Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-06-09
THE MAN OF ALMONACID.


town. Knots of people carrying fagots
passed hurriedly or stood together at the
street corners. The Zocodover was thronged
As-in part curious and i'll part annoyed-l
was pushing my way through the crowd, a
clock struck 8, and, set in motion by that
signal, the bells in every tower burst into
sound. was brought to a standstill. had
Just time to wonder what it meant, when
as by magic the bright glare of a hun
dred fires leaped up above the crowd, and
glowing hotly on pillar and gable flung huge
shadows on the very steeples, and exposed at
once hundred sihouettes
1t was weird yet beautiful sight. II
pleased me to find it repeated in every street
and open space l entered. l spent fully an
hour tired as | was, in hurrYing up and down
to mark the effect of the freight on this ia
cade or that archway And when at length
l tore myself away and went home, made
quickly for the parlor to talk of what had
seen.
81 say, Clentw 1 began, "have you been
out2 What is t2 What does it all meanT'
Such a nervous fellow as he was! He
jumped up, dropping his spoon into his plate
with a clatter "What does what meanr'
he suffered.
"These bonfires in the streets, to b surel
The sight is most singular one! You ought
to be out viewing It'll"
He sat down at once. ooh, the bonfires!' n
he said, resuming his meal. "The people
are keeping st. Anthony's eve, that is all.
1t is customary here to do it in this way. You
know St Anthony is always represented
with fire by his side"
II thought that it was something of that
kind" l answered, following his example.
"Will you come out with me presently and
have look at the town! The sightseers are
orderly enough, though to judge from the
stir at the gendarmerie the occasion is a
special one"
'Is there stir therer' he asked, pausing
with his spoon half way to his mouth.
''Some civil guards, six or eight l dare say,
and an officer were dlsmounting at the door
as l passed. Apparently they had just
come in"
'What! Did you notice what the officer
was like?' Client asked in a curious tone, but
was busy with my dinner.
'Yes," l answered, carelessly, che had a
hare lip. l remarked it because he had a
good look at me as l passed. No? You do
not mean to say that you have done already"
He did not answer, and looked up to learn
the reason. read something in his pale face
and trembling lips which chilled me. The
man was suddenly afraid And not afraid
merely. He was in such terror that the very
instinct of concealment had passed from him.
AS his distended eyes met mine he tried to
speak, but no sound came. Yet knew what
he would have said. His lips formed, "Can
I trust you"
Can you trust mef' l repeated, trembling
a little myself, and my mouth growing dry;
7 I |
deed. What is it, my good fellowp for his
very ears seemed to rise from his head, so in
tently was he listening for some sound.
"What have you donel What do you fearP
! whispered.
'FearP' he muttered, with his hand uplift-
ed, death, man! Hush! Come to my room. :"
/ obeyed his gesture as much as his words,
and leaving the parlor we crept silently
thither When we were closeted together he
stood facing me, and began to speak in
breathless haste. 81 did you good turn the
other day, Mr.. Lynton; help me now. lam
a Carlist-a spy A man sent here to try the
fidelity of the troops. OF late have been
suspected Now l am sure am betrayed.
The punishment is death! In a few minutes
they will be here"
"But what-what can do for your I ex-
claimed in horror No one seeing the man
could doubt his danger, or at least his belief
in it. "Why do you not escape while there
is timer l cried impatiently
"Timei There is no time!" he answered
with an oath of despair. 1.-THE house is
watched. dare not leave it. But you can
do something for me. You can give me
your passport and change rooms with me.
We are much alike. Take my name for a
few hours, nay, few minutes. 1t will save
my life-my life, sir! And for you-you
know our minister! Yes! Then you will be
in no danger"
sBut,n / said faintly-the mans distress
was terrible to witness, and it all came SO
abruptly upon me-"the Spanish police are
sometimes hasty and"- He flinched as if
had struck him A fresh bit Of trembling
seized him. He turned from me with. a
curse and flung himself face downward on
the bed.
had hesitated before. I am not bold
man, and had heard strange tales of sum-
mary justice done by the police. But here
the risk seemed so little; the mans condition
was so pitiable.
"Get up!" said harshly, after brief
fight with myself. ~ will save you if can.
You are an Englishman when all is said and
done. But let US lose no time. You know
best what must be done"
He sprang to his feet. At once he had all
his wits about him. In a couple of minutes
I had taken possession of his room, he Of
mine. With feverish expressions of graft
tude he pocketed the passport gave him.
He dressed me in his long ulster and deer
stalker hat; in which have no doubt that
was like enough to him to pass for him in
Spanish eyes And all this he did with won
derful method, as if he had thought out the
details before. 1t crossed my mind once that
he had His last step was to draw from his
mattress two long rolls neatly covered with
canvas. "They are papers" he said, pausing
to listen, and looking doubtfully at them the
while. "Lists of men. And mems lives they
will cost if they are found" he added, with
excitement. "Yet dare not take them with
me- l dare not. shall get away by your
help, but shall be stopped more than once,
and if these are found ON me they will make
it all of no use"
He was SO reluctant, so sincerely reluctant,
as I could see, to leave the papers, despite
the risk he would run if he took them, yes,