The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-10

stairs was Senior de Cardenas. Others
were present, but, luckily, as it seemed
to Delaigne, not Colonel Mendez.
The senior had his eyes to a telescope
and Delaigne was impelled to retreat,
but he thought better of 1t and awaited
the event with beating heart.
"Ah, monsieur" said the senor pres
emily, there are but four Of them to.
day."
He spoke with his customary quiet
dignity. Evidently he had not been
home since the morning.
After a long look Delaigne responded:
mo. They are so far away that cam
not make them out sufficiently to name
Them"
DO you see more than four?"
THAT is all, senor."
"Then think there will be no attack
Immediately. Soon, perhaps, in three
days, maybe-well, we shall see."
He sighed and started down. De.
laigne could not but accompany him.
When they were in the street the senior
asked him politely If he would walk
home with him.
THANK you, no." said Delaigne. Il
have business to attend to-"
They separated tremendously. An.
other minute and it seemed to Delaigne
as II the Spanish plans would burn
their way from his pocket! He thought
then how Cardenas would return home
at once, and discover the loss; how
Louisa would denounce him; how the
military police would be placed upon
his track; how arrest would certainly
follow before nightfall.
The danger spurred his resolution.
lmpelled now by a determination to
make MS escape, or failing, to give
the Spaniards a hard chase, he spent
the rest of the day moving restlessly
about, frequently telling acquaintances
that he was bound for one place only
to go promptly to another, traversing
the streets. idling in the cafes, until
at length night fell and to his infinite
surprise he had not been molested.
Nevertheless, it was with a feeling
that he was pursued that he set out for
the Plaza de Toros. He arrived there
without incident, and in the same FASH
ion came to the rivulet San Lazaro.
No bridge was near. but the spot was
we'll shrouded by trees, and he saw
that it was the evident intention of his
directions that he should wade across,
This he did. hardly wetting himself
above the ankles, and presently he was
prowling through the cemetery When
he had made the point marked with the
circle on the map, judging as we'll as he
could in the dark, he cautiously lit q
match and held it close to the wall Of
a tomb. The glow revealed an open
vault door, above which was engraved:
Ramon di Month"
Delaigne stepped carefully into the
vault and sat down upon something
against which he stumbled. His face
was toward the dim light of the door,
against which presently figure ap-
peared and halted.
"Who is within?" asked a voice in q
whisper.
"Mendez!" responded Delaigne.
why did you light a match?" the
voice inquired.
"Mendez!"
what do you wish?"
"Mendez."
For a moment the figure remained
motionless. Then it moved, the door,
way was wholly obscured as 1t en-
tered, and man knelt before Delaigne
and placed hands upon his feet.
Wet" muttered the voice. You
have come by the right path and there
fore it must be right, but you should not
have lit the match. Follow me-"
The two crept out of the tomb and
almost on hands and knees made their
way to the cemetery gate. A hearse
stood there. Delaignes guide opened
the door and the fugitive stepped in.
The door was closed and Delaigne
heard the guide go around to the front
and climb UPON the drivers seat. A
horrible fear was present for a mo-
ment that this was a part of some
gruesome plot for his capture and tor
ture but as the hearse rolled along
without interruption, save an OCCASION
al hail from sentry. which the driver
answered satisfactorily, Delaigne grew
calm. 1t was long ride and a silent
one. but for the rolling and creaking Of
the wheels and the patter of the horses
hoofs.
At last there was a halt. The driver
got down, opened the door and said:
Here begins the path you know.
May fortune attend you.'
"Mendez," said Delaigne.
A road, just such as the map had in
dictated, stretched before him. Delaigne
set out upon it, feeling joyous relief
that he was no longer confined in the
hearse and that he was well beyond
the outer circle Of Notifications. He
had tramped perhaps half an hour
when the sound of horses hoofs in adj
vance warned him to step aside. He
did so and found himself against the
wall of a farm enclosure too high to be
scaled. There was nothing for it but
tO OF until the hOrSQmpn
should have passed. In second or
two they were abreast him., A horse
SHE'D and whinnied. The rider jerked
at the bride with curse, and the
horse, prancing and wheeling, threw
the group of horsemen into confusion.
One refined his beast far to the side to
avoid a collision, and came so close to
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