The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-01-19
the horseman

the h0rSemau.
Manuela followed him with intent
gaze until he was lost to view. She
knew what those burning eyes meant
She turned to door leading into the
courtyard and leaned against the
framing, but she did not hear the rip
pie of the dilapidated fountain nor
smell the pathetic fragrance Of the neg
lected flowers. Her eyes pierced the
past, the future and then paused at the
present. She returned to the street
window and leaned against the bars
Her body was quivering with checked
emotion.
Presently n horsemnn came gallop-
ing down the street. She knew that
1t was her trooper.
"Senorr' she called in en- excited. low
voice. Isills would not have heard
had he not looked toward the window
to see If the girl were still there.
There was something wild and eager
in the face which made him pull the
horse up roughly. He rode up to the
bars.
"Senorr' The girl spoke rapidly. and
her tones were hoarse. you are In
danger. You are to be killed. must
warn you. but not now. Come at mid
night to the spreading tree behind the
bull ring. l will be there. Will you
come"
Mills was almost ut camp before he
ceased wondering why he promised to
meet the girl. 1t was absurdly foolish.
he said. Why did she not tell him OF
the danger instead of making such an
appointment? The trooper had been
seated under the tree half an hour
when he heard soft footsteps in the
shadow beneath the wall of the bull
ring. He stepped forward and met
Manuela as she passed into the gloom
of the branches. She clutched his
arm, and her hand tremblcd violently.
"He followed me-" she painted. But
for his support she would have fallen.
"Who7" asked the wondering soldier.
"Jose." she replied. 1.-The man came
to warn you against. He wants to
marry me. but I will have nothing OF
him. He saw you at my window to-
day and says you are the man love
and that he will kill you. He watched
the house all day. tried to elude
him when l came out, but he saw me
and came after"
She drew closer to the trooper.
~ am afraid Of him." she continued
"He will kill ME. You won't let him
kill meg"
Her arms clasped him about the
neck. and she placed kiss after kiss on
his lips and cheeks. Mills was thor
oughly astounded at the whole pro
cedure and struggled to protest. He
tried to put the trembling girl from
him. Over her shoulder he saw a body
creeping through the grass. At each
movement something hong and white
cleaned In the moonlight. II was
stiletto. The figure stopped AMI
crouched as leopard for spring
Mills thrust the girl from him just In
time to receive the shock. The knife
was buried In his shoulder and drawn
out. The trooper grasped the appraised
wrist as It was descending toward his
heart. Jose was light OF weight. bun
active and strong. Pain aud loss OF
blood told greatly on Mills. The strug
gle ragged tiercely. Then there was
heavy fall, and q moment after the
trooper. dripping with blood. staggered
out to where bis horse was tethered
A dark form lay still In the shadow
AS bills drew himself into the saddle
q girls figure turned the corner Of the
bull ring. lie never SAW her again.
Next day the watch found the body
of Jose with his own stlletto in his
heart. A heavy gold ring lay In the
pool Of his blood.-Ncw York News.