Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-04-19

Tell me about that incident. James"
I'VE were on the Paseo together.
walking. l was q few feet behind Mr..
Pendleton. We were near what Is
known as the Indian statue. which n
located rather farther up the avenue
than pedestrians usually 20. A little
way in advance Of US was a lady and
her maidservant When we got near
the statue, a man appeared suddenly
from behind It or one of the big cypress
trees. don't know which. He walked
rapidly toward the lady. and she stop
ped still, as IL she were frightened, but
do not know IL that was the reason.
although l think II must have been.
What time Of day was that, James1"'
about 5 o'clock In the afternoon.
The sun was shining, and there were
hundreds OF people within call; %
do not think the man really meant any
thing like violence"
"WeIl, 60 ahead What happened
thenf"
THE lady was a hundred feet or 80
in advance Of US when the man con-
fronted her. We were walking slowly
toward them. Whether Mr.. Pendleton
was looking at them or not do not
know, but was, for thought the ae-
lions OF both rather strange. noticed
that they talked rather eIcitedly and
that they seemed to be known to each
other. In the meantime We were draw
ing nearer to them. We had almost
reached them when the lady turned
suddenly away, as II to leave the man,
and he reached out and seized her by
the arm
THAT was more than Mr.. Pendleton
could stand, as you know, sir. He
stopped Instantly, raised his hat, ad-
dressed the lady In Spanish, a. though
he had known her all bis life, and as
the same time utterly ignored the man.
As for him. he hesitated an instant, and
never saw such flendish expression
on the face OF q man as that which
swept over his at that instant. But be
did not say word. Instead be turned
away and walked rapidly down the av-
enue.
THE lady murmured a few words "a
Mr.. Pendleton- / think they were
words OF thanks. BE raised his hat.
said two words in reply. and we con-
tinued on our way.
THAT, sir. IL all there was OF that
Incident, but the man who afterwari
.insulted my master and thus compelled
him to send challenge was the same
man, Captain Romero, who n called
the deadlieSt duellst In Mexico; % you
see, sir. there must have been some
connection between the two afrairs."
Undoubtedly. James"
"And now. sir. II you Will permit me
to surmise little. have an idea"
Let me hear II, by all means"
THE evening before the duel Mr..
Pendleton was busy for some time pre-
pairing his affairs. Then he went out.
ostensibly to the opera, but know he
did not so there. for about midnight
or little after Captain Agrzmonte.
who was to be his second. called and
told me so, lnquiring for him. The fol
lowing morning | received a note In
his handwriting telling me TO defer all
action twenty-four hours longer than
he had told me to do when he went
away. and the note was brought by the
same person who on the preceding day
delivered enc TO my master In the
psteo of the hotel Just as we were go
ing out for luncheon, and. SIR, what IL
more important, IL was the same per
son who came to me q few hours be-
fore Mr.. Pendleton's return and gave
me verbal message to have every
thing packed and In readiness. That
last message 1 am sure my master did
not send.
81 know that Mr. Pendleton engaged
in the duel with Captain Romero. and
/ know that he shot him, for I heard
him ask Captain Agra monte Just bo-
fore our train left the station about
the condition OF Romero II Is my
opinion. sir. that the lady who was
doubtless the real cause OF the duel
sent for him that evening when he was
to go TO the opera, and l believe that
she tried to prevent the meeting. This
lis only guesswork, sir, but I cannot
help thinking that the duel was a con-
sequence OF that encounter on the
Paseo. and that the murder OF Mr..
Pendleton is somehow related to both
affairs"
mo doubt, James: no doubt what
ever. But believe we may go back
even farther than that and say that all
three OF the occurrences grew out of
the causes of your masters journey to
Mexico. We will have TO search farther
back than the encounter on the Paseo
for the motive for the taking OF the life
OF Burr Pendleton. James, was this
trip you made with B2rr the frst time
you had been to hexico?
James hesitated and looked away. for
a moment. Then, more to himself than
to his companion, he said:
ut can do no harm fer me to tell
about 1t now"
at is your duty to tell everything
that will help me to clear up this mys-
terry" said Wyndham sharply. That
was your second visit to Mexico, then 70
my third, sir"
Indeed! Tell me about the others"
Il was there twice, sir, with the ia
Their OF Mr.. Burr, but I promised him
that l would never speak about It, sir,
to anybody, and I never have until