The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-04-22

! opposite cliff, but pleasanter thoughts
quickly followed, and suddenly he threw
back his head and laughed aloud-a ring
ing neigh of laughter that awoke the
echoes
Only one man in the valley below ven
| tured to look up. ard his mouth opened
wide IN an answering grin.
Don @. had approached from behind
with his usual noiseless step. lie with
drew as quietly.
"rhe joyous spirits of my guests
please our amiable Brancolo. 1t is good
We laugh each in orr turn. We Of the
sierra he said.
From the outset Bccorkadale had tried
10 get into touch with Don as men, but
failed until he happened upon Brancolo
the npshot of their stealthy conferences
being a very neat plot TO rid themselves
of Don @. and to acquire his treasure.
Brancolo was half Italian, half Span
sh-a powerful. hairy. fellow with a sleek,
meaning smile. He had not been long
in the sierra. and nothing short of neces-
slty would have driven him there for he
was accustomed to city life of easy
infamy.
AS the plot matured Brancolo persuaded
couple of. intimates to Join. The night
for the attempt was fixed. and no sus-
The Cuban was allowed to wander at will
about the valley-even to linger till after
darkness had fallen. A faint rasping noise
rising nightly in the cave had so far
eluded Don Q.s usually viglant ear. a
fact which McCorkdale persstently
brought forward as a proof that the brig
ands best days were over.
On the appointed evening. after friend
lN dinner and smoke enjoyed in the COM
n -
to the particular recess in which he
slept behind cnnningly contrved door.
The accustomed routine was gone
through. The chief followed him to turn
down the bolt II fell with its well-known
click and the Cuban In the darkness be-
yond it listened with a satisfied grin
That night a change had taken place
in the weather. The wind moaned
through the swaying pines. squalls of
rain drove across the valley, and when,
a couple of hours after midnight. Bran
colo met one Of his allies at the foot of
the pathway leading to the brigand's cave
dense mountain mist filled the valley
what? Are YOU alone? Is it you Bar
bon2 Where, then, is Pcdro2" asked the
Italian.
Have you not heard? The Old One
sent him to Cantalera this evening"" was
the reply.
'Nhat matters There are still three
OF us.
Brancolo began 10 feel his way up
wards. pushing his companion ahead of
him. Weird noises of night time in the
sierra seemed all about them, and they
were scarcely sorry when they reached
the opening Of the cave.
A red light from the smoldering fire
burned DULY against the shroud of the
mist. A death-llke silence lay within.
From where the men stood one wall
of the cave was dmly visible but the
fire and large area of the floor were hid
hen by a hange of rock that screened the
entrance.
McCorkadalc. for his part, lay long
awake upon his bed of dry fern and
grass listening to the movements of the
brigand. BY and by began the soft pac-
ing to and fro, nightly habit of Don
Q.s which always Immediately preceded
his going to rest. But on this night 1t
seemed to the watcher that he continued
his walking much later than usual.
At length all was still except the moan
ing of the wind and the occasional sharp
patter of a shower on the rockface out
side.
BY feeling the hands of his watch he
knew that the hour was come. He crept
from his bed. With infinite patience he
drew in the wire that unshipped the bolt
from its socket. then noiselessly pushed
the door open and slipped out. stealing up
the short passage to the main cave, and
looked in. The fire had sunk TO a heap
OF glowing ashes, but gave light enough
to show Don O. huddled in his cloak on
Il stool by the hearth
McCorkadale stopped brea HESS. with a
curse in his heart, but plucked up spirit