The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-03-16

"Yes, very improbable, II, as suppose
you bought the picture for copy But
where did you get itr' I asked briskly. l
thought that was beginning to understand
him.
'I bought it from priest for an old song
at Almonacid."
"At Almonacidr' ., t......., ..
He moved uneasily, as II he would have
recalled his last word. But It was too late,
was you whom l saw that dayfn COM
mented. "You had just bought it, l sup
pose"
Eyes, had doubt about It Them
"It is a strange story, but strange things
happen" l said, watching him narrowly.
"It is true" .t.....
or course l pretended to believe him, and
seeing clearly that he wished me gone took
myself TO my ROOM In part l did believe
him, only thought it strange that an artist
Of his kidney should be 80 greatly ashamed Of
having outwitted an old monk; so greatly
ashamed as to tell the story of his cleverness
in that hang dog fashion. 1t crossed my
mind that might be wrong in my Judgment
of the picture. 1t might be that the st.
Christopher was only copy after all, and
Client himself had made it, and was even
then when broke in upon him having it out
with his conscience whether he should pass il
off for an original or not That was possi-
BILE; but to me he had been friend in need
and it was no business Of mine.
The next day, the 18th of January, was tc
be the last of my stay in Toledo. had all
but finished the sketches ! required, aid
IL the truth must be told, longed to be
away. The stiffness of the place haunted
me. hated the huge square alcazar which
tnxvarad a1l fba Monriuh eat t1a
hundred silent churches By noon l had
made an end Of my work, and hastily put
ting aside my materials l called Jock and
started for a long ramble over the hills
where the alcazar did not bar the sunshine
though it was Impossible to get out Of sigh
Of it, did not return until darkness irov,
me back into the town.
Then saw at once that there was some
thing strange on foot. In the streets was an
unwonted bustle which rather grew than les
sened as approached the middle of the
town Knots Of people carrying fagots
passed hurriedly or stood together at the
street corners The Zocodover was thronged
As-in part curious and in part annoyed-I
was pushing my way through the crowd,
clock struck 8, and set in motion by that
signal, the bells in every tower burst into
just time to wonder what It meant, when
as by magic the bright glare of 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 a hundred silhouettes.
1t was weird yet a beautiful sight. 1t
pleased me to find it repeated in every street
and open space l entered, Ispent fully an
hour, tired as l was, in hurrying up and down
to mark the effect Of the freight on this ia
cade or that arohway. And when at length
l tore myself away and went home, / made
quickly for the parior to talk of what had
seen.
~ say, Clentl' began, shave you been
out! What is iti What does it all meanr'
Such nervous fellow as be was! He
jumped up, dropping his spoon into his plate
with a clatter. "What does what meanln
he suffered.
"These bonfires in the streets, to be surel
The sight is most singular one! You ought
to be out viewing It'll"
He sat down at once. "Oh, the bonfires!"
he said, resanming 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"
kind" | answered, following his example.
"Will you come out with me presently and
have look at the townf The sightseers are
orderly enough, though to judge from the
stir at the gendarmerie the occasion is a
special one."
''Is there stir thereT' he asked, pausing
with his spoon half way to his mouth. ,
"Some civil guards, six or eight dare say,
and an officer were dismounting at the door
as l passed. Apparently they had just
come in"
"Whatl Did you notice what the officer
was likei' Client asked in q curious tone, but
was busy with my dinner.
"Yes," answered, carelessly, che had a
hare lip. l remarked it because he had a
good look at me as passed. MOI You do
not mean to say that you have done alreadyr
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 youi"
"Can you trust NOR repeated, trembling
little myself, and my mouth growing dry
"well, hope So l think so, Client; ! do in
deed What is it, my good fellowf" for his
very ears seemed to rise from his head, so in
tently was he listening for some sound.
"What have you donei What do you fearr'
I whispered.
''Feari' he muttered, with his hand uplift-
ed, death, man! Hush Come to my room '
| obeyed his gesture as much as his words
aud laa wing tha oil tlx
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. am
a Carlist-a spyl A man sent hero 10 try the
fidelity Of the troops OF late have beer
suspected. Now / am sure am betrayed
| The punishment is DEATH In few minutes
| they will be here.n
"But what-what can l do for youf" l ex
claimed in horror. No one seeing the maI
could doubt his danger, or at least his belle
| In it. "Why do you not escape while ther,
Is timer cried impatiently.
"Timel There is no timer he answered
with an oath Of despair "The house 1
watched. l dare not leave it. But you car
do something for me- You can give m
| your passport and change rooms with me
| We are much alike Take my name for
few hours, nay, few minutes. 1t will -
my life-my life, sir And for you-S
know our minister! Yesl Then you will b
| in no danger
"But," I said faintly-the mans distres
was terrible to witness, and it all came 5
abruptly upon me-''the Spanish police ar
sometimes hasty and"- He fiinched as ii
had struck him. A fresh bit OF tremblin
seized him. He turned from me with
curse and flung himself face downward o
the bed.
had hesitatsd before l am not a boil
man, and had heard strange tales of sun
mary justice done by the police. But her
the risk seemed so little; the mans conditio
was SO pitiable,
"Get upi" I said harshly, after bri,
fight with myself. 81 will save you II car
You are an Englishman when all is said an
done, But let US lose no time. You kno
best what must be done.n
| He sprang 10 his feet. At once he had q
bis wits about him. In couple of mnut,
/ had taken possession of his room, he
mine, With feverish expressions of graf
tude he pocketed the passport I gave hin
He dressed me in his long ulster and de,
stalker hat; in which have no doubt that
was like enough to him to pass for him
Spanish eyes. And all this he did with wo
derful method, as if he had thought out Il
details before, 1t crossed my mind once tn
he had. His last step was TO draw from h
mattress two long rolls neatly covered vii
canvas, They are papers, he said, palsir
| to listen, and looking doubtfully at them ii