, 1902-12-15

,
Hold" he commanded. This wo
man is an American!"
startle him. He glanced nervously at
his watch. then tore the note in two
and tossed the pieces in the waste bas-
Eet.
Il will" he said, quietly.
In the Presidents room, the minister
turned red, then white, as he walked
slowly to the door. Suddenly he
turned and approached the President
with a rapid stride, his eyes snap
ping.
Sir" he said. ito me it seems that
. services rendered to Venezuela by my
government in days gone by should
vouchsafe your consideration of my
: just request at this time. Besides, the
day may come when the Intervention
of the United States would prevent
aggression by a foreign power. The
matter is worthy Of your most serious
thought, Seno. President"
He paused and from the old cathe.
dral came the clang of q deep-toned
bell.
. The Presidents face grew grave;
his fingers tapped his chair nervously;
but still he made no answer. A Sec
ond clang of the bell resounded, and
her a third and a fourth.
You may have till three O'Clock to
prove the mans innocence. If by that
hour you have not don so, he must
die" the President said at length.
In the courtyard, the colonel, still
watching the balcony, heard the mel
low old bell ring out upon the still,
hot atmosphere. The man against the
wall set his jaws firmly and cooliy
faced the rifles pointed at his breast.
Slowly sounded the strokes Of the
mission bell-two, three, four, Ave.
Then. as the sixth stroke was rever.
berating, the colonel saw a man leap
through the window upon the balcony
of the palace. His right arm was up
lifted; a glitter, as Of nickel in the
sunlight, flashed and a second later a
tiny puff of white smoke assembled on
: the lazy air.
Turning sharply upon his heel the
officer cried, Attention.! Right about
face, march,"
And at us command the woman in
yellow fell fainting in the arms of the
man against the wall.
Already the cathedral bell had
struck the hour of two. In the Amer
lean consulate the m stood at
the window looking down into the
courtyard. Behind her sat the minis.
ter, but he could not see her face,
intermingling of anxiety, anguish and
fear.
Suddenly she turned to him, her fea,
lures frightened by a sudden inspira-
ton.
81 can point out the one who stole
the documents" she said.
But can you prove his guilt?" the
minister asked.
Suddenly she turned away and gazed
out the window.
NO" she answered, 81 am afraid l
cannot"
Then it will avail you nothing" he
said.
Both lapsed into silence, and Mason,
looking at the beautiful woman before
him. saw the light glistening in her
unkempt locks, like sunbeams pouring
through the leaves of the trees on the
banks of the Susquehanna, where they
had walked, arm in arm, in the daye
when they were lovers.
Hv,r oa, thD colJsou -,o, - -
with this Spanish woman" he said.
Hoy do you known"
IL dare not explain" she an.
swe>ed, but 1t is the truth"
'1'len we will prove his guilt" he
saiG leaping to his feet. Ills love
VT, ""'"av him no ccnt'~~o W
you NUS play your part ID Ne
drama"
Il? What must I dot"
You must impersonate the Spanish
woman and stand up to be shot"
Her face paled.
"Oh, l dare not" she replied. a."
1T is to be only a drama" he as
sured her. mot a tragedy. You shall
be yelled and no harm shall come to
=, you"
) "oh, l dare not; l dare not. I am
afraid" she cried.
Very well, them replied the other,
your husband muSt die. I cannot
save him."
Il will do as you bid" she said calm.
ly. Il will die, II needs be, to save my
husband"
1t still lacked fifteen minutes to the
hour when tha woman, heavily yelled
from head to foot, vas lead into the
courtyard and placed with her back
against the wall. The President and
the American minister were present,
and all the soldiers In the barracks
were drawn up in line facing her.
Slowly the colonel walked down the
line. When he reached the end he
turned and strobe, with military step.
to = point midway between the line
and some ten feet distant. Then. i'd
dFessins the soldiers. hs. said: