The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-12

scription, broidered in large, black let
tiers on the hangings lower end, SEEM
ed to hold her attention. The tapesty
itself was a crude bit of work. On a
white charger, King Alfonso the Wise,
surrounded by his knights, watched the
hang man f1inging into the flames Of
| the Toledan bonfire the sacred books of
| the Mozarabic ritual. Beneath, ran the
staring gothic letters of the inscription.
"Lo que hace ell rey, es bien hecho"
| (That which the king does, is well
done.) Again her eyes returned to the
| reflection on the floor, and Don Diego
understood. The little pantomime had
taken but few minutes, yet it was
another man who stood before the
monarch now. Everything was clear
70 him. The old woman had said that
the unknown assassin was fair haired.
The kings mistress mad Enthusiastically
pointed out his reflection on the pol
ished surface of the oak. and the in
scriptkon completed the chain of cir
cumstantial evidence. The bland, smil-
| ing monster on the throne was the
slayer, and secure in the knowledge of
the others ignorance, was gloating
over the prospect of his approaching
end. There was only Nle possibly way
| in which he might save himself,
| Once more he bowed to the throne.
Il have but one request to make of
your majesty" he cried. Give me
twenty-four hours, and Don Sancho's
| murderer swings from the gallows in
| the Plaza de San Francisco. Your
majesty shall see him face to face"
The kings smile grew and broadened.
Was ever comedy more amusing.
Can you offer us this proof of your
vigilance and skill? How happily shall
I be relieved of my VOW he answered,
and what is more. you shall have from
the royal treasure grant of 10000 du
ros OF gold the better to maintain your
high office as governor of Seville"
Il thank you with all my heart for
this boon. Your majesty shall not be
disappointed" was Don Diego's rojoin-
der, as he backed frcm the royal pres
ence. The sitting was over, and king
and courtiers repaired to the cool gar
dens of the alcazar for rest aad re-
freshment.
The morning dawned, but the alcavde
had not been idle. a skilled artifcer
in the Moorish quarter had fashioned
a cunning image of the knights very
double in every respect, even to the
color of his hair and this dummy now
swayed and dangled from the lofty glib
bet in the Plaza de Sun Francisco. fill
ing the gaping crowd with wonder and
delight. not unmixcd however, with
some secret fear. The alCayde, to-
gether with his officials refined their
steeds toward the right of the high
wooden platform. along the way the
royal cortege would have to take.
They had not long to wait, for the
kings curiosity had been aroused in
the highest degree. Near the tenth
hour, announced by the blare Of trum-
pet and atabal, preceded by steel-clad
men alarms, and surrounded by a |
glittering throng of lords and mobiles, |
himself on a huge black charger, Dom
Pedro appeared. a cloak of dark Grim |
son velours set off his costume of black
silk, the ostrich plume that curlcd |
gracefully round his barrett was fas-
tened by the great balas ruby for
which he had shamelessly slain his
guest, the Moorish king of Gren3da. |
and the gold-inlaid trappings of his
destrier shone like fire in the bright
sunlight Followed by his train. he
swept along until the foot of the gal
lows was reached, then refined in his
mount and looked aloft. There was
an instant and universal hush.s A hot
flush rose to his pallid cheeks, one
hand frightened on the reins, while the
other half drew the jewelled dagger
that hung at his belt. But he controll-
ed his emotion. and motioned Don