The Colfax chronicle., 1904-10-01


| The alcayde paused to collect hi
thoughts. There was ring of finalit,
about the kings speech that clearl,
boded him no good. Rich, powerful
| and popular as he knew himself to be
there were none among his kinsfolk OF
friends who would dare to brook theil
monarch's wrath by pleading in hi;
behalf. AS he gazed about him in his
perplexity, his eye chanced to meet
that of Maria de Padilla, and he no.
ticed that she looked at him with deer
meaning. With an almost impercepti-
BILE movement of her head she let her
glance fall on spot about five feet
from the dais, where the polished oak
floor shone like mirror.
His eyes followed hers, and there,
cast on the waxed surface, he saw a
face. 1t was the face of the man who
sat upon the throne, that of his august
majesty, Dom Pedro himself. Bewil-
dered. he sought her eyes again
Again the meaning look crossed her
features. and now her glance was
turned to little tapestry-hung door
that led from the hall at the right
hand side of the throne. He watched
her narrowly, and saw that the in
scription, broidered in large, black let
ters on the hangings' lower end,
seemed TO hold her attention. The
tapestry itself was a crude bit of
work. On white charger, King Al
fonso the Wise, surrounded by his
knights. watched the hang-man fling
ing into the flames of the Toledan bon
fire the sacred books Of the Mozarabic
ritual. Beneath, ran the staring gothic
letters of the inscription, 10 que
hace el rey, es bien hecho" (That
which the king does, is well done.
Again her eyes returned to the reflec-
ton on the floor, and Don Diego un-
derstood. The little pantomime had
taken but few minutes, yet it was
another man who stood before the
monarch now. Everything was clear
to him. The old woman had said that
the unknown assassin was fair-haired.
The kings mistress had unmistakably
pointed out his reflection on the pol
ished surface of the oak, and the in
scription completed the chain of cir
cumstantial evidence The bland.
smiling monster on the throne was
the slayer. and secure in the knowi-
edge of the others ignorance, was
gloating over the prospect of his ap-,
preaching end There was only one
uo In xxrhs oh -. ssxhk
himself.
Once more he bowed to the throne.
II have but one request to make of
your majesty" he cried. "Give me "a
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 broad
ened. Was ever comedy more anus
ing.
Can you offer us this proof of your
vigilance and skill? How happily shal!
be relieved of my VOW" he an
swered, "and what is more, you shall
have from the royal treasure a grant
of 10000 duros OF gold the better to
maintain your high Office as governor
Of Seville"
Il thank you with all my heart for
his boon. Your majesty shall not be
was Don Diego's re-
oinder. as he backed from the royal
presence. The sitting was over. and
ting and courtiers repaired to the cool
gardens of the alcazar for rest and
The morning dawned, but the al
ayde had not been idle A skilled arti-
lcer in the Moorish quarter had fash
oned cunning image of the king
lis very double in every respect, even
o the color of his hair, and this dunn
ny now swayed and dangled from the |
ofty gibbet in the Plaza de San Fran
isco, filling the gaping crowd with |
gonder and delight, not unmixed. |
owever. with some secret fear. The |
lcayde, together with his officials,
eined their steeds toward the right OF /
be high wooden platform, along the
ray the royal cortege would have to
AXE.
They had not long to wait, for the
ing's curiosity had been aroused in
he highest degree. Near the tenth
our, announced by the blare of trum-
ct and atabal, preceded by steel-clad
and surrounded by
littering throng of lords and noblesy
imself on huge black charger, Dom
edro appeared. A cloak of dark
rimson velours set OF his costume Of I
lack silk, the ostrich plume thai
lrled gracefully round his barrett was
lstened by the great balas ruby, for
hich he had shamelessly slain his
iest, the Moorish king of Grenada.
nd the gold-inlaid trappings of his
sstrier shone like fire in the bright
might. Followed by his train. he
vept along until the foot of the gal
ws was reached, then reined in his
cunt and looked aloft There was
instant and universal hush. A hot
ash rose to his pallid cheeks, one
md frightened on the reins, while the
her half-drew the jewelled dagger
at hung at his belt But he con-
oiled his emotion, and motioned Don
lego TO approach. The alcayde, bow
g to his horses lowing name, drew
ar.
"Senor Alcayde,' the king said
owly. you are beyond doubt the
ost daring man in my dominions:
It since justice has been done am