Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-04-05

Inc stranger gttded up the steps tCtth the
grace Of serpent.
| were intended for bullet fired by
Captain Romero. Now a word or two
Of instructions: I will open the grating
just sufficient for you to pass out.
Will then close tt and relock IL The
window you wiz leave as 1t is. You
cannot crawl on the ground as 1 can
| do. nor do | think IL necessary now.
| Once outside the window you will go
| to the bottom OF the steps, and from
there two quick leaps viii take you in
| to the shadow OF the shrubbery, where
you will await me. Leave your hat
and coat where they are. | have pro-
vided a serape and a somhrero for
| you"
| 1t is not necessary to describe the
escape from the house and grounds
more than to add that It was accom-
plished without incident. By half after
/ o'clock the two men were on the road
| together, each astride horse, though
Pendleton's eyes were tightly bandag-
| ed. 1t was only human nature for him
to endeavor through his knowledge OF
the topography OF the country to locate
himself. and his companion seemed to
realize this, for he talked constantly so
| that the American would have no op-
portunity for logical conjecture. The
horses were soon put to q canter also
which rendered the task still more diff
| ficult.
| II wish you would tell me why you
were so good as to do all this for meY'
Pendleton said as soon as an opportu-
nifty offered.
81 will tell you the truth. senor," was
the calm reply. There are several rea-
sons. 1 might have decided to act be-
cause of any one OF them. but because
OF all OF them l could not hesitate
First. then, know about you and your
mission in this country. realized full
~ the unfortunate circumstances in
which you were placed, and / know
that you would have not one but n
dozen duels on your hands in less than
two days II you could find anybody
who would tight you after failure to
meet Romero. From such dishonor I
desired to save you. because II the po-
| sitions were reversed I would be glad
to have somebody do the same for me.
In the shooting gallery on San Felipe
! Neri L have seen you at practice, and 1
believe you to be as good a shot as Ro-
| nero. With word OF instruction that
can give you I believe you Will be
victorious In this affair. That word Is
this: 1t is Romero's practice to fire one
fractional part OF an instant before
the word tres The second will cry,
| Attention, uno, dos, tres! Romero's
practice is to touch the trigger when
| the t is sounded; he does not wait for
the end of the word. If you will do the
same, bueno! There is one more reason.
which you may not approve. 1t is that
| I hate Romero and would rejoice to see
him killed. 1 also believe that you will
| Kill him. He once committed a great
Swrong against member of my family.
My social position will not permit me
to challenge him. L might assassinate
him, but do not wish to do that. That
is all, senior. am In the employ of the
senorita. am the administrator of an
estate that belongs to her, / am her
servant and therefore yours also Que
mas, senor"
May 1 not reward you for your
IerviceT
I 'If you are killed, you cannot do so;
If you kill him, that will be sufficient
| reward" was the calm reply. "We are
now on the Passed, not far from the
place OF meeting. Do you wish me to
| go to the city?"
Eyes; to the Concordia. Captain Ag-
ramonte is supping there. Tell him to
| meet me at the appointed time or a lit
tie before it IL possible and whatever
| else you choose to add. All, and say to
him that l wish him to make arrange
ments with Romero's second to permit
you to be present. That may be accom-
plished IL they will add one witness"
81 had thought Of that, senior. If you
Twill pull In your horse a moment, /
Twill remove the bandage from your
Ieyes. VIII you await me here or do you
prefer to go nearer to the city"
81 Will ride slowly up and down be-
tween this spot and the Indian statue
until Won return How NAV I address