The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-03-11

Hay; Il am your prisoner. Misfortune
introduced u.s.
Above all things created, q man who
defied him was abhorrent to the bri-
gand but now he saw one who looked
him in the eyes without either fear or
curiosity. Gevil-Hay interested him,
put rather as frog interests an vivi-
sector.
"On one thing I pride myself, senior"
he said presently. When I speak, the
thing which I say Is unalterable. I am
/ about to tell you the amount of your
ransom. 1 WIZ eontrive to send down
your message"
You viii have TO give me time if
you wish to get the money" said the
other. L have only my pension, and 1
must see If they Will commute that.
Your government will pay" asserted
Don O. suavely. They viii not lose so
valuable a servant"
DO you care for q WORKOUT coat?"
asked Gevil-Eay. with q mirthless
laugh. Besides, I came here in spite
OF warnings that the roads were unsafe.
I must bear the consequences.
Don Q.'s wrinkIed eyeIids 0ufvered
Shall we say s20.000?'' he asked, as
If deferring to his prisoners opinion.
You have said e. and that's the
end returned Gevil-Hay; though"
he added, Il don't think you are very
likely 10 see 4. They viii commute my
pension on the scale Of the probable
duration O. my life, and that will give
no satisfactory average. I am afraid
hope you may get S15,O00. doubt if
ycu WI get more
! trust for your sake may get $40
co., reulled the Spaniard, otherwise a
disappointment might lead to conse-
qusnc es-resrettable consequences.
He shook his head and blinked as he
withdrew into the cave.
Meanwhile Gevil-Hay wrote out his
appeal and q request to Inghem, the
consul ct the seaport under the noun
tains, that he would urge the matter
forward. Then he sat and drearily
watched the evening wind in the p.nes
above the gorge, and wished vainIy
that he could do anything-anything
but watch and wait
In the gloom, when the fire was lit
outside 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- I assure
you l viii do my bestto play the host
well and to make your stay among us
pleasant to you I have your parole,
senOr?"
Gevil-Hay hesitated The fever had
laid its hand upon him, he shivered as
he stood in the breeze, and the Joints
Of his knees were Embossed with a
creeping weakness. Not so many years
ago the world seemed at his feet: he
had striven hard for his position and
won it-wOn more than that. He had
tasted much of Iife's sweetness and the
joy of power and growing success. yet
today
Yes he answered.
AS the days went on Gevil-Hay found
he had good deal in common with
the chief. who proved himself an at
tentve host There was something kin
dred between the two men, and vet
Gevil-Hay was alternately attracted
and repealed.
Yielding to the charm of Don O.'s
fine courtesy he was led on to talk of
many things, and he talked well. while
the chilly thin-framed nearer, crouch
ing in his cloak over the fire, listened
with interest TO later view of the
great world that lay within his own
remembrance. Also the EngIishman
had been wanderer in far countries;
he was a man who spoke with author
ity, who understood the craft of admin
istratiOn and high affairs, so that he
could converse on the level of actual
knowledge and experience with one
who held himself to be also ruler and
lawgiver to no contemplate portion
of mankind.
To GeviI-Hay, Don O. was a study.
He watched him as a snake might be
watched by an imaginative rabbit He
was always following the livid-lidded
eyes, always specializing on the
thoughts which worked in. that ill-bal-
anced brain. For Don Q. was a Span
lard of the Spaniards, having the
qualities of his race in excess. He was
quite fearless, proud to distraction, un-
surpassed in the kindly courtesy of
nation of aristocrats, and cruel beyond
belief. AS this character developed it
self, Gevil-Hay, like many another man
who has thought himself tired of life
clung to his chances of escape as they
hourly grew less before his eyes. For
culiarities did not lean to the side of
mercy.
A couple of days after his arrival In
the glen ne asked the brigand chief
what had been done with the two young
brawlers who had drawn knives upon
each other under the terrace
Don Q. removed his cigarette to an
swer.
''They will annoy you no more.
senor." he said. with the anxiety of
hospitality, mo more"
What? Have you sent them away
to some of YOUR outlying detach-
ments2" asked GeviI-Hay, for he had
learned by this time that the robbers
were posted at many points in the
mountains
Don Q. laughed. a venomous. sibilant
laugh.
''They are gone-yes, with the other
carrion-the vultures alone know
wherei"
The chief was in one of his black
moods of intense and brOoding melan-
choly They were common with him.
but this was the first which Gevil-H Hay
had seem