw him overboard, and just as he was about putting the threat into execution, the newspaper correspondent stepped forward and drawing the mate to one side, asked what he would release the badly frightened fellow for and allow him to go on to his destination. The mate hesitated a moment, and then with a grim smile said, "Well, young feller, fel-ler, if you want to do the charity act, just fork over four pesos and the little cuss can take deck passage to Ysabel." As this sum amounted to but $2 in American coin, Frank at once handed it over to the mate, .who after pocketing it turned to the Meztizo and said: "Your bacon is saved this time, greaser, git for'd there an.' don't let me catch you aft 'till wo get to Ysabel." The badly-frightened half-breed turned to Frank with expressions of gratitude, conveyed rapidly but evidently with great sincerity in Spanish, Span-ish, which the newspaper man understood thoroughly, thor-oughly, begging his excellency to let him be bis slave for life. Frank laughed at the poor fellow's grandeloquent expressions of gratitude, little thinking that the time was not far distant when every promise made by the humble fellow would be paid in coin more precious than gold. As he turned to resume his seat near the stern of the steamer a thought came into his mind wbictt caused him to turn again to the Meztizo, saying "Look here, my boy, are you familiar with the trail leading from Ysabel to Guatemala City?" "Si, senor, si; I know every foot of the way." "Well, then," said Frank, after a moment's. thought, still speaking in Spanish, "you are just the man I want. I am going to the west coast and want a guide, one who can pack, cook and guide jne across the mountains. What do you say to making the trip with me?" "With pleasure, senor, gladly, for I wish to return re-turn to Guatemala, it is my home," cried the poor fellow. "I will be your guide, servant, anything, only let me go with you. No one knows the trail better than Juan Gonzales." "All right, Juan, and what shall I pay you for your services?" "Nothing, senor, nothing; I owe you my life now; for see those terrible alligators; they would have made a meal off my body ere this had it not ' been for the kindness of the grand senor," and the poor fellow's eyes shone with gratitude as he dropped on his knees before Frank. "Oh, that's all nonsense, Juan," responded the good-hearted correspondent. "We'll say a peso a day and found, if that suits you," and without gU ing the grateful man a chance to reply, turned away and was shortly busily engaged in adding to his notes for the great American newspaper which he represented. About noon of the second day after leaving Livingston, Liv-ingston, the clumsy boat threw out her shorelines shore-lines and was hauled alongside the wharf at Ysa-bel, Ysa-bel, and before nightfall, Frank, with the assistance assist-ance of his protege, had purchased two serviceable mules for riding and one on which Juan packed the correspondent's outfit for the long trip across the mountains. The following morning after they had partaken of a hearty brealcfast at the grass-thatched hotel, ' an early start was made toward the City of Guatemala. Guate-mala. Juan proved himself a first-class guide, and cook, and Frank congratulated himself upon the Etroko of luck which had thrown so servicable a man in his way. About noon of the third day after leaving Ysabel, camp was made in the shade of a clump of palm trees bordering a little clear I mountain stream, and while Juan was busily engaged en-gaged in getting their dinner, Frank shouldered his rifle and started toward a tall cliff which arose over one hundred feet abruptly on the further side of the stream. Skirting the perpendicular mountain side, he walked slowly along the bank of the stream for about a hundred yards when he saw to his astonishment a well-defined stairway, evidently hewn by some human agency, extending from the base to the top of the cliff. Calling to Juan that he would not be back for an hour, the fearless newspaper man started up the stone-hewn steps leading to' the top of the cliff. Ten minutes' climb brought him to the top of the steps, when he saw to his astonishment that it led to a seemingly endless table land or mesa, apparently without vegetation save a mass of what appeared to be a strange species of cacti with long, fibrous, thorn-spiked thorn-spiked tendrils, which were interwoven and matted mat-ted together and covered the whole extent of the mesa. He noticed as he drew closer to examine the strange growth, that the moment his boot touched D one of the vines the whole mass for ten feet in H front of him seemed to quiver and then like a H specter the ends of the vines began to rise from the ground and bend and sway toward him. As H therf was not a breath of wind blowing, Frank H could not understand the strange phenomenon, but noticed that throughout the whole length of the vines were small cup-shaped suckers, around the edge, of which was a row of long, sharp thorns, sloping toward the center of the sucker. Although therf was no moisture on the mesa, he noticed that B the ines were a bright green, and seemingly un- withered by the tropical sun which poured its H rays down with intense heat. B Without dreaming of danger, Frank pushed his B way carefully into the midst of the prickly vines, B when to his horror they arose like things of life, completely encircling him in their flberous embrace, em-brace, binding his legs, and rising and twining around his body, and before he could free himself he found his arms pinioned and felt the sharp pricking of the thorns piercing his clothing. Wildly Wild-ly he struggled to free himself from the grasp of the vegetable octopus, but in vain, for every moment mo-ment the bands grew tighter and the burning pain from the sharp thorns became unbearable. Thoroughly Thor-oughly frightened now and fearing for his life, Frank called loudly for Juan, fighting like a mad man to release himself from the vines meanwhile. Juan, who was busily engaged in preparing dinner din-ner for his patron, heard a faint call for help; he listened to make sure his ears had not deceived him. Then came the cry again, and dropping the birds he had been cleaning, the little fellow grasped his long, sharp machete and started toward to-ward the cliff which he had seen his employer ascending. A few moments sufficed to find the steps and up he went like mad, the cries of his beloved master ringing in his ears. A few moments mo-ments rapid climbing took him to the top of the cliff, and he saw the tall form of his patron, swaying sway-ing and btruggling in the embrace of the vegetable vegeta-ble cannibal, and with a wild yell of "La yerba de muerta" (the vine of death), the brave fellow, regardless re-gardless of his scant clothing and the sharp thorns which pierced his feet and limbs at every bound, sprang into the midst of the waving vines, which immediately encircled his. legs and began to entwine en-twine themselves around his body, drawing marks of blood through his clothing at every step. Regardless Re-gardless of danger or pain, the brave Meztizo laid his machete about him with a will, cutting loose the vines on every side until he reached his almost al-most "exhausted friend and patron. Cutting, hacking hack-ing and tearing at the clinging vines, he at last cleared a space around both himself and Frank just as the latter fell, fainting to the ground. The wiry little Meztizo raised the senseless form of his patron and sprang over the narrow strip of intervening inter-vening vines placing him softly on the ground outside the line of the deadly death vines. Then stooping beside him forced between the livid lips water from his canteen, and soon had the satisfaction satis-faction of seeing him open his eyes, and attempt to stagger to his feet. Juan forced a little more water into the throat of the enfeebled correspondent and then helping him regain his feet, poured out a torrent of thanksgiving that his loved master had been spared from the death-dealing embrace of the terrible ter-rible vines. Frank realized in a moment the part enacted by the brave Meztizo who stood beside him, fairly weeping with joy, and placing his hand on the shoulder of his faithful guide said, his voice trembling trem-bling with emotion: "Juan, you've saved my life. I'll remember you well for this day," and overcome over-come with emotion and still weak from his fearful fear-ful struggle, he started down the rough steps leading lead-ing from the dangerous mesa, followed by his delighted de-lighted guide, who meanwhile poured out protestations protesta-tions against the master being in his debt, and calling on all his patron saints to protect his beloved be-loved "Americano" from all evil. After arriving at the camp, Frank inquired of the guide what manner of vegetation he had so nearly perished among, and Juan told him that the vine was known among his people as "La yerba de muerta," or the vine of death, and related re-lated many terrible storios of how his friends had unwittingly been drawn within their terrible embrace em-brace and perished ere aid could arrive to free them. He said that his only brother had had a narrow escape from death in their midst in trying to save a child who had wandered into them, and that the vines after entwining the object, whether living or dead, fastens its suckers upon the flesh and draws out the life blood from its victim; the vines slowly changing Crom green to pink, then to blood red, then when the blood has been entirely en-tirely sucked from tfce victim tne vines slowly uu- m fold and release what remains of the corpse, which j fjH is but the skin and bones, every drop of blood j ' i jt;H having been extracted by this vegetable vampire. jfll It was two days before the travelers resumed ' f 7 fl their journey, Frank being prostrated by his almost ( j j Jfl fatal experience, but when they arrived at Guate- ! L i9 mala City, which they did in the course of the fol- ' 19 lowing week, without further dangerous adventures, i js (rlM the correspondent left abundant funds in the hands I i if H of his faithful henchman, despite the objections t'VkM tho good fellow offered to taking a cent from his t jjfl "savior," ps he insisted on calling Frank, so that jl II H the heart of the little fellow was gladdened for . iffl many a day as he sat beside his black-eyed dulce , jjH corazon, in a neat little house purchased with part , P fM of his reward for saving the life of the Star corre- i u H spondent from the embrace of the vine of death. j f I fffl death. 1 'JH |