The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-10-22
THE sMUccLER's CAVE.
MARIA HOWARD.


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
Quederos, and his cousin FEDERICO Menillo
were travelling this road on horseback. They
were gay, brave young men, anxious to play
with edged tools. Gradually they came into
very lonely and desolate region, where the
mountains rose high and bleak on each side
of them. AS the evening stole ON they be-
came silent, watched the sun set with a
tremor at their hearts, and settled themselves
with their pistols in their hands.
The night closed in upon them fast, and a
white mist rose from the valley. They couldno
longer see the road All at once their horses
were stopped by group of rough men, who
demanded their money. One Of the robbers
spatched the pistol from Menillo's hand
and stabbed him with a dagger. Quederos
was SO occupied in warding off the attack
that he did not observe the fate of his cous-
in. The bandits we're struggling to bind his
arms, when suddenly girl appeared at the
corner Of the road with flaring lamp, which
she held high abave her head.
''Manuelo Pepe" cried the girl author
itatively. "do no more! 1t is the order
of Don Pablo! 1t is the night of the annun-
citation, and all life is to be spared
But one of the robbers pointed silently to
the body of young Menillo stretched upon
the ground.
He has perhaps only tainted from loss of
blood" responded the girl. Garry him to
the tent and win look after his wounds
Two of the robbers marched Quederos be-
tween them, two carried Menillo's body, and
the rest followed with the horses. The girl
led the way for mile or two, and the whole
band halted between the mountain side and
huge boulder. The girl knocked thrice.
with pause after each knock, the stone of
the mountain seemed to swing back, and
path was seen descending into the earth.
They entered and came into low, wide
room followed out in the rock The men
crowded about large fire in the center, and
began to talk in a dialect unknown to Que
deros.
Menillo was laid ON bundle of hay, and
the girl began chatting his hands with the
contents Of beautifully wrought bottle. In
obedience to her gesture two men advanced
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 staunched the blood, Quederos assisting
her. AT last the girl said in a low voice:
'He is dying"
"He is deadw returned Quederos.
Ill,
man 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 furnished as a
bed room. Here they removed his clothing,
skillfully dressed his wounds, and left him
sleeping
When he awolle handsome old man sat
before his bed reading pile of letters. On
the bed lay the papers and purse of Quede-
ros. In an instant the old man had
clutched the papers and property and risen
to his feet
"Ah, my young FRIEND" he exclaimed,
''yor are decidedly improving. will leave
you with Manuela; and these" waving the
papers and purse, 81 shall keep for you till
you are strong enough to need them"
His wounds were freshly dressed, and
when he was once more comfortable in his
bed, he said to Manuela:
"What is Don Pablo doing with these pa
papers and my purse?"
81 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
feebly.
''He is known as the famous robber 'El
Dia6lo,'" the girl answered sadly.
Quederos started up, but fell back again
with groan as his wounds opened safresh.
Manuelo quietly bound them up again with
out calling for aid. After long silence he
said:
"Senorita, do you like the life you lead
here?"
Like i'll" cried Manuela, with horror in
her face Santa Virginl loathe i'll But
what can do? can go nowhere without
being tracked, and who would help Ell Dia-
bios daughter, and hide her from the knife
of the Hunchback?"
II would" said Quederos solemnly. "My
people ARE powerful and rich; they will
not leave me here long for want of large
ransom"
Manuela's face wore terrified look as
Quederos 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 Quederos lay
II \ l,n-l o,.1 IN afta n
word.
ManueIa was tall and slight with fine fea-
lures and most beautiful soft eyes. Her
dress was flowing and her magnificent hair
alung down her back almost to her feet,
under asssmall silk cap ornamented with gold
coins. Her hands were small land peculiar
W pretty and her feet were shod in soft sat-
in clippers.
At last a lnll seemed TO fall on the COM
many. Only two or three OF the men ap-
peared Ma, suela came oftenef to see
him and stayea longer. Quederos asked
her the reason of tie dead silence in the
cave.
She informed him in a Whisper that the
whole party had gone to meet .~tfoop Oh traV-
elers laden with precious things anu 'ia'
meanwhile, her father was negotiatil.e WIN
Quederos friends for his ransom.
During few days the lovers dor sucn
they had become) had an interval of quiet
happiness. But one awful day the chief re-
turned. Instantly she left Quederos' side
and went to the outer room to receive her
father
His face was stern and his voice was harsh
as he gave orders to his servants. He kissed
Manuela in an absent way; his thoughts
were evidently far away. Left alone he be-
gan to mutter aloud to himself:
Things are going terribly against us. 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. If anything happens
his life shall pay for it, ransom or no ran
son."
A slight movement of the curtain disturbed
Don Pablo. He strobe across the room, lift
ed the curtain and looked around