, 1860-03-02
RoBBERY AND 1EYsTERY.

want man capable Of acting a. my cicerone
about the town. At this time had In my pos
session bill Of exchange upon wealthy house;
but not caring 10 have L hon0red before my de-
parture thought II best to retain Il till the last
moment as the care Of b large sum Of money
would be troublesome to one whose desire was
to be free from standing guard over his own
effects.
For this reason did not even call upon the
drawees Of the bill i and as was stranger to
them personally, thus exposed myself to . to-
tai loss, in the event Of the same falling into the
possession Of some dishonest individual, who
might represent himself as the proper payee.
That committed great error In thus neglect
ing 10 secure myself against false representation
-an error BY which my money and life might
have been ioffeited--the peruser Of this tran
script from my notebook viii clearly perceive.
l had been some three or four days In the
hres and drives, glancing modestly at the dark,
lustrous.eyed beauties whom continually met
and passed, when said 10 my man Pablo that
he must now take me in hand and show me
cverJ thing that could possibly interest q foreign
traveller. Pablo, l may remarkI BY the way,
was one Of the keenest rOgues that ever lodged
police and kept his worthy neck outside Of
halter-though this learned too late to save
myself some trouble-and he had the reputation
Of having once been an indifferent actor, which
will account for his mode Of putting his ques-
tons
"Does your worship wish to 70 behind The
scenesI" be quietly inquired.
"Even into the green room Of the town,
PablO," laughed !, and observe. II possible, the
make up Of the actors"
The best time for that then, seiioH Is at night
while the dramatic corps are preparing for their
parts"
ave viii begin tonight, Pablo"
We did begin that night and before the bell
tOlled the hour Of twelve, lancied had seen
the city Of nObles and begears turned inside out.
At least ! had seen enough 10 content me; and
a. we issued from q splendid gambling saloon
where beautiful and fascinating senorita was
dealing monte for the benefit Of herself and num-
vrOus admirers, said;
"Now, then, for our ho.el, Pablo.S
"One adventure more, senior, and your worship
shall retire with the wisdom Of Z solomon"
"One adventure mcfS," I asscnted.
With this Pablo began 10 lead the way through
Q dark, narrow street; when suddenly. as l
turned sharp corner, heavy mantle was thrown
over my head, and my person at the same mo-
ment seized BY two powerful rulfians, one Of
whom forced gag into my mouth, while the
other pinioned nv arms.
"Senor," said 4 calm. quiet voice. ait were
easier
your life we do not seek; 90 Be governed by
policy, and make no resistance, and YOU shan not
b harmed. We will tell YOU presently what We
require Of you. Pray follow IS we lead"
did sD.IoF | Was in their power and could
do nothing bctter.-and IN the eoSr.e Of ! oonole
Of minutes l found myself alongside Of ! car.
riaec. with a request that I wouId enter II. NJ
stiil obeyed-noe with the best vrace and most
pleasant feelines-but ouiescentlv and without
disturbance. Nv kidnappers entered with ne.
sliIl keening me ninioned ana gnc,,od. ard avav
We whiTIed 80
Filleen m;nute.--or less lima n might have
beeo-hroneht us 10 4 halt beneath sorne dark
sFchway. -.
"Senor, said the spokesman. "haye tl,e good.
ness TO alight, and suffer me 70 conduct YOUR
Ivorshin into rr;v,ta onartmont
/ gOt out Of he carriaee. and was lad down
some ten or dozen steps into what / Isncied.
Irom the CHANGE or atmosnhere. 10 he 4 damn
stone vault beneath the surface Of the earth.
The cloak was still over INV ewes; but presently
could see the reflection Of 4 lieht. And imme.
diateIy amer this he mantle was removed. and
two masked men. dressed IN black. one of them
holding sort Of dark lantern, were revealed to
my view. / glanced quickly around the apart.
ment and saw that ii was small, having rough
stone walls. and only one outlet the door throuSh
which we had entered. Save two or three rough
benches, il was empty also: and pointing 10 one
Of these, the same person who had before ad.
dressed me said:
"Pray be seated. senior, and we will give YOU
liberty io speak"
I comnlied with his request. and he at once
stepped forward and removed the gag. As soon
as found could use nv voice, / sternly de.
mandcd the meaning Of such treatment
SBe calm, seiior, do not get excited, and we
will inform you," was the cool reply, spoken in
an ordinary business tone. "The hct is, seiior,"
he went on, "you arc stranger in Mexico, with
more means at your command than strangers
generally have, or any honest man may have i'm
mediate use for; and we, being less blessed in