Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-06-07
THE SMUGGLER'S CAVE.

road used 10 be a dangerous one, infested
, by smugglers. robbers and wolves. Even
the police refused To explore that region
and the road was left clear for marauders
Many years ago young Mexican, Jose
Quederns, and his cousin FEDERICO MenillO
were travelling this road ON horseback
They were gay, brave young men, anN
ious 10 play with edged tools Gradually
they came into IA very lonely and deSolate
region. where the mountains rose high
and bleak ON each side Of them As the
evening stole on they became 81
lent. watched the sun set with tremor
Rt their hearts, and settled themselves
with their pistols in their hands.
The night closed in upon them fast and
white mist rose from the valley They
could II" longer see the road. All at once
their horses were stopped by a group of
rough men, who demanded their money
One Of the robbers snatched the pistol
from MenillO's hand and stabbed him
with dagger Quederns WAS So occupied
in wRrding of the attack that he did not
observe the fate of hin cousin. The ban
dts were struggling To bind his arms.
when suddenly girl appeared at the
corner Of the road with a tiaring lamp
which she held high above her head.
~Manuelo, Pepe' cried the girl in an
authoritative voice, do no morr' 1t is the
order Of Don Pablo II il the night of the
annunciation. and all life Is to be spared" ="
But one Of the robbers pointed silently
10 the body of young Menillo stretched
upon the ground.
He has perhaps only tainted from loss
of blood, responded the girl Garry him
Ia the tent and | will look after his
wounds "
Two II the robbers marched Quederos
between them, two carried Dcnillo's body,
and the rest followed with the horses. The
girl led the way for IA mile OF two, and the
whole band halted between the mountain
side and a huge bowlder The girl knocked
thrice. with pause after each knock, the
stone of the mountain seemed TO swing
back, and II path WAS seen descending into
the earth. They entered and came into a
low. wide room followed out i'll the rock.
The men crowded about large fire III the
center and began TO talk in dialect un-
known to Quederns.
Merrill was laid on a bundle Of hay, and
the Eiri began chatting his hands with the
contents of beautifully wrought bottle
In obedience TO her gesture two men ad-
vanced and opening his shirt found a long,
uneven wound under the left breast.
That is the HunChback's mark. There
is no chance for his life, senorita, for that
knife is poisoned" the men cried.
She. however, patiently bathed the
wound and stanched the blood, Quederus
assisting her. At last the girl said in
low voice:
He is dying"
He is dead" returned Quederos.
II was too true. Menillo was beyond all
human help.
In his anxiety Quederos had forgotten
that he himself had been wounded; but
now he fell to the ground almost fainting.
In an instant the two men bore him into
another room, cooler, and handsomely fur
nished as n bed room. Here they removed
his clothing. skillfully dressed his wounds.
and left him sleeping.
When he awOke handsome old man sat
before his bed reading pile of letters On
the bed lay the papers and purse OF Quede
rus. In an instant the old man had
clutched the papers and property and risen
10 his feet
All. my young friend" he exclaimed.
you are decidedly improving | will leave
you with Manuela: and these. waving the
papers and purse, # shall keep for you till
His wounds were freshly dressed, and
when he was once more comfortable in his
bed. he said Ia Manuela:
What is Don Pablo doing with these
papers and my purse,"
Il can not hope that you will ever get
them again" returned Manuela coolly IF
he fails in getting the ransom demanded
for you you will never need them any
more"
Who is Don Pablo'" asked Quederos
feehly.
He is known as the famous robber FL /
Diahlo.' the girl answered sadly
Quederos started up. but fell back again
with a groan as his wounds opened afresh /.
Manuela quietly bound them up again
without calling for aid. After a long
silence he said:
-Senorita, do you like the life you lead .
here"
Like it." cried Manuela. with horror in .
her face. santa Virgen. loathe it. 1
But what can do, can go nowhere (
without being tracked, and who would
help Fl Diahlo's daughter. and hide her .
from the knife OF the Hunchback'"
Il would" said Quederos solemnly. /
My people are powerful and rich; they
will not leave me here long for want Of q
large ransom"
ManuelaS face wore q terrified look As
Qucderos said these words BY gesture
she gave him to understand that there
were listeners all around them From
that time, during more than a month that
QuederuS lay i'll in his bed, he was hardly
heard to utter a word.
Manuela was tall and slight. with fine
10.
Her dress was flowing and her magnifi-
cent hair hung down her back almost to
her feet, under small silk cap orna-
mented with gold coins. Her hands were
small and peculiarly pretty and her feet
were shod in soft satin slippers
At last lull seemed TO fall on the COM
pany. Only two or three of the men ap-
peared. Manuela came oftener to see him
and stayed longer. Quederns asked her
the reason of the dead silence in the cave.
She informed him in II whisper that the
whole party had gone 70 meet a troop of
laden with precious things, and
that meanwhile her father WAS nego-
tiating with Quederos friends for his ran
som.
During a few days the lovers for such
they had becomeD had all interval of quiet
returned Instantly she left Quederos'
side and went 70 the outer room To receive
her father.
His face was stern and his voice was
harsh a. he gave u<ders To his sery ants
He kissed Manuela in AL absent way: his
thoughts were evidently far away Left
alone he began 10 mutter aloud To him
sef.
IA htt,frS /
The whole band Is lost unless help can
reach them soon Then that precious
prisoner of ours is being searched for, and
his people, instead Of paying his ransom,
have set half the country after us II any
thing happens his Hfe shall pay for it,
ransom OF no ransom"
4 slight movement U the curtain
Don Pablo He strobe across
the room, lifted the curtain. and looked
around
"Manuels," ne crIed where In the nhme