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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 28, 1901)
THE OMAHA DAIJV 1U5T5: SUNDAY, JfLY 28, 1907. 1 The By S. - (if rei'rilliiR Clmiitrrn. Ramon Onrrln. known nn HI Mnrrln, bav in: born Induced to believe Hint bin wife, Dolore. In unfaithful, stubs il village foil, Unfurl Flores, whom h" llml" preHimintily kissing Dolores through 111" window. Ills rulnlnii nro cimll.ieitti.il ntul In- becomes n hunted mini. At the sumn lime u young c'otrh adventurer. Itollo Illnlr, ' " to H ,al... ...id iliiiliiK 011 Inn iUjrrj a nl.lril iiy John Mortimer, tin Hi Kllxntiiun. T , two nt irt to visit Dim ILiltiiHar. Mil -ot nf the monnMery of Montl.latteh. 1 lair ii.M Mortimer nro cntcrtnliied lavishly li tlio iiliticit ntul meet Htleimn M rierr.'. .' Vr eh Killn.it wlni In studying for Holy orders Vl -n'. three, with lil tfirrl. who i nn found protection nt tho moimstery. nro r tni ilMli I -il I'V Ihi- "bbot to riijitlire w mi'-r 'n 'regent nnd Iht llttlo iliumhtcr In the interests of the church. (CopyrlKlit. h' H. II. Crockett.) CII AI'TI'lt X. !imi tin licit. The abbot panned n llttlo uro he mndo tho plunge, l'orlnips oven his slcndtnst pulmi felt tho gravity f the "ec.islon. Then ho Iickihi to sprnk, lightly, rnpldiy, Hnost nervously, with tho sharp ntnccnlo uttcrnneo with which Don HMUHiir con cinlcd his Intcnsii emotion. "Tho commission Ik ii Bttnt one, said tho abbot. "This great order nml nil tho norvnntM of (lo.l In Spain tlepoml for their Uvnn on you. If )ou succeed. Hon nr on will assuredly tt on tho throne of his fathers; It you fnll. there la nn end. But It In necessary Ihnt you should curry with you your two friend. I m my part will glvo you n guide who known every pnsn and bridlepath, every envo and shelter atono betwixt hern and Mndrld." "Then, 1 ntn to go to Mndrld J' "Not, na 1 hope to Madrid, hut to I .a Qranjn, whero your work will nwnll you. It la na you niny know, n pnlnro on tho sloped of tho Gunrdnrrma muunliilns. much frequrntcd by the court of tho queen regent t Mndrld." "Tliero la to bo no bloodshed nmong trie prisoners?" snld Itollo; "fighting la very well, but 1 mil not going to bo ntt or pnrt In nny shooting of unarmed men! "My friend." snld tho nbbot, with nftec tlonnto confidentiality. Inylng hla nrm on tho young man's leco. "1 give you my word of honor. All you havo to do la to bring two nmlablo nnd Cnthollc Indies hero, tho Indy ChrlUlniin and her llttlo maid. They lire cimor to bo reconciled to their mother church, hut uro prevented by ....ii ..nnnMrlorn. They will conio gladly otiough, 1 doubt not. na noon na they nro ( Informed of their destination. ..,.,. "Well." mild limio. on u "' """ I will underlnko the tnsk, but na 1101.0. who nro there in tno pnim-u .i nro they to faro?" "Vour Inatruetlona. anld tbo nl.liot. arc theao: You will go flrM to tno nl"1'1 1 (lenernl Cabrera, to whom 1 win gio ou lottor. He will fumlah you with auc racort na mny bo tbought dealrniiic. ou will nlao recelvo from him detailed or.urs , ns to what you must do wnen you nr... ut I.n Oranja. And I will sec to It that you go from this plaeo with n colonels commission In tho survlco of Carlos . of tSpnln. Does thnt antlsfy you?" "It did, but for nil thnt tho nbbot gavo Hollo no hint na to what was to bo tho fnto of those who might bo taken nt tlrnnja. In tho compnuy of the llttlo queen nnd her mother, tho regent. Thoro was no ilimculty nt nil nbout Ktlenno Saint I'tcrre. but John Mortimer wna nil for devoting his energies to tho tiuik ot getting hla enska ot el l'rlorato down to Ihirreloua for shipment. It wna. only after ho hnd seen tho nationalist guards stnvo In ensk nfter cnak of his beloved wlno, on which ho was depending to Iny tho foundation of his fortuno, drluk Ing as much as they could nnd letting tho rest run to waate on tho hillside, thnt tho aullen English nnger nroso nnd burned hotly In tho bosom ot John Mortimer. "Then I will help to clear them out of the country. If they will not let me ship the property 1 hnvc bought nnd paid good earnest money upon. 1 can at least shoot n pistol as well as any one lf tho man Is only near enough." So presently theao throe nnd nnother bo hind them were riding out of the gntea of Montblnnch. with n colonel's commission In the nrmy of Don Carlos In Hollo's bronst pocket, n promise of nil the l'rlorato wlno for six years In thnt of John Mortimer, and In llrother Ullnrlo's 11 dispensation absolving him for tho longth ot his mili tary servlco from nil his conventual ami other vowa. It Is dimcult to sny which of tho threo was tho happiest. As tor the prior ho Blood nt tho gato where ho hnd Riven the lada hla benediction and watched them out of sight, Father Anselmo whs nt his elbow but half a paco behind. "Thero they go," said tho prior. "Hod help them If the nationalists overhaul them. They carry enough to hang them all a doten times over. Hut praise to St. Vincent and nil the rnlnts, nothlnc to com promise us, or tho abbey ot our Lady of Mpntblatich." CIIAl'Tim XI. Cnrtol if llellimoc. it was Hamon Ciarcla, who. on n stout shaggy pony, a portmanteau slung before and behind him. followed hla masters with the hnlt-sullen, wholly downcast look ot tho true tlallrgan servitor. He was well nttlred tn the Oalllclan maimer, appearing, Indeed, like one of those hlghlandcrs re turning from successful service tn tho Cns lilies or tn Cntalontn, Hut In his eyes, whenever he raised them, there burned, morose ami unqueuchnblo the angora of the outcast el Sarrla ngnlnst the world, lie lifted them but seldom, and no one ot tho envalfers who rode so gal lantly before him recognltrd In the decently clad demure, well. shaved man servant sup plied to them by tbo nbbot. tho wild el Sarrl.i, whom, with torn mantle nnd bleed ing shoulder, they had -soon fling himself upon the later tof the nbhey of Montblnnch. So these threo rode on toward the enmp ot tho most redoubted and rcdoubtnhlc General Cabrera, This chief of nil tho armlea ot Don Carlo wns then at th height of his fame. His fear was on nil tho land. He was brave, cruel, perfectly unscrupulous, this "Killer of Arragon," this "Hutchor of Tortosa," In a few months be had achieved a fame gieater almost than thnt of SCumala cnrreiul, the prince ot guerrlllers, himself. At this time Cabrera was holding half a Vloten of the Chrlstlno generals at bay, Including Minos himself, the chief nt all. His tactics consisted In those Immemorial rapid movements nnd unexpected appear ances which have characterised Spanish guerrilla warfare ever since the Carthago, utaiu Inindcd the land. MeanHhtlc. southward out of the pleasant Mils of Montblnnch our three lads were , riding, each with his own hopes and fears tn bis heart. Hollo wns. of course, the Keenest of the party, for not only was the work to his liking, but he was the natural as well as tho actual leader. He alone Vnew the abbot's purposes, or at least a a much of these as Don naltasar had thought Firebrand. R. CROCKETT. It wlao to reveal to hla emlainry which, after nil, wna not n great deal. Hut John Mortimer had failed to rouai hlmaclf oven under tho spur of Ilollo'a deli mit optlmlnm. Tltry would return to Montblnnch In n wnnk or two, the inttcr nverred. Hy that tlmo tho pnaaea would bo clenrrd. John'a wlno would ho anfe. Tho nbbot'a anven yenr undertnklng In hla pocket wna good for tho faco of It nt nny wine ahlppcr'a In llnrcelonn. In n month h (Hollo) would bo 11 colonel prrhnpa n general nnd ho (John Mortimer) rich beyond tho drenma of nvnrlce. "Or both of ua may ho dead, more likely!" puggeatcd the latter, with gloomy succinct ncss. "Dead nonacnac!" cried Itollo. "Sco here, mnn, you bellcvo In (!nd, or nt nny rnto your father doca. So, hnng It, you tn ihI havo nt lonat n kind of aucond-lmnd Inlereat nbove. Now, Ih there not n time nppolnted for you to die? Here, look nt thin clock (he took nn unclont nnd very bulboua-fnced wnteh out of hla pocket). Thla mlnuto hnnd hns to puah that hour hnnd ao many tlmea round before the mo ment cornea for your ghost to mount and ride. Till that time cornea, let your henrt alt enro-free. You ennnot hnatcn or retard Hint event by one nolltnry 'tick, enn you? No? Well, then keep tho ball rolling, monntlnio. nnd If It rolls to the enmp of Cabrera, why, you will be Juat na anfe there na In your bed nt Chorley with tho curtnlna drawn nnd your prnyera anld." "l'm-ml" anld John Mortimer, atlll un convinced. "Very likely but If I snw my wlno barrels on the ship Oood Intent of Liverpool nnd my thousand pounds of de posit receipt In honest Wllllnm Dencon'a bank In Chorley It would be n.hnnged sight moro comfort to mo than nil the appointed ticks on nil tho nppoluted wntches In the world!" Tho way to Sarrla wna ateep nnd long, but lliclr guide, now In tho van, threaded hla wny betwixt atone and atone, now down the narrow gorge of nn nrroyo littered with debris, nnd then up tho net tnlua of slnto chips Ilka a man familiar from Infancy with tho wny, It wna evening ero they drew nenr tho village of Snrrln, which lay. n drift of rusty red roofa nnd whitewashed wnlls, henenth tho tumbled Arngoneao foothills. The river rnn nearly dry In Its channel nnd tho mill M stopped. There wna not enough wnter to drlvo tho clacking undershot wheel of i,uH Komnudei. tho comfortnble. proper ml)nr of P((rrn who bccn cru (,ll)t wmlmic,; B). ,t,0 outlaw llnmon on the Ktll W,en 10 cnlmcd aheltcr from tho CafiM W()M)(a o MonU)Inl)cll, Ah woll( nU that would aoon bo nt nn end. so nt least Ufy gn)J Jn qnrrllli lf lin ,nleg ,vcru truPi m()i))(s nlonnptory tnhes ftI,j r,Kllts o MI,Ptunrr( llK). oulll nI R0 tOKOthcr. g() U)c ljn(U W(Ml for(h nmJ ,, ,, ,)one igh savo the prior of Mouthlanch nnd hla con fldnnt knew nnythlng for ccrtnln the nlr wns full of rumors, while between tho enr- llat wnr nnd tho report ot tho Rrent coming chnnges tho mlnda of men wero growing grievously unsettled. Honest folk nnd peaceful cltltcna now went armed. The men snt longer nt the cafes. They returned later home. They spoko moro sharply to tholr wives when they asked why theso things wero so Tho veuta of Sarrla was kept by a nephew of Caspar's, tho octroi man, one rccontly came to tho district. His namo wns Es tcban, and, Uko hla uncle, he had already got him tho namo of n "valiant" or of a mnn rendy with his tongue nnd equally ready with hla knife. With tho younger Tcrlco'a coming the Venta cl Corrnl had promptly becomo tho Cafe do Madrid, nnd the prices of all liquors roso to mark tho change, even as In n like proportion their quality speedily dlmlu Ished. - So at this newly named Cnfo de Madrid our travelers alighted nnd the allent dalle gnu, gathering tho relna In hi hands, dls nppenred Into the stables, whoso roofs rose over tho low front of tho entn like a ca thedral behind Its cloisters. "Good evening to you, young cavillers,' cried tho gallant Clnspnr, who commonly did tho honors even In the presence of hla nophew, the nominal host of the ventn The ounger man had followed tho Gnllegan to tho atnbles with a declared intent ot seeing that the horsca wero properly pro vided for. "You havo como far today?" Inquired Cnspar courteously. "From the abbey of " (here Hollo kicked Etlcnno suddenly), "I mean wo pnssed tho nbbey of Monthlanch, lenvlng behlug us gladly such n nest ot Cnrllst thieves. From the true nationalist city of Karngorn wo come," said the Count de Salnte IMerre In n breath. "You are all good men and true here, I observe," said Hollo, who hnd seen Chrlstlno colors on the official ecat of Caspar I'crlco, "Hood men nnd good nntlounls," cried Onspar. "Indeed. I believe you. I should Uko to see any other show his face In Snr rla. There never was one Blnee Ramon Oarcl.x became nn outlaw, nnd he fled the village rnther than face me, the champion ot the province." At that very moment Estcbnh. the bully, Kstebr.n the unconqucred valiant, came run nl 11 g from the stnblos of the venta, holding hlJ hands to his face nnd behind hlra tower Ing up suddenly and filling the doorway, ap peared the huge figure of the Oallegan What had occurred between them no man could say Hut the Oallegnn with greit coolnes proceeded to cast out upon the rub blsh heap before the door armful nfter arm ful of chopped nnd partly rotten straw which exhaled a thin steam Into the cool air of evening. He followed this up by emptying n huge lenther-covcrrd sieve full of bad barley several times upon the same vaporous mound. Then with the greatest compoMire and with a complete understand ing of the premises, the Oallegan walked across to n smaller stable, whero the land lord's own cattle wero kept. He kicked the door open with two applications of his foot nnd presently was lost to sight within. "Shoot him shoot him, uncle"' cried the hnlf-tearfnl bully, "he hath smlttcd rae upon the nose to the outpouring of my blood! Shall a I'crlco nbldo this? Shoot for the honor of our name!" Hut the valiant man of the reclpt of cus toma was also a cautious one. "Not s.i. dear Kstaban." he said, "this man Is tho servant of three noble cavaliers of a foreign nation. It he has done wrong their purses shall make reparation. They aro all rich, these forcUuers! For all the spin fodder they will also doubtless ray. 1 it not so, caballeros!" The Gallegan by this lime had emerged from the smaller private stable with a good buihel measure of straw with barley, which he carried on his head toward the larger premises where his master's three steeds and his own round-barrelled Aragan ee pony had been settled fcr the night. And while the three waited they talked to all aud sundry. For Rtlenne had ques Hons to ask which bore no small relation to the present preoccupation of his mind. Concha-oh, yes, little Conch Cabeios, from Andnlualn, certainly they know hor. All tho vitiligo knew hor, "A pretty Rlrl nnd dances roiiiarknhly well," anld Eatebnn I'crlco coinplncetitly, "but holds Iht hend too high for nuo In hor position." "I do not cnll thnt n fault," said Ktlenno, moving nlong tho wooden sottla In front of tho Vontn door to make room for tho hugo Onllcgnn, who nt that moment atrollcd up. Ho did this quite nnturnlly, tor In Spain no distinctions of mnstcr or aorv- nnt hold either upon church pavomcnts or on ventn benches, "No, It Is certainly no fniilt of Conchn'a Hint sho kocpa heraelf nloof," snld n young fellow In n rustic gnlllard'a dress. Ho twirled his mnustnchlon with the nlr of nno who could tell sad tales of Utile Concha If ho only had (ho mind. "And why, sir?" cried Kiletiuo, brist ling In a moment like 11 turkeycock. "1'rny, has the oiing Indy vouchsafed ou nny token of her rcgnrd?" "Nny, not to tno," snld tho locnl Don Junn, cnutloualy, "but It you nro nnxloim upon tho iileotlon I ndvlso you to npply to Don Hnfael do Mores, our nlcnldo's son." 'What!" cried tho Frciichtmin, "Is hu her lover?" "Her lover of mnny months," nnswered Don Junn. "Truly, jou sny right. And tho Htrnngo thing la thnt ho got himself stubbed for It, too, by thnt grcatonf, Rnmon Onrcln, whom they now call 'cl Snrrla.' Iln! hn! nnd he was as Innocent ns yourself all tho time." "It happened thus," tho youthful dandy went on. "El Sarria camo homo Into ono night, nnd when he arrived nt his own gablo end, lo! there by tho grille, whero the In sldo stnlrway mounts, was a youth 'plucking tho lady turkey' with his sweethenrt through a broken bar, and that npparently with great success nnd omprcssoment. And the fool Hamon, his head being tilled with his Dolores, never bethought tor a moment thnt thero might be nnother pretty girl In the houso besides his wife, nnd so without wnttlng either 'Huenos' or 'Oln, click went Rnmon's knife into the lover's back! Such a pair of fools as tbey were!" "And did this this Rafael de Florcs die?" asked Etlenne, divided between a hopo that he had and a fear that lf so ho might bo balked of his revenge. "Die? No; he was about ngaln before ninny weeks. Hut this foolish Rnmon took straightway to tho hills, because ho thought thnt his wife was false nnd thnt he had killed her cousin nnd lover." And even as Don Juan was speaking theso words a young mnn of n slender form nnd particularly lithe carriage, dressed In the height of Madrid fashion, walked Into tj cafo with n smiling flourish of his hat to tho company. "A glass of vermouth, Estcban," he said, "and If any of these gentlemen will Join me I shall feel honored. Bo sood enough to tell them who I am. Caspar, my friend." "Senor cavaliers," said the valiant man of Sarrla, planting tho butt of his blunderbuss firmly on the ground thnt he might lean upon It, and, ns It were, more officially mako the Important Introduction, "this Is no other than the only son of our rich and distinguished alcalde, Senor Don Rafael de Flores, of whom jou have already heard some speak." And Caspar, who know his place, stood back for tho Impressive civilities which fol lowed. The Jaws of the villagers dropped as they saw the three foreigners with ono accord raise their hats from their heads and make each reverence after their kind. Hollo .the tragical Scot, swept back his sombrero brim In a grand curve as lf It bore a drooping plume. John Mortimer Jerked his beaver vertically off and clapped It down again as It he had a spite at the crown, while M. Etlenne turned out his toes and his elbows, as he bowed sharply at the waist with a severe and haughty expres sion, without, however, taking his hat from his bead. "1 must do the honors, I see," said Rolla, .laughing, "since we have no local trumpeter to do for us. tWhere In the world I that sullen dog. our most faith ful Oalllclan') This to the left is Mon sieur de Salnte lierre. count of that name. Then next Mr. John Mortimer of Chorley, England, and as for me, I am Hollo Blair of Blair castle. In the county of Fife, at your service." At this point the aforesaid M de Salnte l'lerro stepped forward. He tad drawn out his card case and selected a pasteboard with the care and deliberation with which a connoisseur may choose a cigar. "I havo the honor to present Senor Don Rafael with cartel ot defiance." be cald simply. The young man thus addressed stood a long moment dumb and fixed In the mid dle ot the door, gazing at the engraved lines on the card which he hid me chanically accepted without comprehend ing their meaning. "A cartel," he itaamered at lest. "Im possible. I ran have no cause of quarrel with this gentleman fron France. I do not even know him." Ilut Etlenne had all the science of the affair at his finger euds. "I have nothing to say, sir." he replied, frigidly; "I refer you to my secord." "Th matter Is brleCy this, at I under- alniid It," ho snld. "My frlond, M. Elleiino do Snlnto l'lerro, hns been on tcrmB of con siderable nmlty with a ccrtnln young Indy - whoso nnmo t need not repeat In n public plncp. Ho hns been given to underntnnd Hint you claim n similar high position In her fnvor. If this bo so, ecnor, my principal wishes (o end tho dirilculty by n duol to tho dentil, so that tho young Indy mny not bo put to tho painful necessity ot mnkliiK i cholcu between two gallant men, Do you both ngreo7" "I ngrco moat heartily," nld Ktlenno, ruhbtug hla hands cheerfully nnd practicing feints In tho nlr with his forefinger. "Hut not 1 not 1," cried Don Hnfael, with sudden frenzy; I do not agree fnr from It, Indeed. My wifo Is wnlllng for mo nt homo ut thin moment; I must go. I must, Indeed. Doubles, I am under ngo and It In murder In the drat degrco to shoot nn un armed mnn. I nm not In lovo with nny pcrnou. I nm n mnrrlod mnn, I tell you; guntlcmcn, 1 wns novcr In lovo with nny body else. I told my wifo so only this morning." "Not with Donna Concha Cnbcros of thli vlll.ii;o?" fluid Dtlonno sternly, "t nm ad vised thnt you havo been In the hnblt ot makliii? that claim." "Never, never," cried tho gnllnnt, wring ing his hnt.ds. "Saints, angels nnd mtir- 0MM if rfi "WHAT IS GOING ON VV THERE?" HE SAID. tyrs It this should como to my wife's cars, I swear to you I do not know any Concha 1 never heard of her. I will have nothing to do with her. Gentlemen, you must ex cuso me. I havo nn engagement." And with this hurried ndlcu the llttlo man In tho Madrid suit fairly bolted out of tho cafe nnd ran down tho street at full speed. And in the dusk of the gabled arches tho Gnllognn sat with his head sunk low In his hands. "What n fool, Ramon Garcln! whnt n mortal fool you woro to have thought for a moment that your llttlo Dolores could havo loved n thing llko thnt!" ClIAl'THIl .VII. The CryhiK of a YounB Child, As soon ns ho knew that tho cause tor which ho had stabbed his wife's cousin had been ono which In no wise concerned llttlo Dolores tho disguised Ramon Garcia went out to seek his wife, n grent pity and a great remorse tearing llko hungry mur clan vultures nt his heart. He wns not worthy even tc speak to thnt pure creature. Ills hasty Jealousy had ruined their lives. Ho it wns who had squandered his chances, lost his patrimony, broken up their little homo behind the whispering reeds of the Cerde. Yes, ho had done all that, but ho loved her. Ramon did not hide and skulk now. He walked down the street with his long locks shorn, his beard cleau shaven and his Gal legan dress and plumed hat, secure that none of his follow townsmen would recog nize him. And, at least in tho semi-darkness, ho was safe. Ramon opened the little wicket to which sho had so often run to meet him, under the three great fig trees. The gate creaked on unaccustomed hinges. The white square ot a placard on the post caught bis eye. It was too dark to see clearly or else El Sarrla would have seen that it was a bill of Bale of the house and effects ot a certain Ramon Garcia, outlaw. As he stepped within his toot slipped among the rotten figs which lay almost ankle deep on the path he had once kept so clean. Tbo path beforo htm was tangled across nnd across with bindweed anil runners of vine. The neglected artichokes had shot, and their glnry seed balls roso as high as his chin like gigantic thistles. Th.) house that bad been so full of light and loving welcome lay all dark before him. blank and unlovely as a funeral vault. Yet tor all these signs ot desolation, Ra mon only reproached himself the more. "Tho little Dolores." bo thought, "she has tclt herself forsaken. Like a wounded doo she shrinks from sight. Doubtless the comes and goes by the back of the house. Tbo sweet llttlo Dolores" and he smiled. It did not occur to him that the would ever be turned out of the bouse that was his and hers. She would go on llvin; there and waiting for him. And now how surprised she would be. But be would tell bnr all and she would forgive htm. And It Is typical of the man and ot his nation that be never for a moment dreamed of his being "El Sarrla," an outlaw with a price on bis head, would make not one whit of difference to Dolores and that be had been Jealous would be one proof more that be loved her. After all what was It to be ou-lawed? If ho did this service for the abbot and Don Carlos a hard one surely ho would be received into the army of Navarre and be might at once become a aergeant. Or be might escape actoss the seas and make a home for Dolores In a new country. Meantime he would see her once aere for that night bold ber safe in his arms But by this tlmo be bad gone round the gable by the little narrow path, over which the rteds continually rustled. He passed th" window wtb the broken grille and he smiicd when he thought of the sacsla- lous. lllght of Don Hafaol down tbo vil lage street. With n quickened step and his henrt thudding In his ears he went nbout tho llttlo reed-built cnbnnn In which ho hud kept Concha's firewood nnd stood ut tho back door. It was closed nnd Impervious, No ray ot light pcnotrnlcd, "l'erhaps Concha has gono out nnd tho llttlo ono bolng afraid In sitting nlonn In tho dark or hns drawn tho clothes over her hend In bed." Ho hnd nlwnys loved the dollghttul ter rors with which Dolores was wont to cling to him or Deo to throw herself on his bosom from sonio Imaginary peril, n centlpcde,th.it scuttled out of tho chutter crack or n ho gout that hnd stamped his foot nt hor down on tho rocks by tho river. Ho knocked nnd called his old namo for her; "Iila dear Lola open! It Is 1 Ra mon!" Hut, call ho loud or cnll he soft, thero wns no ntiBwrr from tho llttlo house whero ho hnd been bo happy with Dolores, Ho struck n light with hts tinder-box nnd lit tho dark lantern ho cnrrlcd, Thero wns another bill on tho back door, nnd now with tho lantern In his hand ho rend It from top to bottom. "This houso belonging to tho well-known rebel, outlaw nnd murderer, Hamon Garcia, cnlled Kl Snrrla, 1 to bo sold for the ben efit of the government of tho queen regent with all Its contents " nnd hero fol lowed a list, mong which his heart stood still to recognize tho great chair he had bought at Lerlda for Dolores to rest In when sho was delicate, the bed they twain hnd slept In, the very work table at which she hnd sewn the household linen and sat gossiping with Conchn over their embrold cry. But there was tio doubt about the mat tor. Dolores was gono and the eye of El Sarrla fell upon n notice rudely printed with a pen nnd inserted In a corner of tho little quaro trapdoor by which It was pos sible to survey a visitor without opening the door. "Any who have letters, packages or other communications for persons lately residing in this houso are honorably requested to glvo themselves the trouble of carrying them to tho Milt of Sarrla, where they will receive the sincere thanks nnd gratitude of the undersigned. LUIS FERNANDEZ." Rnmon saw It all. He knew now why his friend hrtd arranged for his death at the mouth of the secret hiding place. He un derstood why there wns no talk about Do lores nt tho Inn. Sho wns under tho pro tection of the most powerful man In the village, save the alcalde alone. Not that Ramon doubted little Dolores. Ho would not make that mistake a second time. Hut they would work upon her, ho knew well how, tell her that he was dead, that Luis Fernandez has been his only friend. He recollected with a hot feeling of shame and nnser certain speeches of bis own In which he had spoken to her of the traitor as his "twin brother." tho "friend of his heart." and even on one occasion he had commended Dolores to the good offices ot Luis when he was to be for some weeks ab sent from Sarrla upon business. He turned tho lamp once more on the lit tle announcement upon the blue paper. A spider had spuu Its web across It. Many files had left their wings there. So, though undated. Rnmon Judged that It was by no means recent In date. "Ah, yes, Senor Luis." he thought grimly, "here Is one who has a message to leave at tho Mtllhouse of Sarrla." But before setting out Ramon Garcia went Into the little fagot house and, sitting down upon a pile of kindling wood which he had cut himself, he drew the charges of his pis tols nnd recharged them with quite extra ordinary caro. , Then he blew out his lantern and stepped forth Into tho night. At the Venta the three adventurers supped by themselves. Their Gallegan re tainer did not put in an appearance, to the sorrow of M. Etlenne. who wished to em ploy blm to find out the abiding place of the faithless but Indubitably charming Dona Concha. However, the Gallegan did not return all night. He had, In fact, gone to deliver a messago at tho house of bis sometime friend, Don Luis Fernandez. Tho millhouse of Sarria was in particu larly sharp contrast to the abode he bad left. Luis had always been a rich roan, especially since bis uncle died. he. Ramon, never more than well-to-do. But there were magazines and granaries, barn and dry ing lofts, besldfs. In the pleasant angle where the windows looked down on the river, there was a dwelllagheuse with green window shutters and white curtains, tha like of which were not to be trea even within the magnificent courtyard of Senor de Flores. the rich alcalde of Sarrla. He crept nearer to the house. He heard a noise of voices within. A carriage drove up rapidly 10 the front. Vhat could brtag a carriage to the bouse of Luis Fernandez? A wild Idea sprang into Ramon' brain. He bad been so long la solitude that he drew conclusions rapidly. So he fallowed the train of thought upon which he hid fallen as the Sane runs alecs a train of juapowder UjI oc the fic-sr, They had been long persuading her. All theso months ho had been on the moun tain nnd now they had mnrrlcd her to his fnlso friend, Luis Fernandez. It wns the evo of tho wedding feast nnd tho guests wero arriving. Ills knlfo had deceived him n second time. Ho had not struck truo. Whero wna his old skill? Then, surely, his eyesight did not deceive him. Wns Luis Fcrunndez wnlktng to nnd fro within his own houso nrm lu nrm with a friend? Thoy had lied to Dolores and told hir that ho was dead, even ns tho Mlquelttcs would certainly do to claim the reward. Thero upon tho bulcouy wns n strnngor dressed In black. Ho nnd Frnnccsco camo to nn open window, leaned out nnd tnlked ,con lldentlnlly together. Tho stranger wns peel ing nn ornugo and ho filing tho peel almost upon tho hend of Kl Snrrln; Rnmon, finger- ItiK his pistol butt, wondered lf ho should shoot now or wnlt. Tho two men went In ngaln nnd solved tho difficulty for that time. Moreover, tho outlaw did not yet know for ccrtnln thnt his wife was within tho millhouse. Ho would reconnoitre and find out. So ho hid his gun carefully lu a dry plnco under n stono nnd stolo up to tho house through tho garden, finding his wny by Instinct, for the lighted windows were now on the other side. It wns a doctor's cnrrlnge nil the way from La Blsbal that stood thero. It wns not a wedding, then; someone wns ill, very 111, or tho Snngrndo would not hnvo como from so far, nor nt such nn expenso to Don Luis, who In nil things was n careful man. And then n grent, keen pain rnn through his soul. Ho heard his Dolores call his namo! High, keen, clear ns It wero out of nn eternity of pain It enme to him. "Ramon, Ramon help me, Ramon!" Ho stood n moment clutching nt his breast. The cry wns not repeated. But, nil tho samo, there could bo no mistake. It was her voice or that of nn angel from heaven. She had Lummoncd him, and, alive or dead, he would find her. He drew his knlfo and, with a spring, was In tho road. Along tho wall he sped toward the door of tho dwelling plnce; It stood open nnd tho wido hnll stretched before him empty, vnguo nnd dark. Hnymon listened, his upper lip lifted nnd his whlto teeth showing n little. Ho held his Knife, yet cleau nnd razor-sharp, In his hand. There was a babel of contused sounds anove; ho could distinguish tho volco of Luis Fernandez. But the voice of his Dolores ho did not hear again. No matter, he had heard it onco, nnd he would go yes, Into tho midst of his foes. She wns innocent; she loved him; sho had called bis name. Neither God nor devil should stop him now. He was already on the stalrcnse; ho was bare of foot, having stripped in the riverbed, and loft his brown cordovans bcsldo his gun. But before his bare solo touched tho hollow of the sec ond, the one sound In tho universe which could have stopped him rtached his ear that that foot was never set down. Kl Sarrla heard the Erst cry of a new born child. CIlAI'TUn XIII. i:i Snrrla mid the firi'T. El Sarrla was outside now. His knife was I hidden In his breast. There was no need of It now. at least for tho present. He looked out of the gate upon the white and dusty highway. Like tho hall It was vague and empty, ankle-deep, too. In yet warm dust, which felt grateful to his feet after the sharp stones of the arroyo out of which he had climbed. L'ndcr the barn a woman crouched by a flro under a little tent pitched In a corner evidently taking care of the place In the nbsence of her companions. Gypsies they were, as ho could see. and strangers to the place. Perhaps she could tell htm some thing. She called aloud to blm and he went and sat down beside her. nothing loth. you are a Gallegan. I set?!" said the woman, while she continued to stir soni thtng savory In a pot without appearing lo pay Ramon much attention. "A Galllcian from Lugo yes but I have been long In these parts," answered El Sarria, mindful ot his accent. "And we of Granada, as you may both see and hear!" said the old gypsy, tossing her head with the scorn of the Romany for the northerner. "What Is going on up there?" he said. In dicating the millhouse with his thumb. And, as he spoke, for the first time the woman ceased stirring the pot and turned her eyes upon him. "What U that to thee?" she Inquired, with a sudden fierce thrill In her speech. As fierce and strong beat the passion In the heart of El Sarrla, but nevertheless he commanded himself and answered "Naught!" "Thou llrst!" sho said, "think not to hide a heart secret from a hax. a witch woman. Either thou lovest to the deaih or thou hatest to the death. In either case pay! Hay and I will tell thee all thy de sire, according to the crossing ot nsy band!" El Sarrla drew a geld double duro from bis pouch and gve It Into her withered hand. "Good." she said, "'tis a good crossing! I will tell you truth that you may take oath upon, whether klsslnc or slaying be In your thought A woman Is sick to the death or near by A babe little, ucdrslred Is born. Tht- Tla Elvira Is with her. And the babe well, when the mother Is scan to be a bride, its life Is sot like to be long' A reugh crossing for so short a sojourn. 1 et Good morning, brave tsan'f son And to you. sir. a fife Jruraey till the knife strikes or the Hps meet'" Leaving her pot simmering oa the wcoj ashes ibe gypsy woman earae after Rinxin to the corner cf the gardes. The br.itd leaved fig tree made a dense green gtoem there. The rale gray undersides the o'lve whipped like feathers n the Hpht chill rreese of nlsht 'There g in there" She polnlf-d with her hasd to a little pll. lared summer hcuse It the garden e4 tfce mlllhaute Whether bate the old ar love the young. tWe there." t& whlrpereJ "There is na seed tfeat Tla Rlvlra sqU have all the p14 Cross sny taad .gin aad 1 yir servaat fererar." Hataa gave hrr a rtd daro. ni she clawed Raraoa by the ana vtta clans like eipUf" talent aad stood leaslag again: htm breathtag Into hit ear "Ah Gallero. jvm are string to War. 1 rain it I love 1 man ." the d -Oace u had not iv4 k lack aad earrU If ! OiraMa had lran4 hr breast atalat! jcr shvuUcr A. ail wittered st, ,t a A Favorite Remedy This roUnblo medlolno lias (or lUty yoars boon tho favorite; with thousands of pooplo, ami It will alvrnys bo found lu tliolr luudlolno chost. Hostetter's Stomach Bitters. should bo glvon a pormanont plnoo In ovory household, bo causo It Is America's favorite medlolno for stomach Ills It Invariably euros Dyspepsia, Indigestion, Constipation, Flatulency and Insomnia, also stimulates tho Llvor and Kldnoys, purifies tho blood nnd prevent Mnlnrln, Fever and Antic. Try It, but do not acceipt a substltuto. Tho jronulno has Our Private Dye Stamp ovor tho nock of tho bottlo. nnd hard ns the rim ot a sieve. But you love this young widow, you also. Sho Is El Sarrla'a widow, they tell me, ho whom the Mlquelltes slew nt tho entering of tho Devil's canyon, A flno man thnt, cnratnbal And so you, too, wish to marry her, now he Is dead. If I wero a widow nnd young I would choose you, for you nro of stnturo nnd of thickness, a proper mnn through and through. Scurco cnu I meet my old armn nround your chest. Yet womnn nover known woman, and sho may chance to prefer Don Luis. But the babo Is In tholr wny the babo thnt cried tonight. Luis does not wish It well. He longs for children of his own by this womnn, nnd El Snrrla's brat would spoil hla Inheritance." Sho stopped aud unclnspcd her nrms. "Ah," sho said, "you love not Don Luis. I felt It when 1 spoko ot his having Issuo by that woman. I wot well that will novcr happen. Your knlfo or your pistol (ot these you havo two) will havo conferenco with him beforo that. But If you wish this child to llvo though I see not why you should, savo thnt Its father was llko you n proper mnn nnd tho slnyer of mnny stnnd yonder In the shadow ot tho sum mer house, nnd If nnyono comei out with the babe, smite! Ilut lf It be a man, smlto hard. If It bo Aunt Klvlra, tho hax, smlto ten times harder. For sho Is tho devil In petticonts and hnth sworn away many n life, as she would do mlno lf sho could. I. w ho have nover wished her. any harm all the days of my llfel "Go go, they aro coming to tho door. I sco tho lights discappearlng from tho cham ber above. Remember to strike tho Tla low In the groin Is beBt. She wenrs nmu lets nnd chnrtus abovo and you might miss your mark." Rnmon found htm In tho little roughly finished lnth-nnd-plaster temple. Ho sat on the dry bnsln of the fountain nnd parted I the vino leaves with his hands. He was ! scarco n dozen yards from a door In tho wnll a door recently broken, which by two stono steps gave direct access to the gar den. Ramon listened nnd through the dnrkncea ho could discern tho keen, Insistent, yet to his enr, sweet crying of tho babe, preseatly broken by n series of pats on tho back Into n staccnto bleat, and finally stilting ltsolf gradually luto uncertain silence. Then tho door Into the garden wns cnu tlously opened nnd a mnn clumsily de scended. Ho shut the door softly behind him, stood a while gazing up at tha lighted room. Then shaking his fist nt the Illumi nated rat,es he moved toward the summer bouse. Stumbling and grumbling the man camo to tho door. He did not descend tho step which led to tho Interior, but groped through one of the open windows for some thing behind the door. "May holy St. Ieadore strike my brother with his lightnings!" he uttered. "He gives me tho HI Jobs, nnd when I have done them but scant thanks tor all my pains!" His hand went groping blindly this way and that, unwitting of what lurked In the further gloom. "From Ramon Garcla's knife at the Devil's gorge to this young one's undoing all comes to poor Tomas. And now when he might have left me the millhouse he must needs marry this widow Garcia and set to work forthwith to chouso mo out ot my Inheritance. A foul pest on him and on his seed!" By and by he extracted a spadt a mat tock and a skin-covered corn measure hold ing about the quarter of an arroba. With these ho went grumbling off toward the deep shade of the fig tree where Ramon had talked with the gypsy woman. "It Is a blessing that such puling brats need no Iron collar when sentenced to the garrotte. It will not be pleasant. I sup posea nasty thing enough to do. But. after all, tbls little trench under the fig tree will bo an excellent hold over my good brother Luis, Many a stout "ounce" of gold shall he bleed because of the small squalling bundle that shall be hushed under this garden mould!" El Sarrla knew his man by this time, though he had not seen him for many years. He was Don Tomas, Luis Fernan det's neVr-do-well brother, who bad been compelled to f.ee the country the year of Angoulerae s French Invasion for giving In formation 10 tho enemy. Tresently with many puffs and pants Tomas finished his work to his satisfaction. Then be shook a handful of grass aad leaves Into the bottom of the excavation. "There," he muttered, with a cackle of laughter. 'there is your cradlc.bed cosily made, young Don Ramon! I wonder how I soca that hell-hog Tla Elvira win re ready to go ner part. The Saaprado must have rone hours ago. She is to bring the young ling out aad then go back to tell her story to the mother how sweetly U passed away ah. ah how heavenly was Its smile So it will o it will' Tomas Fernandez knew the t-ick. He baa quieted many a leveret the same way!" The garden door opened again, this time Tery slightly, a mere slit of light lytcs across the taagled green and yel'.eish gray of the gardfa. The s.scal. be mattered. "I as to go and wait outside for the TIs. Of course my good and respectable trotter will -0: put a finger 10 the Job htraself " He was standias leaalac upas his rr tock at the head of the little grave wt h he had destined for the child cf Daler s Garcia He had been whlttliar a gay Ar'a lulan HI cf tune he tad lM.-ed 03 . leap travels. "Well, better get It over"' be tatd ir - ptasr his mattock aad startlsc oct tow.-' t-e doer. "Here comes the Tla'" But at that lacraeat the bearra U ' Ipon the aead of the raliaUtt rwVr.-i defended the flat cf his ctj triade r Sarrla had tateaird the rice, but T. r.w! aogel turned the wear-oa at the . vmeat or else U Na clcres tc : shenldf r Wade Tor It a, fl!vf r , t-at wielded tit weapan. IV-a fell dlgcer of tnfaat rraret. right att-a- ficaTUc he hlmelf haj j, ,. , Mtt wa aiioi w-jjv t5t llrt Vf v., tfcrw- out ti(. lrja tUt xCrf, wnwS jke pedatura to and fro ts 't ale, tT He Cst:s(. i h nidn'i ir n MU. n her beauty , coir.petly tidies ww-M Motchft and rrar-let til! the -t-3 BueVlta't Arnica ut- r-v ... Itfee. at win n ftmilftfiK jerer tortt I boll, vil.-rrv firhanrirt aai Tflost . i: tte lwfai-;tV fer pet ccrr M:i i.s 'ta'p 'ea, Cwt twtticri ;.Vs at