The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-05-27
BY K. AND
HESKETH
PRITCHARD.


or, II may De, threaten me with
death? ,"
Your courage is reputed to be un-
aSsailable," answered Don Diego
though 1 may be driven to try con-
illusions with you in that way if gem
tier means fail. But propose to begin
on another basis. I happen to be the
lucky holder of a secret belonging TO
your past life
The brigand made a contemptuous
gesture. You are credulous, senior"
"Caramba, I know it to be true. Has
any other bait tempted you into the
jaws of a trap? No But this was sue
cessful. AS I followed the pretty
Anita here, realized that if you came
at her call, whatever gods there are
had delivered you into my hands. You
must buy our silence-my friends and
mine"
And what of the gentleman have
been so unfortunate as to wOund?" in
Quired Don Q.
"Danuelo? Pooh! my groom. He is
dead by now; you shot too straight.
Come, our terms are simple"
GO tell your secret in the streets Of
Malaga: you will be none the richer"
I'VE cannot haggIe like a couple of
old women in the market place Make
up your mind. If you lead US to your
treasure we viii give you our word OF
honor as gentlemen to preserve your
secret inviOlate."
your honor? Is it not SOP" questioned
Don O. with exceeding sUavity. For
nv part, I cannot afford to buy it."
why ?-against your principles
said Don Diego with angry contempt;
'SenOr seqUestradOr, who holds to ran
SOM"
Precisely. It is against my prinCi-
pies Not as a sequestradOr, but
against my principles as man of
business. I cannot buy that damaged
article-yOuT honor"
Don NiCauOr burst into oaths; the
other man stood deadly still.
L am about to teach you, brigand- -
he said Jelly, "the lesson you have
taught many a better mantle fact
that you are after no more than
flesh and blood. Strip him, Nicanor."
He stopped and plucked out from
amongst the heap of wood beside the
hearth a bar of iron still imbedded in a
broken window sash. AS he thrust it
to heat in the flames. there was a
movement Of the heavy screen. and
Dona Anita rushed out from her con-
cealment-
You would torture him. she
shrieked. You shall not! You shall
mott"
Don Diegos smile was not plea SAINT
to see. My dear lady, 1 fear Don O.
has to thank you only for his present
position
Look at the dOOr-in the doorway"
she screamed.
Both Of the men swung round, and,
taking advantage of the instant, Anita
threw herself upon Don q. and began
TO saw at the bonds with a delicate
bladed dagger.
The men pulled her off savagely and
dragged her toward the door in spite
of her frantic resistance. OF all that
the brigand had to endure on that
night, perhaps this moment was the
worst while he was forced to look on
at the rough handling of this lady.
He heard the men say there was an
upper room where they could shut her
in. The noise Teceded. He was alone.
He looked around. Dona Anita's dag
ger was not to be seen, but his eyes
fell OF an iron bar already hot. He
rolled toward the fire, pushed the bar
out of the embers with his bound feet,
and held the ropes upon his wrists
down upon il until they charTed and he
could jerk them loose. Scarcely con-
scious of the horrible burns on his
hands and wrists. he united the knots
about his ankles and stood up free, I'M
armed indeed, but yet free Then he
endeavOred to stamp out the fire, but
hearing footsteps he flung an aTmful
Of damp wood upon the glowing ashes,
effectualIy darkening the hall
It was Don Diego who entered. Hull
10, how dark it is, Help, help, Mica
nOr-" he shouted
For Don @. was on him like a cat.
Springing at his neck from behind, he
kicked his knees from under him and
brought him heavily to the ground just
as NicanOr came running into the hall.
"RObledO, Gaspar, to me, l have the
other here" called Don Q.
NicanOr was deceived. He could see
nothing but the Outstretched form of
his friend. and he imagined that the
brigand's men had come to the rescue
of their chief. He turned to escape.
Don O., snatching Don Diego's knife
and pistol, started in pursuit.
NiCanor leaped out across the snow
to where the horse was tethered Cut
ting his friends loose, he flung himself
upon his own with a yell and a blow
Hot after him followed Don O. The
night was now full Of a pale IuminOs-
ity, for a white-rimmed moon had
swum up over a world that lay a-cOld.
Some moments were lost in reaching
his horse in the wood, and by that
+ time NicanOr was out of sight; but the
chief knew his enemy would make for
+ the nearest village, some four leagues
distant. If NicanOr once gained it's
shelter ne would escape. carrying with
/ him the desperate secret.
With spur and voice Don @. urged
/ his horse forward. The snOwbOund
chase sent no sound up to the dim
/ heaven; a magic circle might have been
shutting in these two gasping riders
and their passions. But Don O., being
much the lighter man, was gaining
surely upon the other. Nicanor. peer
/ ing back over his shoulder and seeing
only one pUrsuer and that one over
J taking him, fired again and again al
/ the figure with the flying cloak bent
so closely over his horses neck
] No shot came back in reply He is
without a pistol, this brigand, thought
/ NicanOr. and turned at bay. wheeling
his blown horse behind a thicket laden
with snow. The chief swept nearer and
/ nearer, then his horse seemed to STUN
Bile or rear Don NiCanOr could not
/ clearly see what happened. but Don Q
was thrown from his saddle He Iii
upon the ground not far from the