The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-11

aAA AAAulaH civil servant o. Ebbu prospects
and bad health In the end the bad
health proved the stronger and his coun-
try retired him on a narrow income. He
was internationally heart-broken. There
was a woman somewhere in the past. a
woman 10 whom the mans lonely heart
had chung steadfastly through the years
while health slowly and surely deserted
him. Love me little, love me long has
its corresponding lines set deep through
out the character and if Gevil-Hay was
incapable of a passion of love or sorrow,
he was not ignorant of the pang of a
long renuneiation and an enduring regret.
Late in the afternoon a halt was called,
the prisoner was blndfolded and led
through the scrub; then the wind blew
more sharply in his face and Gevil-Hay
knew that he trod on wiry grass, which
in turn changed to a surface of bare
echoing rock. Passing out of this tunnel
he was secured by having his hands tied.
and, when his eyes were uncovered he
found himself in a small enclosed valley
with sheer precipitous sides.
A couple of men hurried him up wind
ing pathway cut out of the cliff face to
the mouth of a cave, fronting winch was
little natural terrace.
There they found Don O., sitting in the
sunshine with a wide hat of felt drawn
vulture-like but one lean hand like deli
cate yellow claw that held the cloak
about his neck.
ITO whom have | the pleasure to adj
dress myself" asked the brigand, with
extreme and unexpected polteness.
Gevil-Hays hands being loosed, he
fixed his single eyeglass and glanced
round the glen before he replied.
Perhaps you will be good enough to
give me some idea of your career, and we
can go into the question Of the ransom
at the end of it," resumed Don @. in his
courteous manner, as the other finished
speaking.
Gevil-Hay answered briefly In good
Spanish for an Indian civilian is sup
posed to start in life equipped with a
knowledge of every language under the
sun
"Ah. then, you have retired-well, been
forced to retire-but with a pension?
Yes.p
Yes"
How much?" he asked
"Three hundred pounds a year"
All" the brigand hesitated, while he
made a mental calculation Your ran
som, senior" he stopped he understood
how to make a iudcous use of suspense
you are a poor man. you say, and you
name but a moderate sum, and after this
conversation there will be no more about
it. We will omit the subject while you
remain my guest" The soft speech grew
softer
"There is no need to give my position
a false name" answered Gevil-Hay; 81
am your prisoner. Misfortune introduced
us"
Above all things created, a man who
defied him was abhorrent to the brigand,
but now he saw one who looked him in
the eyes without either fear or curiosity.
Gevil-Hay interested him, but rather as
a frog interests an vivisector
Zone one thing / pride myself, senior"
he said presently. when | speak, the
thing which l say is unalterable. l am
about to tell you the amount of your
ransom | will contrive to send down
your message"
You will have to give me time II you
wish to get the money" said the other.
II have only my pension, and I must see
ii they will commute that"
"Your government will pay asserted
Don O. suavely "They will not lose so
valuable servant
DO YOU care for a worn-out coat?"
asked Hay with a mirthless laugh.
Beside, | came here in spite of warn
ings that the roads were unsafe. l must
bear the consequences
Don Q.'s wrinl1led eyelids quivered.
''Shall we say $2O,OOO?" he asked, as If
deferring to his prisoners opinion
You have said it. and that's the end"
returned Gevil-Hay; Though" he added,
81 don't think you are ever likely to see
it, They will commute my pension on the
scale of the probable duration of my life,
and that will give no satisfactory aver
age, l am afraid. ] hope you may yet
$1,000 l doubt If you will get more
81 trust for your sake l may get $2O,-
O0O replied the Spaniard. otherwise a
disappointment might lead to conse-
quences-regrettable consequences.
He shook his head and blinked as he
withdrew into the cave.
Meanwhile Gevil-Hay wrote out his ap-
peal and a request to Ingham, the consul
at the seaport under the mountains, that
he would urge the matter forward. Then
he sat and drearily watched the evening
wind in the pines above the gorge, and
wished vainly that he could do any
thing-anything but watch and wait.
In the gloom, when the fire was lit out
side the cave. Don Q. returned He took
the sealed letter that Gevil-Hay held
ready for dispatch
And now senior, | regard you as my
guest" said he. land in all things but
one you may command me. assure
you I will do my best to play the host
well and to make your stay among us