The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-10
THE MAN WITH THE RING

/
admitted, and then 1 heard the bolts
shoot into their fastening and the SOL
diers march away.
It was not quite dark in the room,
for the shutters We're open and adj
mitted a ray of moonlight through the
window. So I lay still and strained
my eyes to discover who my companion
might be.
place the soldiers had left him. I
made out that he was tall and STOPPING
and exceedingly thin; but his face was
in the shadow. Presently, as he moved,
/ heard a chain clank, and knew he
was hand-cuffed in the same manner
as myself
Slowly he turned his body, peering
into every corner of the room, so that
soon he discovered me lying where the
moonlight was strongest He gave
start then, but spoke no word; and
again an interval of absolute silence
ensued.
His strange behavior began to rem
der me uneasy. 1t is we'll to know
something of q person confined with
you in a small room at the dead Of
night, and I was about to address the
fellow when he began stealthily ap-
preaching the bed. He might have
been three yards distant when I arose
to a sitting posture. This caused him
to pause his form we'll within the
streak of light. Resting upon the edge
of the bed and facing him, my own
examined each other curiOusly.
1 had never seen him before, and I
had little pleasure in meeting him then.
He appeared to be. a man at least fifty
years of age, with p3llid sunken
cheeks, eyes bright, but shifting in
theirs gaze, and scanty gray locks that
now hung disordered over a low fore
head. His form was thin and angular
his clothing of mean quality, and his
hands. which dangled before him at
the. ends of the short chain, were large
and hardened by4ton- -.--.ss
Not a Brazilian. / decided at once;
but I could not then determine his
probable nationality.
Likewise a prisoner, senor?" he in
0uired. in an indistinct. mumbling tone
and with a strong accent
~ eS, ia F8sVeFeds
~ n. cQnspirator. 1 see! 1 see!' He
nodded his head several times, and
then growIed sentences that I could
not understand.
While I stared at him he turned
away gain and with a soft and stealthy
tread made the entire circuit of the
room. feeling of each piece of furni-
turc it contained. and often pauSing for
NAM moments in one spet as if occu-
pied in deep thought.
At last he approached The bed again.
dragging after him chair in which he
slowly seated himself opposite me.
stRetafn your couch. senor,' he NUT
tered. Il shall not disturb you, and it
j
But was now fully awake, and had
no intention of sleeping while this
strange individual occupied his seat
beside me.
who are you?' I demanded a
patriot?"
Not as you use the term he an
swered at once. I am Mexican.
Mexican I echoed, surprised. do
you speak English %
Truly, senor,' he answered, but his
English was as bad as his Portuguese.
I why are you here and a prisoner %
1 asked.
Il had business with Senior de Pin
ira I came from afar to see him, but
found the soldiers inhabiting his
house. 1 am tnid, senior, and suspect
ing trouble I hid in an Out-building,
where the soldiers discovered me- Why
1 should be arrested [ do not know. I
am not a conspirator; 1 am not even
Brazilian. I do not care for your poll
ties whatever. They tell me Miguel de
Pintra is dead. Is it true?"
His tone did not seem sincere. But
I replied it was true that Dom Miguel
was dead.
4eThen I should be allowed to depart.
But not So They tell me the great en-
peror is here their Dom Pedro, and he
will speak to me in the morning. Is it
This time I detected an anxiety in
his voice that told me he had not sus-
pected the emperor's presence until
his arrest
But I answered that Dom Pedro was
then occupying de Pintra's mansion,
together with many of his important
ministers.
For time he remained silent. prob
ably considering the matter with care.
But he was i'll at ease, and shifted con-
tinuaHy in his chair.
YOU are Americana? ?" he asked at
last.
Il knew. when you ask me for my
English. But why does the emperor
arrest an American 2?
smiled. but there was no object
in irving to deceive him.
Il was private secretary to Dom Mi
guel." said 1, land they suspect my
late master to have plotted against the
emperor.
He laughed unpleasantly-
1T is we'll your master is dead when
they make that suspicion said he;
then paused a moment and asked. alb
ruptIv, Did he tell you of the vault2'
l stared at him. A Mexican, not a
conspirator, yet aware of the secret
vault. It occurred to me that 1t would
be well to keep my own counsel for q
time, at least
* vault?' 1 asked, carelessly, and
shook my head.
Again the fellow, laughed disagreed
ably But my answer seemed to nave
pleased him.
.sTe was slyi All he was sly, the
dear Senior Miguel he chuckled, rock
ing his thin form back and forth upon
the ehaifs But never mind. II IS
nothing / never pry into secrets,
senior It is not my nature
j said nothing and another silent Mt
seized him Perhaps five minutes had
passed before he arose and made q
1 second stealthy circuit Of the room
/ this time examining the barred WINDOW
with great care. Then he sighed