The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-13
How Dom o Had Dealings With a Usurer

me quittance of my debt, and they told me no, but that l should return on the morrow and see the senor. On the fol- lowing day I was early at his bureau, and they brought me in before hi1h. An, Juan, have you brought some of the money due?' he said. All of it, senor,' I answered very joyously, but he frowned when I counted 1t out before him. 1t is not enough, he said; yesterday IL had been enough, but not today. Why did you not come yesterday as you were bldden?' Then l told him of my coming the day before, and how they had denied him to me, but he would not believe and he called me many names and clutched his knees with his fingers and his eyes were like black beads when the freight shines into them.'
 How did it end?" demanded Don Q.
 "I cried to him that indeed l had come, whereat he sent for those who refused me entrance. They came, lord of the mountains, and with oaths swore that never before had they beheld me. and then SenOr Iapoulo grinned well satisfied, and said Give me the money you have brought and I will forgive your lies Go be industrious and render to me next year what has accrued. It is the law
 '"Then fury seized me, and l cried out that if this was the law, then would l be a laWbreaker forever, and l swore that for that thing which he had done 10 me Iapoulo should yet come to die. He feared, lord of the mountains, for he called aloud for help but l broke away from them all and because l could not see my mothers face when l should tell her of our wrong, l ran to the noun tains, and" he flung out his hand with one of those fine gestures that is inbred in his race--'I have come to demand jus tice of my lord"
 'The story you have told me does in- deed show this Iapoulo in a very vil- lainous light" remarked Don @ sadly. T fear the fellow is an incurable ruff fan, for I have heard similar tales of his doings before To rob a rich man, or rather, | should say, to ease him of part of the burden which he carries, is ar act of merit: to rob a woman, most of all poor woman, one of whose kindly ones on whom is based the very life of this Spain of ours. that is deed which cried aloud for punishment. Know you If this 1apoulo ever travels in the noun tains when he moves to and fro upon his business?"
 Never lord he never leaves Malaga. Beside, the governor has warned all trav- elers and Iapoulo has made vow never to approach within twenty miles of this place.
 "Why should this be?" asked the brig and.
 He fears my lord"
 "Ahi" said Don O., shaking his head, such a fear shows that he carries bad conscience When a man pontedly avoids me, I almost always find he has something on his mind for which 1 could give him absoution, in this world at any rate. Now in the matter of lapoulo, you think he cannot be enticed into the mountains?'
 Tt Is impossible, lord.' replied Juan.
 Don Q.'s gaze flickered angriy over him. q began to believe l must ask you to do away with yourself he said harshly.
 The lad stepped back in dsmay, one hand catching at the neck of his ragged coat
 How have I offended my lord?"
 You have used a word that 1 have not heard spoken in connection wtsh myself for many more years than you can number. Go, l will pass it over for this time, but remember that in the mountains all things are possible and most things come to pass"
 Long after the young man had left him, and far into the night, Don Q. sat breeding over the points of the story he had heard. and the problem of lap ouos dislike to venturing within reach bledo tho most trusted of all his fol- lowers.
 "Robledo, l am about to assign to you an errand. Listen, therefore very care fully" He paused for some moments be- fore resuming. You, although man grown, cannot remember the day when