Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-16
(cox1IxrKD.J
THE MAN OF ALM0NACID.

door. As l opened this and, meeting the
wind, stepped into the darkness Of the EN-
trance, before which the embers Of fire still
glowed family, / confess that l felt nervous
very nervous. With each step that took
! looked for challenge or . violent hand
upon my shoulder: yet l sprang aside when
the lighfest Of touches fell on my sleeve.
sit is I. Pabloi Go DO furtherlr Kissed
voice in my ear. THE street is guarded,
senor have ristsed much to save you, but
can do no more. II you get through is it
Alnionacids'
Isl. hofntre, ST. I whispered Then clutch
ing in my turn the stranger as he was gliding
from me continued: But stay, amigo Tell
ne what can dor
II do not know. Have you no safe hiding
place insideT' be answered, cautiously Hal
what is that 1t was the sound of approach
ing feet As soon as this was certain. Let
nae gofn he cried, angrily. trying to tear him
self from my grasp at is like you, You
would destroy me TO do yourself no goodr'
released him. While he fell back into the
darkness / retreated, cursing my folly the
while into the archway and tried to efface
myself against the wall / was caught in a
trap.
The position was not a pleasant one.
Tramp, trampi-the feet came on 50 steadily
tween me and the dying fire outside. A
whispered word followed then a flashing
open Of anthorns, a momeutary starting
back Of al partiea a mus.achnd guard dis
covered me. and with the ringing out OF a
word Of command half dozen carbines
came to TIE present in front of nay breast.
as this our man.r cried the leader He
| did not wait for an answer but added, impe-
| riously, Your name senorf'
Il am English. Is not that sufficient for
| you. Have care what you are doing" |
answered..
Enough; enter Conduct us to your
| room,' was his order.
went in. On the veranda, at the door of
! No. 2, stood Client, holding a candle above
| his head, that his face was in shadow
while the light fell on us. lie was pale, as
saw Il moment later, but he played his part
TO admiration. What is thisfn he asked,
with the superior air which Englishmen per
nit themselves abroad. what does this
meanf
| of answer.
my name is Rouse Lyuton, and am an
nrtist and an Englshman,' he replied,
haughtily. Here is my passport, and | ask
YOU again what this meansf'
The officer east single glance at the paper
and returned it. at is in ORDER he said
politely. Il have made inquiries and know
about you, senior. Do not let me disturb you.
We are merely making a capture
But he, too, is English" put in Client,
looking at me in well feigned surprise
"Ciertamentel but criminal"
Good heavensi | do not believe it; it
cannot he. Is there nothing he added adj
dressing me with concern, that can do for
you. send a telegram, or anything of that
kindr
yes" | cried eagerly telegraph to the
English minister at Madrid"
1T shall he done, and at once. Keep up
your heart"
''Spare your pains, sir" interposed the
leader with grim smile; you will do no
good. And besides the office is closed
Then will have it opened" cried Client
holly, acting the English traveller to the life,
and with a gesture of encouragement he
ratified noisily away,
"I our room is No. - dictated the officer,
addressing me Enter
did so. Jock sprnna up, and with his coat
bristlng about his neck growled omnously
at my companions told him to lie down.
at is the other Englshmans dog, said one
of the guards.
as that So" replied the officer, CHANGING
sharply at me. Then how comes it in this
room; But to work, Scarch"
In five minutes their s'.'!lful fingers had
overhauled the luggage which was lying
about They found nothing to the purpose
The bed, was the next command.
do not know what seized upon me then
whether it sheer longing to give vent to
my excitement that carried me away, or the
memory of Clents words, "And mems lives
they will cost" that inspired me with some
spir that certainly was not my own. | can
not say Only know that when the order
"Now the bed was given sprang between il
and the searchers
'.No!r / shouted, waving them back
"Wait"
If had a dim notion of delaying them and
gaining time the attempt was as vain as il
was foolish,
'Madman" cried the leader, dropping the
mask. and suddenly beside himself witt
rage: stand back. Juan, Felipe, do YOU
duty
| flung one from mel another ! had a mo
ment's awful consciousness of carhint
levelCd at my chest, of finger pressing OF
the trigger of IA sheathed sword that struck
up the weapon n second before it exploded, OF
the officer shouting in voice of thunder
above the tunult, mo aqui, Despuesr' ano
then strong arm flung me forcibly against
the wall saw jock leap forward his teeth
bared--saw some one fire hastily-saw the dos
fall bleeding by the bed The room grew
thick with smoke.
''Oh. my GNd" I cried, and covered my
face was trembling in every limb. Some
one not urgently drew the dog aside In
stinctivcly | luclt down and tried to stancl
the blood Poor jock!
Prcsently'-in the meantime | was taking
no heed Of their doi1~s--I heard a cry Of sat
isfaction aad l0oiiel NJ. They had disc2v
erel the two rolls ami bending over their a
they lay on the bed were uafastcuing tn,
wrappers | went and looked Oh alphabetically
waited no longer with any feeling that i
concerned me - see the muster rolls. anC
loyal autographs, and promises that Wee Il
cost 50 dearly. of which Client had spoken
But what wis this! The Spagnoletto! Oh
yesl understood how that came to be here
But these-these pictures which followed
Could it he that all the subscriptions tool
the form of pai;ti9 - Or w!iat WAS thi.
doiicate Moro, fl; for royal gallery, doing
here And th,S possible Muriloi That
portrait which might have been by Velas
quezi 1hAt san Sebastian that at least
by pupil of Caravaggioi My head reeled
passed my hand over my eyes and looked
again 1t was not a delusion. There, the
canvas,'s lay one on the other, their edges
strangely rough, their corners frayed-can-
vases worth kings ransom.
The other roll was full of odds and ends
valueless, but equally strange; picture backs
and rough pieces of cloth and opened letters.
Among these last | saw with scarcely any
added wonder, envelopes and letters directed
to myself.
II do not understand" said feebly, look
ing from one guard to another. They had all
turned to me TO see how l took their dis
coveries. He told me that he was Carlist
"a spy sent here to bride the troops But
what are these doing here. | do not under
stand
"Who told you-and whatfH cried the
leader.
Client Client told me- and then stop
ped dazel and bewildered Two or three
laughed; the officer, gazing fixedly at me,
did not | met his gaze vacantly; then my
eyes wandered to the corner and fell upon
poor jock. A mist passed from my mind.
my brain cleared; spoke aloud and sharply,
"He has foolel us alll' said. ''you as well
a. mel am not Client l am Rouse Lynton,
the artist. He told me-
I A.