The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-13

told the history of his dealings with lap oulo to Don Q.
 Meantime, and while these things were going forward to such fortunate issues' no more delighted man than the usurer existed In Malaga. He held the plan to the second treasure, which the rascally brigand. who had sold (here he laughed) the secret, declared to be at least ten times as large. Without delay he must carry off the rest before Don Q. dlscoV- cred his earlier loss
 Iapoulo at this period, and for some ten years previously, had held in his power an unfortunate man whom he used as his confidential clerk This man, who was known everywhere in the city by his nickname Simio, was nearly six feet in height, with a pair of long and crooked legs, and big hairless face, flat nosed and undershot. He had also the largest appetite in Spain, and was in the habit of complaining that he could number on the fingers of one hand the few occasions on which he had reached the harbor of sa- tiety. He led a shifting life, for he gen erally tried to lodge en pension.
 Together with his enormous appetite, Simio was possessed of immense muscu- lar strength. On account of this excellent quality, and also because Simio could not for many reasons betray him, the usurer fixed on the clerk as his companion on his trips into the mountains. Realizing that safety possibly lay in haste the pair found themselves five days later among the stony bleakness of the higher sierra.
 Between his anxiety to hide himself from the imagined eyes that beset the solitude, and the fear of breaking his neck, Iapoulo's orders grew more con- fused with every movement. But when the lowest point of the track was reached Simio halted and looked about him.
 There, master he said, nodding his head to the right.
 Iapoulo, cruched upon the mule, saw above him a strange rock shaped like a fungus behind which rose the cliff. In that gray place each little deformed bush had whipped a hole on the hither side of it, worn by the ceaseless beating Of the branches as they Tipped and strug- gled in the unpitying wind
 "Forwardl Hastenp said the usurer in the hoarse whisper he had used dur of the sierra.
 They tied up the mule at a little dis tance, and Iapoulo followed Simio into the grotto It was an ordinary cave enough, but Iapoulo was not used to caves, and the lurking shadows on all sides, the low drowning roof, and the mysterious drip. drip of water, now on one side, now on the other, shook his quivering nerves. The lanterns he had brought seemed only to add to the ter TOTS of the place
 Let us to work. Where is the map? Hold the lantern steady fooli' The usurer studied the plan for a moment, then, hurrying across the dusty floor, plunged his hand into a creviee in the corner and drew out a rusty nail.
 "This is the sign Come let us dig" Big crooked Simio whirled up a pick axe and between his blows Iapoulo struck exeitedly at the rocky earth with a spade; but progress was slow. The night deepened into the small hours; still they labored until the pickaxe, pioneering its way downward, struck and stuck In the wood A few more cautious efforts. and a long and dirty box was disclosed Iapoulo too impatient to wait for to be raised, bade Simio wrench off the lid It was done. A whitened skeleton lay stretched out within. The empty jaws grinned up at the two men as they stood stiff wit the shock, gaping down upon itl Then, across the lanterns light d shadow leaped to Iapoulos feet and d touch fell on his shoulder.
 With a yell he wrenched his head round to see he knew not what. The color had drained from his damp face. his eyes shone white like those of vicious horse. his upper lip was drawn back in grin of fear. He stood immovable, his clJtchng hands still outspread. while the drops gathered and fell from his bald forehead. as he stared back at cloaked figup bear ing singular likeness to the bIoodng oarrion birds which he had seen on his journey into the mountains.