The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-04-22

as he noticed the still. brooding birdlike
attitude that surely betokened sleep
Perhaps after all, luck was on his side.
Don O.. for once, was caught mapping,
his head hunched between his shoulders
Instead of the danger OF hunting him out
of some hidden lair. how much easier
now to-
He moved forward again until he came
within the sight Of the mouth Of the
cave. Instantly two figures detached
| themselves from the gloom outside
The moment had arrived MeCorkadale
sprang swiftly benin Don O. and fired
three shots into his body.
The brigand swayed once. and falling
forward settled Imply, face downwards,
on the rock floor.
McCorkadale stood tense, one foot ad-
vanced waiting to see movement. But
there was none-the heap of black draper
F.. les lay still Yet the terror of the dead
was upon him for he started at the sound
| of a sigh behind him. lie glanced back.
At his shoulder stood Barbon. 1ivid over
the ragged tufts of his beard, his starting
eyes fixed upon the chiefs body.
McCorkadale pulled himself together
See, he is down al last! Did ! not
tell YOU Where is his charmed llfef
Proof! Come let us search for his hoard;
there is no time to lose.
He ran forward, Barbon at his elbow.
There was a strange grinding sound a
strangled shrek. He heard Barbon grunt
an oath as he pitched headlong into tho
glowing embers. The Cuban whirled round
on his heels and met a ray Of light that
played bindingly upon his eyes.
He could not see. but he fired wildly.
and clubbing the pistol rushed in upon
the man with the lantern. but the light
was snapped off, and, in the darkness he
dashed heavily against the wall
He did not need to hear the familiar
sibilant- chuckle. Don Q.'s counter-triek
was plain enough now.
For awhile he lay half-stunned. then
little burst of name-B arbons beard
abaze in the hot ashes-showed him the
brigand standing over him. The Cuban
dragged himself up into sitting posture
with his back against the wall. lie was
utterly COMPOUNDED and eowed his early
squirt of courage evaporated.
The chief opened the lantern. and looked
him over, breaking into intermittent
chuckles Of harsh laughter.
Mr.. McCorkadale," he began using
the English form with n derisixe innec-
ton. the song was not so far-fetehed
after all You came into the sierra 10
scratch the parrots head. and found the
Vuture."
The Cuban tried to turn his face from
the pitlless light with a shudder
corpse Oh q StulIpnt AN l EloWH SICK
and deaf and blnd?" pursued the bril-
gand. yet -four to one against mel The
chances were all on your side, fooln'
mo, for you have the luck of the
devil" broke out the Cuban. Pedro be-
trayed us. | did not see him."
II assure you you misiudged him
and. permit me to add, me also He adj
mtted a few enthusiastically believe
me; but they did not add appreciably 10
the knowledge | had already of your little
scheme. Pah. Animal, get UP and pull
this carrion out of the fire"
McCorkadale. in spite of his name.
came Of a hybrid race that knows when
1t is beaten. He obeyed.
He bent over Barbon. The man had
been stabbed in the back. One hand
still clutched at the cloak of the dummy
flgre with which Don q. deceived ,aem.
Under the chiefs directions, McCorISa-
dale worked franticallv till he tossed the
! dead body into the valley below.
Now, our good Brancoo--your chief
| friend. We must not forget him." said
| Don Q. in his softest stones. as he turned
! his lantern on shapeless horrible some
| thing that lay by the opening of the cave.
| you do not ask "A question. Shall | tell
you? He fingered so long fearing to cross
| my threshold that the door slls caught
and crushed him."
McCorkadales shaking lips were blue.
And Pedro?" he gasped.
Don O. shrugged his shoulders.
"Nhat do I know Ask the vulures
indeed senior. | consider myself Indebted
to you'-he lit cigarette as lie spoke
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