Evening star., 1901-10-26

days water and provisions, and to provide
for your liberation at the end Of that time
III not, L bid you to prepare to die as the
men died who have lain where you lie
now"
Rollo's answer came like the return of a
ball at tennis
"Sehor Don Luis he said, 'if 1 had ter
paradises from which to choose my eternal
pleasures would not tell you! II 1 had as
many hells from which to select for you
the tortures of the damned. 1 would not
speak word which might aid such vii.
lain in his villainy! Let it suffice for you to
know that Dolores Garcia Is now where you
Will never reach her, and as for her hus-
band-why, you cowardly. dog, asleep OF
within a mile Of him! Nay. I doubt greatly
| if you dare even face him deadr'
Fernandez rose and motioned his brother
to the handle which turned the great wood
| man lay still, listening to the dismal groan-
ings Of the ungreased bearings, and won
dering almost idly what was about to hap
pen to him.
God in heaven, he is here! tell you ]
heard him cry! Do you think do not know
ms voice! l will tear up the floor with my
fingers If you do not make haste"
II was Concha who spoke or rather shout
ed these words along the rabbit warren of
passages which ran this way and that un-
der the Abbey of Montblach.
But 1t had been through Ezquerra and La
G1ralda that the dread rumor Of danger to
Rollo had first come to Sarria. The gypsies
nave strange ways of ledge-moleruns
and rat holes beneath, birds of the air TO
car carry the matter above; Some servitor in
the monastery, with drop Of black blood
In him, had heard word dropped by Don
Tomas Fernandez in his cups The broth
ers, so he boasted, would not now have
iong TO wait. The cherry had dropped
into their mouths of it's own accord, thus
Don Tomas, halfseas over averred, or at
least his confessorship would shake the
bough and the fruit would come down with
g run This sly Tomas also knew who
would have Rollo's horse when all was over
"a tostado not met with every day.
II was enough-more than enough From
Sarria to Espluga, in Francole, Concha
summer grass. The abbey-the friars the
accumulated treasure of centuries, the DOW
er OF pit and gallows. of servitude and hoIy
oftce-all these were to end on the Goth of
tortured, done to death by ghouls-a friend
of El Sarria, friend Of Jose Maria-nay.
savior OF two queens, and the beloved OF
generals and prime ministers! Would they
help to save him? All, would they notI
Other rumors came up, thick and rank as
toadstoois on dead wood. There was SUCH
| an-one Of the village of Esplena, such-an-
other OF Campillo in the neither Francoli-
tney refused the friars this and the other!
Well. did they. not enter the MONASTERY
walls, never to be heard of more?
Given the ignorant prejudices of villagers
the hopes OF plunder awakened by a law
Tess time and uncertain government. Con-
cna, q prophecies, volleying threats and
prophesyings, and what wonder Is II that
IN an hour or two band Of 1,OOO men was
pouring through the gates Of the great ab-
bey, clambering over the tiles. and with
fierce outcrtes diving down to the deepest
cellars But from gateway to gateway not
brother was found All had been warned
In time. All had departed; whittier no man
knew. ''--
Ell Sarria, by his reputation for desperate
courage, for a while kept the mob from
deeds Of violence and spoliation, But stiIl
Rollo was not found.
Concha, pale Of face and with deep circles
under her eyes, ran this way and that. her
fingers bleeding and bruised. In her de-
spalr she hung herself upon one obstacle
after another, calling for this door and
that to be forced. And strong men follow-
ed and did her will without halt or ques-
But Of all others 1t was the cool. practi-
cal John Mortimer who hit upon the trail.
He remembered how on their nrst vistt to
Montblanoh Rollo himself at q Certain
place, near the door Of the strong room In
which the relics were kept. had declared
that he heard sound like groan. And
there In that very place Concha was driven
voice Of her love- It seemed to her that he
called hsr name.
Man ran for orowbars and for hammers.
The floor was forced up by mere strenrth
Of arm. The dislodging Of q heavy stone
and mon swarmed down one after Tie
other, Fl Sarria leading the way. bar Of