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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 1901)
10 TIIE OMAHA DAILY BEE: SUXDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1001. The By S. Bjiiopol- of 1'rcccilliiB Clmiitem. Ramon Onrcln. known ns El Sarrla, hoy. ItiB been induced to believe that his wl.c, Dolrres, Is unfaithful, Btabs a village ton. Jlafael Flares, whom he rinds presumably klBfdng Dolores through the. window. Ills estates are confiscated and he becomes a hunted man. At the name tlmo a young Keotch adventurer, ltollo illalr, cqmea to Spain, and during ,in Inn quarrel Is aided by John Mortimer, an Englishman. The two Mart to visit Don Hnltnsar, aunot of the monastery of Monthlanch. Hlalr and Mortimer nro entertained lavishly by the obhot. and mret Ettenne St. Iicrrc. a French gallant who Is studying for hol orders, These three, with El Hnrrlu. who has fonr.d protection at tho monastery, are commissioned by the abbot to capture tho queen resent and her little daughter In tnu Interest) of the church. Enrouto for the camp of Cabrera, the Cnrllst general, they pass tho home of El Sarrla. who learns that Dolores was not false to him and that his downfall was plotted by l,uls I crnnndei. Dolores la Imprisoned In Luis homo and tho on to whom she has Just given birth is about to burln allvo by Luis' brother, Tomas, when El Sarrla falls upon him. Kl Snrrla rescues his child nnd takes It to tho Convent of tho Holy Innocents, whero Concha Is nlso staying. Then, aided by Hollo Illalr nnd his companions, ho cap tures Fernandez' homo nnd rescues his wife, lilalr nnd hia comrades, captured by Gen eral Cabrera, cannot prove their sympathy with tho Cnrllst cnuso because Illalr wa.i forced to leave his credentials at the con vent as security for Dolores. They ate sentenced to be shot at daybreak. Conciiu arrives from the convent with credentials, raves their lives and later Joins Uliitrs party in search of tho iiecn regent. 'I no iidventurers lenrn that the queen regent a court nt Man lldofensn has scattered be cause of the black plaguo and Cardono nnd I .it Olruldo nre sent forw.ird to reconnoller. They lenrn that a band of gypsies aro plan ring to nld the castle, and Hollo hasten to the rescue t the roynl party, ltollo nnd party barricade the palace, ris st tho gypsies, who BUrceed, however, In kidnap plnu tho Princess lsabl, ltollo rescues Isabel und starts with her for tho hermit age. (Copyright. 1901, by 15. S. McCluro Co.) eiiAi'Tim xxxiii. Conciiu Snyn Anicn. Looking down from their station on the Tcof, ltollo and tho friar could sco what appeared to ho tho main force of tho gyp sies drawing near through the alleys of tho wood. They npproached In no order or military formntlon, which, Indeed. It was never their naturo to adopt. But they camo with a sufficiency of confused nolso, signalling and crying through the aisles of the forest. "Thoy nre telling each other to spread out on tho wings nnd encircle tho house on tho north!" whispered Hollo (who understood their dialect) In a low voice to the Ilasquo friar by bis side. Tho monk laughed a low, chuckling laugh. "Thoy wllll And the holy hermitage equally well guarded on that side." ho said. And as they Htood silent tho roso of dawn began slowly to unfold Itself over tho trco tops with that awful stillness and decorum which characterlso tho daybreaks of tho south. Tho glades of tho woods were filled with a glimmering lllmy light, lu which It was onsy to Imagine tho spirits of the dead hovering over tholr earthly tenements. Tho gypsies enmo on as usual, freely nnd easily, land pirates on their own ground, nono nhlo to make them afraid. Somo of them still carried botns of wlno (tho true "lt-ather bottlo") In their hands or swung across their shoulders, nd ever and nnon took n swig to kcop tho courago up aH they camo near. Somo sang and shouted, for were thoy not going to rout tho lazy monks, nlways rich In money and plato, out of tholr lurking placcs7 "To the knives' point with thorn, then!" thoy shouted. "They who prato so much of paradise let thorn go thither and that with speed!" This would bo a raro Jest to tell for forty years by many a swinging kcttlo nnd while footing It over many a lonely and dispeople heath. Thus with laughter nnd shouting they camo on nnd to Hollo, poorlng eagerly over tho battlements, tho white-wrapped corpses along tho walls seemed to turn slowly blood-red before his eyes, tho flaunt ing crimson of the sky above. first of all strode tho man who had called himself tho executioner of Saln manca, Ezqucrra, ho who had saved tho Ufo of Jose Maria upon tho scaffold. Ho camo forward boldly, Intending to thunder with his Unl fo hnndlo upon tho great door. Iliit nt tho foot of tho steps he stopped. Looking to olthcr hand ho saw, almost erect within their niches a strange pair of figures, apparently wrapped In bloody rnt ruent from head to foot. Ho staggered back nerveless and shaken. "What ure these faceless things?" he cried. "Surely tho evil spirits aro here!" And In deadly fear ho put his hands before his cyrs lest his vtilon should be blnstcd by a portent. And from tho other side of tho hermitage came on answorlng cry of fonr. "Be brave, Ezqucrra," called ono behind Jilni. "It's nothing only aomo monk's trick!" Ezqucrro, over his shoulder, cast n flerco glance nt the speaker. "Brother!" he cried, "you who aro bo full of courago that you can supply others, I go up I lies o steps and find out tho trick yourself!" Nevertheless, through very prldo of placo ns their temporary leader, Ezqucrra set hla feet onco mnro on tho stops and mounted. Tho shrouded tlgures grew less red as ho npproached. "After all, It 'a somo trick!" ho shouted angrily, "wo will make tho fools pay for this! Did thev think to practice tho black nrt upon those whoso fathers have used all magic, black nnd white, for 10,000 years?" So saying, he set his hand to the face cloth of tho nearest figure and plucked It away. Then was rocalod to hi nflrlghtencd and revolted gazo tho features, swollen and bloated, of ono who had died of tho black plague. At tho inmo moment and before his folowors could set tholr hands to their mouths or retreat n step, round both cor ners of tho building there came a double swarm of gypslea, running nt random through tho tangle of tho woods and streaming along tho paths. Tho executioner of Snlmanea also turned nnd ran down the steps. "Touch tho thing, who will!" he cricJ. "I have dono with It!" And tho entlro attacking party, with their knives and sledgo hammers would In like mnnnor hnvo flrrt but for a strange nnd unionised for ovont which happened nt that moment. As Hello peered over tho low parapet he saw a ailg.it form rush suddenly ncrosj tho front of tho fleeing gypsies, shouting nt and striking tho fugitives. And' even at that distance ho wna suro that It must he the daughter of Munoz, whom ho had left ca tlvo In I.a Granja. She hail been tafey rnounh locked In the castle how then had sho ecaped IJut all theorizing wm stepped nt sight of tho vehement anger of tho girl and of the evident power she hod over these wild nnd savago men. She d'.d not even hesi tate to strike a fugl'lvo with her clenched fist If ho attempted to rvado her. In her lury she drew a kulfe from Ezquerra'e 1 ir Firebrand. R. CROCKETT. belt and struck at the throat of tho exe cutioner of Snlamanca. So vehement was her anger nnd so potent her Inllucnce that tho girl nctually suc ceeded In arresting moro than half the fleeing gypsies. Some, howevor, evndcd her and sho would stay her hendlong course a moment to send a fierce curse nfter thom. "Sho Is crazed," thought Hollo, "her wrongs have driven her mad." Hut tho sight of that glimmering array of plague-stricken sentinels waiting for them, still and silent In the red dawn, was moro than tho fortitude of tho rallied forces could stand. Upon nppronchlng the her mltngo tho gypsies showed again symp toms of rcnowed flight. Whereupon tho girl, shrilly screaming tho vilest i nmos nt them, mounted tho steps herself with the utmost boldness and con fidence, "I will teach you," she screamed. "I, n girl nnd nlonc, will show you what Backs of straw ye aro frightened of. Do ye not know that tho great prlzo Is here? Within this very houso. behind these de fenceless windows and cardboard doors, the queen of Spain, whoso ransom Is worth twice 10,000 duros, if your townrd hearts dared not shed her black, Hourbon blood! Heholdl" It was only by craning far out over tho parapet (so far, Indeed, that he might easily huvo been discovered from bcloA' had there been any to look) that Hollo was able to see what followed. Out every eye was fixed on tho girl. Tho girl spurned tho fallen face cloth with her bnro foot, and, catching tho body of tho dead man In her arms, sho dragged It out of its niche and cast It down tho steps upon which It lay all nbroad, half revealed and hideous In tho morning light. This done, rushing back ns swiftly and with tho snmo volcanic energy to tho oc cupant of tho other niche, sho hurled him by main force after hU companion. Then, panting and wan, her slnglo tnttcrcd gar ment half rent from her Hat Ill-nourished body, sho lifted ono arm aloft In triumph nnd cried: "There, you dogs, that Is what you were nfrnld of!" Hut even as sho stood thus revealed In tho morning light a low murmur of terror and nstonlshmcnt ran around nil who saw her. For In tho struggle the girl had un covered her shoulder nnd breast, nnd there upon her young and girlish skin appeared the dread Irregular blotches which betrayed the worst and most deadly form of the dis ease. "Tho black plague! The black plaguo!" shrieked tho throng of besiegers, surging thin way nnd that like a flock of sheep which strango dogs drive, as with wild nnd shrill cries they turned and fled headlong toward tho mountains. Tho girl, speechless wffli wrath and per haps nlso with tho death sickness fnr ad vanced within her, took a step forward as If to follow them. Hut forgetful of whero sho stood, sho missed her footing, fell head long and lay across tho dead sentinel whom sho had first dragged from his post. The HaBquo looked over Hollo's shoulder nnd pointed downward with a certain dread solemnity. "What did I tell you?" he said, "the finger of Ool! The finger of God hath touched hor! Let us go down. The sun will bo nbovo tho horizon In twenty minutes." "Had wo not better wait?" urged Rollo, "they may return. Think of our responsi bility, of our feeble defenses, of " "Of Concha," ho was about to say, but checked hlmsolf and added quietly, "of the little queen." Tho monk crossed himself with Infinite calm. "They will not return," ho snld. "It Is our duty to lny theso In tho quiet earth ero tho sun rise. There Is no Infection to bo feared till an hour after sunrise." "Hut the girl, the daughter of Munoz?" snld Hollo, "did not sho take tho disease from tho dead?" "Nay," sold tho Basquo, "I have often behold tho smitten of tho plague, like that. It works so upon very mnny. For a time they nre, ns It were, possessed with seven dovlls and tho strength of man Is vain agalust them.- They snap strong cords oven as Samson did tho I'hlllstlno withes. Thsn puff! Comes n breath of morning air, chill from tho Sierra, nnd they arc gone. Thoy were and they nro not! The finger of Ood hath touched them. So It was with this girl." "I will follow you!" said Hollo, awe strlckoo, In spite of himself. "Tell mo what I am to do!" In silence Hollo permitted himself to be covered with an armor of freshly tarred cloth, which was considered In Spain nt that time to bo a complete protection against plague Infection. The monk Tco dcro was proceeding to nrray himself In like manner, when Concha appeared beside them and held out her hands for tho gauntlets. 'Tho little princess Is asleep," she snld, eagerly, "I am strong, I havo as good a right to serve Ood as cither of you and ns great a need!" Tho Hasquo gazed at her curiously. To tho oyo sho appeared n mere boy In her page's dress, but there was at all tlmos somoth'ng Irresistibly nttractlvo about Concha's faco. Now her lips quivered sen. sltivcly, but her oyes were steady. Sho continued to hold out hor hands. "I demand that you permit mo to servo God!" she cried to Brother Teodoro. The monk shrugged his shoulders with n pitying gosturo nnd looked from ono to tho other. "You nro young I pray you think," urged the Basquo. "There Is great danger! Look nt that maid them nnd whnt sho hath brought on hersolf." "Ah!" snld Concha, softly so softly, In deed, ns to bo aloinst Inaudible "hut the difference Is that she did this thing for hate while I I " Sho did not finish her sentence, but. rnls Ing hor oyes, wot with tho soldom-coiulug tears, to those of the Btorn-faced brother, she .said Instead: "Give me the dress nnd let t.s bo gene. Tho sun Is rising!" "If ou nre, indeed, determined you shall havo that of nrothcr Dnmlugo," said Teo doro. ' Ho wns of little moro than your height and died, not of the plague, but sim ply from doing his duty." "Then let mo die In no othor way," said Concha, putting It on ns happily ns au other maiden might dress for u ball. These thrie went out to their torrlblo task nnd ns they were harnessing tho bul lock cart once more nnd spreading n clean cloth over It Hollo, moved In his heart of hearts, camo near. Never did two such lovers ns thoy meet moro strangely nr rayed. Yet he laid his black gauntlet ncross her own oud whlsperrd n word which Brother Trodoro did not hear, being, ns ho took good enro tn be, busied about tho straps nnd harnesslngs. "I do .lot think that love, will let us die yet," ho said. "That Is n prayer. Amen!" snld Concha In n whisper, lifting her oyes to his. It wns a strango betrothing and little bald, But when at lust ho put the ox goad In bor hands, Concha know that the night bad Indeed passed away and that the morn log was come. CIIAI'TUIt XXXIX. A lliuidful ot lloci. Patiently and softly went tho oxen about the little pottage garden of the friars, till, whero the soil was sandiest nnd the ground most open under a south-looking wall ou which tho roses wcro still clustering (for ttey grow roses late nt La Oranjn, lot a trench was dug. It was not so deep as a rich man's grave In other countries, but In Spain, or elsewhere, n little earth covers & multitude of sorrows. Brother Teodoro did his best, but In splto of his endeavors the bulk of tho work fell to Hollo and Concha. Yet under vhe ' page's dress and the rude outer slough of tarred canvas the girl's heart sang. There wns nothing terrible In death when ho nnd sho together lifted the stuff of mortality and laid It In Its last resting place.. With out a shudder sho replaced n fallen face cloth. With Hollo opposlto to her she took the feet of tho dead that had guarded them so well In tho red morning light, nnd when all were laid n-row In tho rest which lasts till tho Judgment day, nnd before the first spadeful of earth had fallen. Concha wdth a sudden Impulse took a kerchief from her neck and plucked n double hand ful ot the roses that clustered along the wall. They wcro whlto roses, small, hut of n sweet perfume, having grown In that high mountain nlr. Then without a word nnd whllo tho monk wns still busy with his prayers for the dead, she sprang down twmMM SHE LIFTED ONE AHM ALOFT IN TIUUMPH AND CRIED; "THEHE, YOU DOOS, to whero nt tho corner opposlto to Brother Domingo the daughter of Munoz hud been laid, tho pinched fierceness of her coun tenance relaxed Into n far-away smile. Concha spread her kerchief tenderly over tho face of tho girl, dropping tears tho while. Then sho crossei (ho little hands which pain nnd madness had driven to deeds of darkness nnd blood upon tho breast, In which tho angry heart had beaten so hotly, nnd scattered tho whlto roses over all. Then while tho Basquo Teodoro did his offlco over his head brother, Concha kneeled at tho toot of tho trench, a littlo crucifix In her hand. Her Hps moved aa ho held tho rudo Imngc of the crucified over that fierce littlo head and sorely tortured body. Ho who had c-"t out so many dovlls would surely pardon and understand. So nt least she thought. Hollo watched her, and though brought up to bo a good Presby terian by his father, ho knew that this lit tlo foolish Concha might yet teach him how to pray. Then Rollo made tho girl, whom the sccno bud somewhat overwrought, go off to u secluded part of tho garden and wash In the clean, coal water of n fountain whllo lu remained to shovel In the soil and pack it well down upon the bodies ot tho dead, who bad served his purpodo so faithfully. Last of all ho unyoked nnd fed tho oxen, leaving them solemnly munching tholr fodder, blinking their meek eyes and ruminating upon the eternal sameness of things In tholr serono bovine world. He camo out, ntrlpped hlmsolf to the skin and washed In one ot tho deserted kitchens from which brother Do mingo, omo tlmo nlraonor nnd cook to the Ermlta of San Ildefonso, had forever de parted. This being completed to his satisfaction, ho went out to find Conchn, who, her face radiant with tho water of the Guadurrama (and other things which tho young morning had brought her), met him ns ho camo to her through tho wood. Sho held up her face to bo kissed as sim ply and nnturally as a child. Death was nil about them, but of a truth theso two lived. It was now Rollo's chief desiro to get back to tho palace nnd find out what had happened thero during his ahsoncc. Ho hnd heard tho rattle of musketry fire again and ugaln during the night nnd ho feared, as much from the ensuing silence ns from tho escape of tho daughter of Munoz, tint r.omo disaster must havo occurred. He would havo started at onco to reconnoltro. but Brother Teodoro, hearing of his Inten tions, volunteered to I'.nd out whother the gypsies had wholly evacuated tho neighbor hood, Thoro wns a prlvato path from the ground of tho hermitage which led Into those of the palace. By this ho hastened off nnd It was no long time before tho Basque returned, carrying tho nows that not only was tho town freo from maraud ers, but that Hollo's people wcro still In full possession of La Granja. He had even been nblo to speak with ono of the roval servants for nn Instant, a man with whom he had Borne acquaintance. But this con ference, the Basque added, had been hastily Interrupted by n certain old woman of a flerco aspect, who had ordered tho young man off. Nevertheless he had gained enough Information to nmire him thnt thero would now bo no danger In the whole party returning openly to the palaco of La Granja. Accordingly Rollo set out, with Concha till wrapped in the clonk which covered her pago's dress. Hollo would gladly havo carried the Utile princess, but Isabel had taken to overwhelming a fancy to Concha that she could not bo Induced to quit her side for a moment., Indeed, she declared her Intention of leaving her mother nnd Dona Smana and returning to Aranjuez with Concha ns soon ns her message should be delivered. Tho sergeant received them nt the garden door, which bo had so carefully watched nil night. There was a kindlier look than tisual upon his leathern and saturnine features. "I Judge, senor," ho said, ns he saluted Hollo, "that you havo moro to tell mo than 1 havo to tell you." "In nny case, let mo hear your story first," said Hollo, "mine can keep!" "In brief, then, having your nuthorlty," began tho sergeant, "I permitted his ex cellency, tho duke of Hlatizarcs to have nn Interview with his dnughter, nt which, for safety's sake, I was present, nnd gained a great deal of Information that may be exceedingly useful to us In the future, But In ono thing I confess that I was not sufficiently cnreful. Tho girl, being left to herself n moment, csenped by what means I know not. Nor (this with a quaint glance nt Concha) was sho tho only lady who left tho pnlnco that night without asking my leave!" But without answering the cloaked page passed him rapidly, and with tho prlnctsj still clinging to her hnnd she passed up stairs. Tho sergeant looked after her nnd her young charge. "You arc suro of that lady's discretion?" he said. "I .have proved It to the death," answered tho young man briefly nnd a littlo haughtily. Tho sergeant shrugged his BhouldcrH as If ho would havo said with the Basquo friar, "It Is none of my business." But instead ho took up hlb report to his superior and said: "Wo burled tho body of the poor woman Dona Susnna within tho precincts of tho Coleglatn " "And an hour ago I hurled tho body of her Blayer," said Hollo, calmly. For an Instant tho sergeant looked astonished, ns Indeed woll ho might, but ho restrained whntovcr curiosity ho felt and only said, "You will lot mo hear what hap pened In your own time, nnd also how you discovered and regained tho littlo prin cess?" Hollo nodded. "And speaking of the princess, If she asks questions," continued Cardono, "had she not bettor bo told that Dona Susana has gone to visit her relations, which, ns sho wns tha last of her family, Is, 1 bcllove, strictly true." "But tho queen regent nnd tho duke Senor Munoz, I mean?" queried Hollo "What of them?" For tho young man had even yet no high opinion of ihnt nobleman or his vocation In Ufa. "Oh, as to the duke," answered tho ser geant, "I do not think that wo shall hnvo much troublo with him. Tho queen is our Hadajoz. Sim Is so set on rotumlng lo Madrid that sho will not move a step townrd Arngon, and wo have not enough forco to carry her thither ngalnst her will with any possibility ot secrecy." "Wo might tako tho little princess alone." mused Rollo, "sho would go with Concha anywhere. Of that I am certain." Tho sergeant shook his head. "Tho queen regent, and sho ulone, is tho fountnln of authority. It you kidnap nnd sequester her within tho Carllst lines, you will certainly paralyze tho government at Mndrld. Especially ou may prevent tho sweeping nwny of tho monasteries which, I tako It, Is nt the bottom of all this pother, though for tho llfo of mo I cannot sco what concern tho matter Is of yours." After ho had spoke thus freely. Hollo continued tn .nuso and tho bcrgcant to watch him. The latter had a great opinion of this young man's practicability. "Well," aald Hollo at last, "let us go up 'r.nd tnlk n littlo to my friends and El Sarrla. I think I bco n way of Inducing her royal hlgnoss to nccompany us. But It will requiro somo ilrmnces and oven a certain amount of severity." Tho sergeant nodded with grim appre ciation "It Is a pity with women," ho said, philo sophically, "hut sometimes, I know, It Is tho only wny." "Tho severity I sponk of," continued Hollo, not regarding his words, "will mostly fall to tho lot of the Senor Munoz. But wo may chanco to work on tho lady's feelings through him." Tho sergeant gnvo Hollo a quick glance, In which was discernible a certain nlrrt ncss of Joy. Tho Ecrgoaut also did not lovo hl grnndecshlp, tho duke of Hlanzures. So theso two went abreast up tha great staircase and found the Princess Isabel al ready playing Joyously with Ktlenne, John Mortimer Joining clumsily In, ns best ha could, Concha had vanished and La Glralda wen nowhere to bo seen. "The I'ogue Is In no hnsto to visit her mother after her night ndvonture!" snld the sergeant In a low tone, as Rollo and ho OK. A. 1). bliAKLliS, I lc 3lot Itfllnlile Specialist lu IMS ensm (if Men. GTRICTURE Cured with a new Homo treatment. No pain, no detention from business. URIN ARYl(llie' nnl Bladder Troubles, Wcnk Back, Burning Urine, Frequency of Urinating, Urlno High Col tred or with milky sediment on standing. HO curca for llf0 nml OYKrlSL-BO poison thoroughly Hennaed from tho system. Soon every llgn and symptom disappears completely I ml forever. No "BHEAK1NO OUT" of tho Clscnso on tho skin or face. Treatment Contains no dangerous drugs or Injurious hcdlclucs, WEAK MEN from Excesses or vic tims of Nervous Do cility or Exhaustion, Wnstlug Weakness, with early decay In young and middle ged, lack of vim, vigor and strength, Ivlth organs Impaired and weak. Curo Vuarantced. CURES GUARANTEED CHARGES LOW stcod watching tho sccno from tha door way. "Nor I," admitted Hollo with a smile. "Yet sco tho lady wo must." THAT IS WHAT YOU WERE AFRAID OF!" "And shall," said tho sorgeant. Yet In splto of tho unplcnsaut Interview which lny boforo him, ltollo could not help smiling nt the gnmo that wns going forward In tho upper hnll. "Sur lo pont d'Avlgnon." "Tout lo mondo y passo," chanted Et lenno. "Tout lo mondo y passe!" chorused tho littlo prlncctti, holding out her hands. John Mortimer mndo a confused nolso In his throit and presently wns compelled to Join tho clrclo nnd dnnco slowly round, his countenance 'meantime suggcstlvo of tho mentnl reserve that such undignified proceedings could only bo excused ns being remotely connocteil with tho snfo shipment of a hundred hogsheads of Prlorato. Tho littlo queen's merry laugh rang out ns his awkwardness, nnd then, seeing Hollo, sho ran Impetuously to him. "Come, you, nnd piny," sho cried, "tha red foreigner plays llko a wooden puppot. And whero Is that dnrllng little page boy from Aranjue?.?" "That I ennnot tell," quoth Hallo, "but hero comes his sister." A moment nfter Concha entered tho room, talking confidently to La Glralda. Sho was dressed In her own girlish costume of belted blouse, black basqulna, pleated small after tho Andnluslan manner, nnd tho quaint and pretty rebozo thrown coquettlshly back from tho llnest nnd most bow Itching hair In Spain. Tho littlo Isabel went up to Conchn. took her by the hand, perused her from head to foot, nnd then remnrked with deen feeling: "You nre very well, scnorlta, but I liked your brother hotter!" rilAI'TKIt XI.. All DiindlfN Arc .Vot Coivnril. It wns not, however, so simple a matter as Rollo supposed to obtain an nudloneo with tho queen regent of Spain. Ilor daughter, willing but by no means eager to hco hor mother, bad nt Inst been tnlton to her room by one of tho senlng men, whoso faithfulness during tho night had been no greatly stimulated by La Olralda's declared Intention of shooting either of them who should fall from his post for an Instant. To tho snmo gold-lneed functionary upon his return Hollo made bis request. "Tell her mnjesty thnt thoso gentlemen who lnet night defended tho p.tlnco wish to be admitted Into hor presonco In order thnt they mny represent to her tho danger of remaining longer In a houso exposed nllko to tho attacks of bloodthirsty villains and to the ravages of tho plaguo." "Her majesty, being otherwlso en gaged, Is not nblo to receive tho gentle men!" was tho civil but unsatisfactory answer brought back. Hollo stood n moment fuming, biting his thumbnail, as he had n fashion of doing when thinking deeply. Then ho nsked a sudden question. "Where is El Sarrla?" "Without, on tho terraoo doing a littlo sentry duty on his own cc count," said tho eergennt. "I told him tha' tho gypsies, , bolng wnlkers In darkness, hnd gone off for at least twelve houri, nnd that thero was no use In any further vlgtl.uro till nightfall, should It bo our ill-foriuno to spend another night In Hits place Hut (hero tho sergeant shrugi?'1 1 his shoulders very slightly, ns only ui And.iluslan or a Frenchman ran) well our txcellent Don Rnmon Is the best and I.TMcst of men, But it Is n pity that ho has not room hero for moro thun nnu Idea at n tlmo'" And Sergeant Cardono tapped hla brow Dr. SEARLES & SEARLES OMAHA, NEB. SPECIALISTS FOR DISEASES OF MEN Tho Secret of Our Uiipnrullcled Success is Told in Two Words: ..WE CURE. Varicocele, Acquired Blood Poison, Nerv ous Debility and all Ixeiiex Complications and Associate Diseases and Weaknesses of Men. VARICOCELE Are you afflicted with Varlcocclo or its results Nervous Debility and are yoi nervous, Irrltablo and despondent? Do you lack your old-tlmo energy and nmbttlonl Aro you Buffering from Vital Weakness, etc.? Thero Is n derangement of tho sensi tive organs of your Pelvic System, nnd oven though It gives you no troublo at pres ent, it will ultimately unmau you, depress your mind, rack your nervous system, un fit you for married llfo and shorten your exlstenco. Why not bo cured beforo It It too late? WB CAN CUHC YOU TO STAY CUHKD. Wo havo yet to sco tho case ol Varlcocolo wo cannot curo. Medicines, Hlcctrlc Belts, etc., wilt never curo. You need expert treatment. Wo treat thousands of cases whero the ordinary physician trents ono. Method now, without cutting, pain or loss of tlmo. with his forefinger. "I do not know," raid Hollo, smiling, "If tho one Idea Is n good one, It may carry n man far! But that matters nothing now. Lot theso two friends of mine, Don Juan nnd M. do Snlnt Pierre, take his place on tho terrace. Wo havo a dllllcult part to play upstairs and wo want only men of your nation or mint men neither enslly cxclttd nor yet overscrupulous!" Ho ndded tho lnt words ui.dcr his breath. No great tnlkcr wns EI S.irrla nt nny time, nnd now he had nothing to say till Hollo Informed him why ho wanted his help. Then ho wns ready to do every thing but tnlk go to the world's end. light to tho denth, give up all except Dolores (nnd risk even her) thnt he might do the will of his chief. El Sarrla wns not good nt lino cthlcnl distinctions, but ho under stood obedience, prompt nnd unquestioning, through nnd through nnd up nnd down. Hollo did not directly reveal his inten tions to his followers, nor did ho tnko Conchn Into his confidence. He had not oven spoken nnother word to her, but n glance hnd passed between thom r.nd Con cha was Batlstlcd. It had told her much that he loved her, that his heart held her the best beloved thing tho sun shone on thnt there were dangers and dllllcul tles beforo them, but that whatever hap pened neither would look back nor tako their hands from tho plough. Yes, oh, wlsj sceptic, It wns indeed n comprehensive glanco, ynt It passed ns swiftly ns when in n placid lnko n swallow dips his wings In full lllght nnd Is off again with tho drops pearling from his feathers. 'I wish you to follow me, gentlemen," ho said slowly. "Bring your arms. If her majesty tho queen regent of Spain vlll not see us, perhaps wo may faro better with the queen consort! I, for one, Intend that wo shall." Without offering nny further explanation, Rollo turned nnd marched steadily, but not hastily, to the chamber door of Senor Munoz, duko of Hlanznrcs. Tho liveried servant who was nppronchlng with n Jug of hot water (the younger of La Gunlda's charges of tho previous night), called out to them that they could not at that moment sec his excellency. Ho was, it nppenrcd, j in tho net of dressing. With tho coming of tho morning light these two gcntlcmon of the bed chamber had resumed tho entlro otlquotto of tho Spanish court, or nt least such modified forms of It ob. n littlo dis arranged by nltltudo and tho portent of an Informnl and (an yet) unauthorized prince consort, prevailed nt La Granja. But Hollo would have nothing of nil this. Enough time had been wnstcd. Ho merely moved his head a hair's biendth to tho side and tho young man In gold luce, n most deserving vnlct-de-chnmbre, found himself looking down at the curved edgo of El Sarrlo's sword bayonot, which almost touched his Adam's npplo In n suggestive manner. Ho piomptly dropped tho silver pipkin on tho Moor, whence the shaving water of tho duko slowly decanted Itself over tho parquctcrlo floor. A portion scalded tho valct'B finely i-hnped leg, yet ho dared not complain, being In fear of tho sword bayonet. Hollo knocked on tho duko's door with loud, contldent knuckles not nt nil ns tho gqntlcmnn with the shaving water would havo performed that feat. Whereupon, Inclining his car, ho heard hasty footsteps crossing the floor, nnd, sus pecting thnt if ho stood on nny sort of ceremony, ho might find tho door bolted nnd barred In hlr. face, Hollo turned tho handlu and quietly Intruded n good half of n beau tifully designed military riding boot within tho apartment of tho duke. So correctly hnd ho Judged tho occupant'B Intentions that nn Iron bolt wns nctually pushed beforo Don Fernando discovered thnt his door would not close, owing to nn unwonted obstruction upon tho door. "Your excellency." cried Hollo, In a stern vole;, "wo desire to speak with you on .1 question which concerns tho lives of nil within this rustle. Being unable to obtain an Interview with her majesty tho queon regent, wo make bold to request you to con vey our wishes nnd our Intentions to her!" "I nm drestlng I ennnot see you, not nt present:" cried a voice from within. "But, sonor, nee you wo must nnd shall," said Hollo, firmly; "In half a mlnuto wo shall enter your apartment, so that ou have due nolleo of our Intention." Watch In hand Rollo stood, nbsorbed In Favorite mm STOMACH ill Cniisiiltiidiiii I'ri'p, Trent incut by mnll. Cull or llddirn III) Mill Ht. nits. si:.ni.i:.s .t siuiti.ns, omaiia. the pascago of tho thirty seconds of which ho hud given notice, nnd hnd not tho ser gear.t suddenly dashed the chamber door open, the young Scot's foot would rertnlnly have been crushed to n Jelly, for the excel lent duke of Hl.uizares wns dlsiicfed lu tli'i very net of dropping a ponderous mnrblo bust of his wife's grandfather upon tho young man's toes. After that, of course, there wns no mora ceromony with Senor Munoz. lie wns linmn dlatelj relieved of his weapon, ordered to the further side of tho room nwny from nil possible nvenues of escape, and further guarded by tho sergeant, who bent upon him u st?rn nnd threatening brow. Then Hollo !:gnn to develop his Inten tions In a loud clear voice. For If, as ho suspcttcd, Maria Crlstlna chanced to bo within earshot, it might save an explana tion In duplicate If she should hear nt first hand whnt he was now about to rommunt cnto to her consort. On olthcr sldo of tho young man wcro his two nlds, the sergeant nnd Ramon Gnrcla, the first gaunt, tough nnd athletic, of nn ngu between 30 nnd CO, courago und In vincible determination written plnlnly on his brow, nnd lu his eyes when he was nngered, tho Angel of Death himself stand ing llko a threat. On tho other sldo stood Don Ramon Gnrcla, glgantlo In stature, deep-chested and solemn, driven by fate to actions of blood, but nil tho same with tho lunocent heart of n littlo child within his breast. "Senor Munoz," said Rollo, speaking rharp and sudden, "let mo Introduce theso gentlemen to jour notice. They nro two of tho most fnmoiin men In nil Spain, and worthy of your ucqualntnnce. This on my left Is Senor Don Josu Marin, Into of tho town of Honda, nnd this on my right Is Don Ramon Gnrcla, better known ns CI Sarrla of Aragon!" For the llrst tlmo tho color slowly for sook tho hnndbomo but somowhnt florid countenance of tho duko of Hlanzures. Ho wns ,iih his valet had truly said, engaged In his toilet and it Is curtnlnly difficult to look Impressive In n flowered drosslug gown. Being Spaniards and, therefore, gentlemen, El Snrrla nnd the sergeant bowed slightly nt Hollo's Introduction aud stood waiting. Rollo, no ways luth, con tinued his speech: "Your excellency Is no.w nwnro of tho names of two of those whom you mny thank for your safety. I myself, to whom tho queon regent owes tho recovery of her (laughter, nm n Scottish gentleman of good family. 'My companions below nro sev erally the count of Saint Pierre, n Fronch ' nobleman of ancient family, nnd Don Juan Mortimer, nn English merchant of unchal lenged probity." "Hero, therefore, arc llvo men who hnvo defended the queen regent with tholr lives nnd who now Judgo It lo bo necessary for her and tho princess thnt they put them selves Immediately under our protection and leave this placo ot Instant and terrible, dnngor!" "Tho queen will not bo dictated to by nny combination of men whatsoever," tho duko answered; "she hns resolved to remain at La Granja nnd therefore nothing can movo her!" Hollo bowed gracefully, but there was a dangerous glitter In his oyo which might hao warned his opponent. "Your excellency," ho went on with great calmness, "wo look confidently for your voico nnd Interest In this ninttor. You will hnvo tho goodness to tntrnduco us Into tho presonco of tho queen regent. You nro at liberty to nnnounro our Intentions nnd pre pnro her majesty for a visit." A quick light flashed over tho Indifferent nnd dogged countenanco of Sonor Munoz. Tho hopo of escape wns written thero ns plainly ns If printed In Roman character ucross his brow. Hut for this nlso Hollo had made provision. "Guard that Inner door," ho cried tn El Snrrla, and tho giant moved swiftly to his post, motioning nway tho gentlemen In waiting as ono might displace a dog from a cushion. Then Hollo stopped briskly Into tho corridor, set his hnnd to his mouth and cnllrd a Blnglo word nloud. "Concha!" (To bo continued.) It was stated nt the rroai conference In London that about nne-thlnl of nil the peo ple In th" I'nited Malm l"Ok to MctbndlMn fur their rellsl"iis Instruction und Christian inlnUtry. Remedy Tills rollnblo tnodlolno haa for fllty yoars beon the favorlto with thousands of pooplo, aua it will uiwuys bo lounu. In tholr modiolno chost. Hostetter's Stomach Bitters. should bo fjlvort upormnnont plnco In ovory household, bo eauso It Is Amorlca's favorlto medlolno tor stomach Ills. It invniiubly euros Dyspepsia, Indigestion, Constipation, Flatulency and Insomnia, also stimulates tho 1.1 vot ana Klrinny, purifies tho blood nnd provonts Mitlatin, l'cvcr miii Au.uo. Try it, hut do not acopt n n'ltxtltuto, Tho onulne has Our Private l)yo Stamp ovor tho nock of tho bottlo.