The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-01

an entrance known to none but himself. In lonely gorge he found waiting for him, tied amongst some high scrub, a horse saddled and bridled in semi-mlli- tary fashion. During four days. whether riding downwards by devious and little known paths, or cooking his meal at sun set, or lurking in a thicket to watch the passing of a couple of .guardias clvlles, or dozing the dark hours through rolled in his cloak, the vision always before his eyes took the form of the shapely ears of the governor of the prison of Gastel- leno.
 He was engaged upon a fantastic ex- ploit. The difficulty of entering the gov ernors presence might in itself have seemed insurmountable; but almost as Don Q. uttered the words of the threat plan formed in his mind
 It was evening On the roof of the prison beside a cluster of potted palms couple of reclining chairs had been placed in the best position to catch the cool airs from the mountains.
 In one Dona Catalina yawned and famed herself languidly. while the gov ernor sat smoking cigarettes in the moody silence that day by day was growing upon him. Now and again he lifted his eyes and gaZed across the white town and fthe tillage surrounding il. to the traoery of peak and pinnacle which be- yond them climbed into the pink even ing sky He had manifestly lost flesh, and the frown upon his handsome brows told of ruffled nerves.
 sweet low laugh brought him 10 his feet He glanced angrily al his wife
 Again. O. my Hugo you stare at the mountains and finger your ears as if 1lAsa ~ rtx. .a. across from his cave and pull them of, |" she laughed again with an abandon of enjoyment that came near to breaking down the restraint Don Hugo had placed upon his temper
 Not precisely. But I admit that sight of the sierra reminded me of your fool ish visit up there, and naturally of that robbers most insolent message" he re- piled with an air of loftlness. This has forced me to take special steps with view 10 setting an end to his career. A conclave of the principal personages of Castelleno and the neighborhood Is 10 be held in the great hall presently. An ex- traordinary expedition will then be sent up against him. l will probably lead it myself"
 The senora rose from her seat and curtseyed deeply and derislyely.
 'T shall be doubly anxious about your ears then, my beloVedi Don Q. Is man of his word. But, see, your guests begin to arrive"
 Spaniards, in spite of their reserve are moved to excitement upon any subject which touches them nearly. The cabal- leros of the district no less than the citi- zens of the town appeared to find in Don O. a topic far from conductive to calm ness. However, his reputation stood with the poor; the rich whom he sent empty away, bore him much i'll will. The room resounded with tales of the mysterious brigand. Each man could supply differ ent anecdote of his annoying if not terri ble, exploits some of which dated back a score of years, some of yesterday, but almost all stamped with that distorted humor which commonly bit too deep for laughter.
 The Count de Bermeia had told the story of Antonio's punishment by the bri- gand, and another of the hidalgos had spoken of a report that Don Q. hoped eventually to publish a book which should take the form of an autobiogra- phy. and be enriched by couple of ap- pendices the first setting forth the names of all his captives who had been ran somed the dates of capture, amount of ransom demanded and received. and date of release: the second appendix, to be set within suitable border of black should contain a complete list of those whose money-value had failed to arrive, with little note below each name detailing in what form death had met them.
 The Don Hugo, rising in his place. re- ferred to the crownng offence of which the brigand had been guilty. He told in fact, with certain eXpedient deViations from historic accuracy, the tale of his