Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-07-16
CHAPTER III.

Again the chimes ring out in the ca
thedral tower, but this time they mark
the hour of midnight
The hanging lamp, which was wont
to burn bright before the archcd door
way of the palatial residence of Don
Manuel Ceballos, had in some manner
become eXtinguishcd, and no one in the
vicinity, not even the F'watuh,' seemed
inclined to relight it. Nor did there APP
pear to be any necessity for the illumi-
nation as the passcrs-by were few.
Shortly after the bells had ceased
their vibrations, If one had been play
ing the spy, he would have seen the
form of a man glide stcathily along the
street, keeping we'll III the shadows of
the buildings, pause at the doorway Of
the mansion and knock gently for all
mittance.
One would then have heard the door
open and might have observed the new
conner place some dorll object before
his face, and have caught the words:
Cuba or Death"
Fully dozen of these mysterious
characters could have been counted.
They Were counted, and by Jose
Calvo, who, unobscrvcd by any of the
patriots, had crept near enough to hear
the countcrsign, see the mask, cover
the features of the applicant for adlnis-
| sion, but not SO close as to recognize a
single individual.
"Ah!" muttcrcd the spy, this then is
what Felipe Coras suspected. A secret
meeting of the patriots! But why should
| he, n native-bOrn Cuban, wish aught of
| harm to his countrymen? 1t must he
revenge! Yes, revenge! and, to my way
| of thinking, his vindictiveneSS points
| directly to Don Manuel Ceballos or his
| son Francisco. And does he expect me to
| play the despicablc part of an informer?
| Though why should he not? l have
fallen to the very lowest stratum of So
Cicty and may we'll be considered capa-
| bic of performing SO dastardly an act.
| But, by the good name of my fathers,
| he shall see have not lost all the at
tributes of manhood! Valdcs IIazas shall
| know of this nights work, and that, too,
| at once, if can find him. He, at least,
| l can trust"
Having arrived at this decision, the
| poor man hurried back to the corner
| of the streets where he had encoun-
| tered the officer who had spoken to him
such kindly and encouraging words.
| That he would meet him in that neigh
| bOrhood he was sure, for he knew that
the citizen-pOliceman's patrol would de-
tain him in this locality
Nor was Jose Calvo astray in his cal
culations, for there, in the glare of the
gas lamps, still stood the young Cuban
listlessly toying with the hilt of his
sword and with seeming carelessness
scrutinizing the faces of the nocturnal
jewellers as they passed.
The mendicant did not approach close
to Hazas, but stood little apart until
he could, without too much demonstra-
ton, attract the attention of the officer
lie was not kept long waiting, for the
sharp eyes of the Cuban were rowing in
cessantly over every object within the
range of his vision, and when he de-
tectcd the barefooted individual, stand
ing somewhat in the shade, he moved
forward as though to inquire into the
business of such a suspicious-lool1ing
| character.
'Will the scnor draw little apart -
began Jose, in whisper, ''that we may
not be seen or overheard? have start
ling news to impart''
"a few steps will take us to the Gala
boose," replied Hazas, in the same
guarded tone.
'No, no-not there!' quickly re-
turned the other, with shudder, as
though the very mention of the place
conjured up untold horrors to his imagi-
nation.
'"Then tell me what you have to say
where we stand. We shall not be dis
! turbed at this hour"