Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-05-03


! so well attuned to time that he recog-
nized the step OF Carlos Escudera.
BE calm, Carmen" he said rapidly
and In low voice. Remember that
you are not in Mexico now"
/ She recovered herself instantly, but
the next moment Escudera was beside
them.
This is an unexpected pleasure.
senorita," he said coldly In Spanish.
ignoring utterly the presence OF Wynd-
ham. II did not know that my fiancee
was in the city"
Wyndham saw that be was deadly
pale and that he was struggling with
all his strength OF will to speak calmly.
This man, usually so self possessed. for
once had lost his power of self repres-
sion. His eyes seemed sunken back
In his head. His white teeth cleaned
ominously under his black mustache.
His hands trembled with excitement.
Craig thought, somewhat vaguely--for
he was intent upon watching the man
how fortunate 1t was that Carmen had
told him that she was afianced to Es-
cuderal He realized In that moment
how appalling the statement would
have been had be not already been for
| tilted against 1t. At the same instant
he decided that 1t was best to treat
the Mexican IN a perfectly natural
manner. Anybody who has found
himself at some time in a critical
position realizes how rapidly one can
and does think at such moments.
He sprang to his feet before Escu-
dera had ceased speaking and exclaim.
ed In tone that evidenced both sur
prise and pleasure, for Escudera did
not know that he understood Spanish.
| Hello, Escuderai This Is an unex-
pected pleasure. 1 supposed you were
sleeping the sleep of the just after last
night. Permit me, Miss Pendleton, to
present my friend, Senior Escudera. He
comes from your own country, by the
way. Escudera, Miss Pendleton-"
1t was a shot that told, for It stag
gered Escudera utterly.
If such a thing were possible, he be-
came a shade whittier than before, and
for once in his life he was outdone in
presence OF mind.
1t was clever, too, on the part Of
Wyndham, that assumption for Carmen
Of the name Of Pendleton, for II ex-
planned without further words their
tpresence there together.
Escudera bowed with a gesture that
was truly Mexican, and he smiled with
an insolence that he did not try to con-
ceal, and while he bowed and smiled
he made another heroic effort to con-
troll himself. In that however, be was
only partly successful, for he still ig-
nored Wyndham. He could not play
the game with the cool head OF his an
tagOnist. There were mileposts beyond
which he could not travel.
Il do not think that 1 require an In
PRODUCTION to you by this fellow or by
anybody" he said in Spanish, believing
that Wyndham could not understand
him, "but 1 do require an explanation
OF your presence here"
"You have it." she replied calmly, Gin
the letter you sent TO me announcing
the death OF Burr Pendleton, in which
you refrained from telling me the
truth"
1t was n delicate method of telling
him that he had lied TO her, and it
angered him beyond endurance.
shall 1 tell you why deceived
!you" he demanded hotly, forgetting
that he had demanded an explanation
and that instead he was making one.
ut was because 1 respected your feel
ings; because believed the knowledge
Tof how your half brother came to his
death would shock you; because al
ready knew the name of the man who
killed him and only awaited evidence
to convict him OF the crime, and that
man, the man who killed Pendleton, is
your present companion-this man who
sits opposite you at the table"
Wyndham rose slowly from his seat
and, taking a step forward, confronted
Escudera.
"Senor EScudera," he said, also
speaking Spanish, at is my misfor-
tune or good fortune, whichever you
choose to call IL, to understand you. It
is certainly my good fortune to recog-
nize in you a desplcable scoundrel.
VIII you leave us quietly, for the sake
| OF the lady, or shall / CALI
he did not have time to complete
what he would have said, for the Mex
lean, who now lost every vestige OF self
SOAAOAB DdCh anu Win u
motion thrust his right hand into the
opening of his waistcoat.
In an instant 1t was out again, and
something-even the quickness OF the
eye could not determine what 1t WIS.,
cleaned in his grasp.
The hand was drawn back. Carmen
uttered low cry. Wyndham started
forward, for he knew perfectly well
the meaning OF that gesture, the one
that had hurled death into the heart OF
Burr Pendleton, and he intended to
seize the Mexican before he could cast
the terrible missile. But Escudera's
wrist was seized from behind, the
weapon was torn with a sudden wrench
from his grasp, and he stood before
sthem like a writhing serpent whose
fangs have been drawn.
Nobody had noticed Maria, the duen-
ina. Her presence was utterly forgot
ten, but she was a Mexican Indian wo-
man, and she knew the man who had
interrupted the luncheon. During the
scene she stole behind him. as If she