Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-11-19

eyes,.
BY this time Don Jose was through
the door, which the draught pushed to
behind him. watched 1T close, then a
thought struck me, for / remembered
that among our order there are women,
associates of the outer circle, and /
whispered some words in her ear and
made sign with my hand. She started
and gave the ancient answer, which is
taught even to children, whereto l re-
piled with another sign, that of the
Presence of the Heart.
"Where?" she asked, glancing at each
of us in turn.
"Here," answered, and, drawing out
the symbol, l held it before her eyes.
She saw and made obeisance, and at
that moment we heard Don Jose calling
her from the further side of the door.
81 come" she cried in answer, then
danger in this house. cannot tell you
now, but If possible will return. The
wine is safe, but drink no COTE, and do
not sleep when you lie down. Search
the floor and you will understand the
reason. ! come, senior, l comel" And
she fled from the room.
So soon as the girl was gone the senior
| went to the door and locked it, then he
returned and said:
what does all this mean, Ignatio?"
I did not answer, but, pushing aside
one Of the beds, l searched the floor be-
meath 1t. 1t was discolored in several
places. Next pulled the blankets off
| the beds and examined the webbing
that formed the mattresses to discover
that this also was stained, though
slightly, for it had been washed. Then
I said.
"Men have died in these beds, senior,
and the stains were made by their
blood. Itwould seem that the guests
Of Don Pedro sleep well, first they are
drugged, then they are murdered, and
1t is for this purpose that we have been
lured to the house. Well, we expected
nothing else"
30 not despond," answered. "We
are warned in time and therefore,
think, shall escape by the help of that
girl and the other Indians in the place,
since in an hour every one of them will
know who we are, and be prepared to
risk their lives to save us. Now let us
make ready and go among these men
with bold face, for of this you may be
sure, that nothing will be attempted
till late at night, when they think us
sleeping. Have you understood, Mo-
las?"
YES" answered the Indian.
"Then watch here, or in the outer
room until we return, and should the
girl come. learn all you can from her as
to the whereabouts of the old doctor
and his daughter, and other matters,
for when she knows you to be of the
order she will speak. Have you been
recognized by any one?"
i II think not, senior. When we en-.
tered it was too dark for them to see."
Good. Then keep out of their way,
if possible, do the best you can with the
girl, and take note of all that passes.
Farewell"
When we reached the end of the din
ing hall Don Pedro slid from his
hammock to the ground and, taking the
senior by the hand, said
Let me introduce you to my over
seer, the Senior Smith from Texas. He
is an American, and will be glad to
meet one who can speak English, for,
Notwithstanding much practice, his
Spanish is none of the best"
The senior bowed and the American
desperate spoke to him in English,
wearing grin on his face like wicked
dog as he did SO, though do not know
what he said. Then Don Pedro con-
Quoted him to place of honor at the
seat, while was led to another table at
a little distance, where my meat was
served to me alone, since, as an Indian
of pure blood, was not thought fit for
the company of these cross-bred ours.
Don Jose having taken his place at the
further end of the table with the
Americana, the meal began, and an ex-
cellent one it was.
'Try some more of this Burgundy"
said Don Pedro when the dishes had
been removed, filling his tumbler for
the seventh or eighth time; ''it is the
right stuff, straight from France,
though it never paid duty" and he
winl1ed his leaden eye.
"Your health, senior, and may you
live to do many such brave deeds as
that of yesterday, when you saved my
son from the sea. By the way, do you
know that on board that ship they said
that you had the evil eye and brought
her to wreck; yes, and your long-faced
companion, the Indian, also"
Indeed, never heard of it before"
answered the senior with a laugh; "but
If SO our evil eyes shall not trouble you
for long, as we propose to continue our
journey tomorrow.
don't suppose that 1 believe in
that sort of rubbish, do you?
We say many things that we
do not believe, just for joke; thus, y
and he raised his voice so that 1 could
hear him at my table, ''your companion
there's he not named 1gnatio?- a
story to my disadvantage on board the
ship, which l am sure he did not be-
lieve," and suddenly he stared at me
, and added insolently: SIS it not so,
indiana"
eff you seek my opinion, Don Pedro,
answered, leaning forward and speak
| L. n hot &c