The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-05-01

back there. and ready for him. took
down long, straight blade, like a
rapier with a basket hilt 1t was a
cumDrous weapon, and with a blunt
edge; still, it had point, and was
| world. '--e
Somebody was coming towards me
| along the silent galleries. It was he;
knew 1t. He was coming nearer and
nearer. In the profound, tomb like
suliness of the great house,
heard the sound of his footsteps on
the tessalated pavement from afar.
| now ne had turned the corner, and
the calm, strolling pace Of his ap-
proach was enough to strike awe into
an adversary's heart 1t never hesi-
tated, not once; never hurried; never
slowed till they stopped.
| +! suppose. in that big room, by the
| Hgnt OF two candles, l must have pre-
sented an impressive picture of
menacing youth all In black, with a
tense face, and holding a naked, long
rapier in his hand.~ At any rate, he
stooo stlll, eyeing me from the door
way the picture Of a dapper Spanish
lawyer in lofty frame; all in black,
also, within sair head and well turned
| leg advances IN black silk stocking
Ihere was no weapon in his hand, or,
| at his side.
| / lowered the point, and, seeing he
remained on the doorstep, as if not
wiling to trust himself within, I said
| diSdainfully:
You don't suppose / would murder,
| a defenseless man?"
Am / defenseless % He had a
| slight lift of the eyebrows. ''That is
| news, indeed. 1t is you who are sup
posing. l have been very certain
man for this many year."
| How can you know how an Eng
lish gentleman would feel and act? 1
am neither murderer nor yet an in
| triguer.'
He walked right in rapidly, and,
getting round to the other side Of the
table, drew small pistol out of his
breeches pocket.
You see-I am not trusting too
much to your English generosity"
He laid the pistol negligently on
the table 1 had turned about on my
neels. As We stood, by lunging be-
tween the two candlesticks, I should
nave been able to run him through the
body before he could cry out
l laid the sword on the table
lie remained for some time with his
eyes fixed on the table, and when he
looked up at me 1t was with sort of
amused incredulity. His tone was not
resentfuL He spoke in a business like
W. i
had only Don Carlos to thank for the
position in which 1 found myself.
what the poor devil over there ex-
pected from me, he, O'Brien, would
not Inquire. 1t was a ridiculous bow
and girl affair. If these two-mean-
ing Carlos and Seraphina-had rot
been so mighty cleVer,sI should have
been safe now in Jamaica jail, on a
charge of reasonable practices He
seemed to find the idea funny Well
anyhow, he had meant no worse by
me than my own dear countrymen
When he, O'Brien, had found how alb
surdly he had been hoodwinked by
Don Carlos-the poor devil-and mis-
led by Ramon-he would make him
smart for 1t, yet-all he had intended
to do was to lodge me in Havana
Jail. On his word of honor.
Me in Jail" I cried angrily. you
you would dare! On what charge?
You don't know what Pat O'Brien
can do in Cuba" The little country
solicitor came out in flash from UNI
der the Spanish lawyer. Then he
froWned slightly at me. you being
an Englishman, would have had you
taken up on a charge of stealing"
Blood rushed to my face. 1 lost
| said, Il dare say you could have
trumpet up anything against me. You
are very great scoundrel"
Why? Because l don't lie about
my motives, as you all do? I would
wish you to know that would scorn
to lie either to myself or to YOU
| touched the haft Of the sword on
the table. 1t was lying with the point
his way.
Il had been thinking" said I, in
great heat. ito propose to you that
we should fight it out between US two,
man to man, rebel and traitor as you
have BEEN
THE devil you have!" he muttered
But really you are too much Of a
Picaroon. | think the gallows should
be your end
'It may be your lot, yet" he said.
I burst into a nervous laugh. For
moment could not stop myself.
Il won't murder you," cried.
To this he said astonishingly, 'TWil1
you go to Mexico?"
1t sounded like a joke He was very
serious. Il shall send one of the
schooners there on a little affair of
mine. J. can make use of you. l give
you this chance.
1t was as if he had thrown bucket
full of water over me. / became cool.
1t was his turn now to let himself go.
1t was a matter of delivering certain
papers to the Spanish commandment in
Timaulipas. There would be some en-
ployment found for me with the royal
troops. I was a relation of the Riegos.
And there came upon his voice
strange ardor; a sWiftness into his ut
terance. He walked away from the
table; came back, and gaZed into my
face in a marked, eXpectant manner.
He was not prompted by any love for