The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-01-13

taken and the young engineer, lhoued
he could weep for his friend. Tas yet q
man of iron nerve and unquaIilng cour-
age.
He procured a feet horse and rode to
the cGrtIlo where Wilhelm was c3nhned.
1t stood near Quiroga quarters. Leay-
inc the horse with the captain Of the
prison-guard who already kne" HIN
we'll. frederick remarked calmly tnat the
general was going to reprleye MliEe!lh'
and asked the officer to give the morse
to him when the order Of re.ease was
sent.
This the captain promised to 90.
Frederick hen proceeded to Qliroga :
ouarters. and having his former order
for admission still 10 his possession, he
passed the sentry and going along the
corridor to the reception room, lounu
the dictator alore. sitting at a table.
General" he said, you know the
object of my visit; it IS TO Intercede
orce more for MY poor friend. lou
have been mi.informed concerning him
He i. an innocent man. He Isqlite in
capable of joining in conspiracy.
beg. implore you to release him.,
O1iroga looked at him. and with a
wicked smile said You must forget
| your friend. He dies at three o clock.
When | co.demn a man never pardon
him" .
"Ah. but he is my only friend in all
this strange land" exclaimed the poor
fellow on his knees. ''IIe Is my hearts
brother. IF you take his life, y,u take
mino as well. Senior, he is guiltless. lie
has not The heart for such a deed; he
has not the power. Why, Senior. how
could Wilhelm conspire7 Even o he
cannot speak a word Of Spanish. My
general spare him.
IF he doesn't understand Spanish,
he will be saved the labor Of learning
it" said the cold bloc led despo., then
raising his voice, he ordered Friedrich
to retire. NO word Of yours can pro-
long Wilhelm's life one pulse-beat."
But like Tightening friedrich had
bounded to his feet. and leveling a
cooked pistol at Quiroga's head, ex-
claimed
Il. it so, monster. Speak one word
and you die. / have come to liberate
my friend. | will do it,"
The astonished dictator sprang up
from his seat, but saw in the cold blue
eve OF the Dung German a gleam of
brutal f~erocity quailed. For a moment
the two confronted each other, ana
the tryant trembled.
"What will you then Of meF' he ex
claimed. in a hoarse whisper.
friedrich stepped backward to the
door, and without taking his eye Oft
Quiroga, turned the key.
Il will have Wiihelm,s PARDON he
said in calm, measured tones. See,
Senior, | have saved you the trouble of
drawing the order ior his release. Here
it is ready drawn, and with it his pass
port to leave the country. 1t wants
only your signature. Sign instantly!'
Quiroga glared at the bold intruder.
The bristly, short hair on his forehead
worked co~nvulsively up and down; and
his large mouth drew out the corners
till hi. teeth were half uncovered
while his hands slowly clutched and un.
lutched.
"Senor," continued the calm voice
Of the German, you have no time to
lose. My life you may have and vel
come to it. But these papers you must
sign. Hesitate while your own pulse
beats FIVE strokes mere and [ will forev-
err deprive you of the power to commit
more murders"
The tyrant was at bay. There was
no alternative. Dropping back into his
seat, he signed. With his pistol still
covering its mark, the German stepped
backward again to the door, and open
ing it, beckoned to the guard, and hand
ing him the paper, said quietly:
Here is the generals order for the
release of the foreigner, Wilhelm. De
liver it at once to the captain of the
guard"
He had spoken to the soldier, but
never once taken his eye off Quiroga !;
and now, relocking the door and taking
a seat, be said in the most quiet a
ner:
General, l will now have an hours
conversation with you"
Upon the margin of the order for re-
lease, Frederick had written a few
words in German, directing his friend to
take a horse which the captain would
give him and escape, without an in
%stant's delay, from the province.
For a full hour now this self sacri6c-
ing man sat and conversed with the
grim tyrant across the table; and dur
ing hat time, he told him many I'M
palatable truths.
He spoke of the injuries that himself
and his companions had unjustly suffer
ed at the dictator hands, and besought
him as a ruler to adopt a more humane
policy toward his fellow-men.
sSWol Sopor Erodaricly , nr, OF
length observed, you have accomplish.
ed your object. Your friend is well on
his way, if not safe wei the border and
| suppose you are ready to retire"
After have obtained from you a
single promise said Frederick
land what is that ?"
"Promise me, on your honor, as a
Spanish American, that you will order
no pursuit within one hour from this
moment. Will you do it?"
81 promise it - exclaimed Quiroga.
abruptly, and took out his watch. II
you can escape in hat time, you shall
not be harmed"
With polite bows the two separated.
But the young German had beea
more thoughtful on behalf of his friend
than himself. He had provided DC
horse for his W escape and rather
than lose the time neces ;ary to obtain
one, he trusted to his ability to reach
the Eeighboring mountains on foot, and
thus elude pursuit. Possibly he had
not the money to either buy or hire
another horse.
Now a S~paniard, even a South Ameri.
can Spaniard, regards his words as more
sacred than his life. Villain though he
was, Quiroga would not break his.
Watch IN bopJ bo ,,ooI l