The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-03-02


effort the sound came. But such a
sound it was-like the gasp of a dying
man.
rs it youP Have you come backP"
The hand which clutched the door
went up to his face and across his
eyes, shutting out what he saw. The
voice which came in answer was not
Spanish. 1t was American.
"WelL. old man." it said, chow long
are you going to stand thereP Give a
fellow lift. can't you?"
The terrified figure at the door was
Ramon, the landlord. once more. He
pulled himself together and said in a
quavering voice:
''Ah, senior, l did not know you.
You have met with an accident"
He remembered very well how he
felt just then. He would like to have
jumped forward and taken hold of the
Americans neck just as. Well. just
as dog chokes rat. The more he
had thought of it the less able he
seemed to resist the temptation. The
hand which held the candle compress
ed itself until the muscles in his arms
stood out like ropes and the nails of
the other hand sunk into the hard
palm. He heard another voice. Both
Americans were in the fireplace. His
grip relaxed and he helped them out
the one who had stick in his hand
and the one who held candle. They
all sat down together over the half
empty bottle. There they had told
him in the hard Spanish which they
spoke, how, becoming tired of the
moonlight, they had gone into the
room; how they had looked curiously
into the fireplace and how they had
accidentally disturbed slab.
Did he not know of the secret corri-
dor which ran along between the walls
from one fireplace to another? they
asked.
s.No~ he had answered with some
sharpness. "Why should I?"
Well, then, they had said, it would
be good thing for him to look around
little, for there were couple of fell
lows up there with no flesh on their
bones; two skeletons, who wore smiles
on their bone faces, as if they were
glad they were dead.
The end of it all was that the three
went up to the room and into the fire.
place. along the damp, foul smelling
corridor, SO heavy with mold that the
candle burned dim. Half way they
came across the dead, and the land
lord. crossing himself piously, had
started back in horror. Both skele-
tons were clothed. One wore the cos
tune of Carlist captain, but the blue
jacket was moldy and the lustre of the
brass buttons was hidden by a thick
coating of verdigris. The iaunty red
Basque hat had rolled to one side and
the tapestrings which had held the
rope sandals were rotten, and they too
had fallen aside.
The dress of the other showed he
had been nothing more than Spanish
peasant, and poor one at that.
And now he was ruined was Ramon.
No one would stop at his house now,
and he wrung his hands at the thought,
apparently, as he backed up against
the corridor wall. Would the good,
kind American gentleman say nothing
about this affair, that he might save
the reputation of the house?
They had promised readily enough
and he had gone downstairs to the
little room to sit and think. He had
fixed up the fireplace in the kitchen
but he must think. The red sunlight
came boldly through the east window
and it saw him still thinking.
He was ruined.
Mechanically he arose and opened
the front doors for business. Dolores
came out, rubbing her eyes, wondering
where he had been and where he had
spent the night.
',Ah, una amigita yolo creo." she re-
marked, but he paid no attention to
her.
Pepe came out yawning. The Amer
leans came down and breakfasted.
Others came in to eat. Would those
Americans never stop talking.
'I'm going to keep that red skull
cap" one was saying as they went in
to the wine room, which already had
its quota of customers. How story
flies. Before the siesta the secret was
out.
Pack up" said Ramon to Dolores.
This house has a curse on it now and
we will go away"
"How could they have come there
think you?n asked the woman, mean
ing the skeletons.
'How should 1 knowP" he answered
And then they set to work to pack up
Ramon was in feverish excitement te
get away. 1t seemed to him as if he
could not bear the thought of stopping
in that house another night.
By the time the sun was ready tt
shine on the other half of the worlC
the laden mules were in front of the
door, standing like statues, waiting fol
the word of the driver. The bush ovel
the door swung carelessly on it
string. The stars began to come out
you're a fool, Ramon, to take III
off like this" said Dolores. THE
mountains are not pleasant places tt
sleep on when one has been used to {
bed"
He glared at her, yelled at the mule;
and the little train had started. The.
went down the narrow street TOWARD
the south, and when they had passee
the last gaping villager and left thu
last adobe house behind Ramon picket
up courage. He whistled a gay chan
son and drove his heels into the side
of his mule as if to urge him to taste
gait.
1--WE will 60 to the SOUTH" he wa
just saying, when Pepe, who had shar
ears for boy, exclaimed:
Here comes the guardia civile. W
shall have company"
Let them come" returned Ramon
recklessly. who caresP But ma.
the blessed madonna save US from th
brigands."
The hoof-beats sounded nearer AM
nearer, until before long the leader o
the rough-looking troop was neck ant
neck with Ramon's mule. The cap
tain reached over and with dexterou
touch twisted the rope bride fron
Ramon's hand.
Not so fast, good friend. On
would think you were going to leav
US, and he laughed.
What do you mean?" asked th
innkaoner