Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-04-19
CHAPTER V.
TEE GENTLEMAN FROM MEXICO.

was given to him by one OF
the servants. Upon 1t was engraved.
Carlos de Escudera Romero, 4 In
carnaccion, Ciudad de Mejico"
ask the gentleman IL he will not
join me here" he said to the servant,
and presently, approaching him, he
discovered the same parsonage whom
he had twice seen that evening and
whom he verify believed to be the as
sassin OF Burr Pendleton.
With 4 look OF unrecognition In his
eyes Wyndham rose from his chair to
receive the stranger, extending his
right hand as cordially as il he did not
OF the foulest deed he had ever known.
"hr. Craig WyndhamF' said the
stranger interrogatively. The friend
IF Mr.. Burr Pendleton7"
Eyes" replied Wyndham, noticing
that Escudera used perfect English.
"Your name is not known to me, how
ever. VIII you be seated, sirf'
Thank you. / also claim friendship
with Mr.. Pendleton. ] made his ac-
quaintance in Mexico, where We had
many pleasant hours together. I met
him here early this evening-before the
dinner hour. in fact-and expected to
see him again about this time have
heard him speak Of you so often that
when the clerk at the desk told me
your name-I entered the club imme-
diately after you'll took the liberty of
sending my card to you"
81 am very glad that you did so. Mr..
Pendleton and 1 had only Just met
ruh ho
by you. l also expected him here about
this time. We will wait for him to-
gether. In the meantime be my guest,
Mr.-pardon me, but / am unused to
Spanish names. May / ask how you
pronounce your Manner
II use the first one OF the two. Es-
cudera. Yes, did leave the club with
Pendleton- In fact, went to his
house with him, but remained only a
moment discovered that he was
very tired and so agreed to meet him
here later. where he did me the honor
TO say that he would present me to
you"
Wyndham's eyes sparkled for one
brief instant, for he knew that state
ment to be lie. he knew that Pen
dleton did not intend TO return to the
club that night and that he had not
promised such an introduction to the
Mexican for the very reason that he
expected TO spend the evening In his
rooms with Wyndham. 1t was the
first tally in the score that he intended
to make against the Mexican.
Refreshments and cigars were order
ed and two hours passed while the
men conversed upon every subject that
either could think TO introduce. and at
last 1t was the stranger who suggested
that the hour was so late that there
was small chance that Pendleton would
appear at the club that night.
1t was Wyndhams suggestion that
they should go out together. and they
strolled along the avenue side by side
Is far as the hotel where the Mexican
was stopping. After that Wyndham
returned to the club and. finding a
number OF congenial friends engaged
at one OF the card tables. played with
them until daylight
1t was rarely that he did such a
thing. but that night he had especial
reasons for It, and never had he ap-
peared to better advantage or played
the game with more scrupulous care.
Always during the game 1t seemed
TO him that he could see his friend as
he saw him in the sleeping room Of his
apartment sitting dead In the chair In
the corner, and at such moments death
ly faintness stole over him, which re-
Quired all his strength OF viii to con-
quer.
He knew that he was mourning q
deadly risk in acting as he had done,
for II 1t Should appear that he had been
TO Pendleton's rooms suspicion, which
might in any case attach to him, would
In the minds OF many take the form OF
certainty.
Still for the plan that he had formed
during the few moments when he stood
by the window while James wept near
him he was pursuing the emily Logical
course He felt that he must take the
chances.
What nervous force he was compelled
to exert in order not to manifest the
perturbation he felt during those hours
of the night nobody but himself could
ever know, and when he left tho club
In the full light OF the early morning
In the company OF one of his compan-
ions in the game 1t brought the first
moment Of relief be had had from the
terrible strain.
AT his own door he left his friend
and, saying that he would get two or
three hours sleep, entered the house
where he lived. He knew that he was
In position to prove an alibi for every
hour that had passed since he parted
with Pendleton except those that were
really the most vital-bstween and
10 o'clock the preceding evening-and
for those he must trust to nerve and
chance In case the question should
arise
AS soon as he was in his own room
he carefully examined the papers that
he had taken from the safe and In the
interest he felt in them for the time
partially forgot the awful reason for
the examination.
From them he selected several which
hr. III