The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-03-25

=
Alternatives are usually deplorabIe.
] but we will wait for fifteen days until
you have an answer from your con-
| sui" said the chief.
But the alternative?'
Don @. sighed. ALAS, senior, you are
so young TO die"
Lalor was conscious of feeling very
] young, and very human. The strong
| life in his veins chilled for the mo-
ment, but when he spoke his voice was
as casual as before.
What good will my death be to
you?"
My dear senOr'-there was regret in
! the soft sibilant tones that made the
| lad shudder involuntarily-.'i is bus
iress- 1 have terrible reputation to
maintain. You must be aware of the
enormous value of such a reputation
to one of my profession
Il see your point of view" LaIor
said judicially: then he laughed again.
Don Q. regarded him with increasing
interest. This young man was GER
tainly of new type. Lalor read the
question in his eyes.
DO you know" he said, before I
heard the alternative you have so de-
licately alluded to. I was congratulate
ing myself on having fallen into your
hands?''
He smiled, his quaint smile IT'S a
trif1e hard after spending a couple of
years in collecting rejection forms tina
the first really good thing to come i'm
my way should turn out so crookedly."
You Travelled to get local color?" in
quired Don Q.
We'll. you see"-LaIor looked oddly
shy-"Im not old. If a fellow hasn't
age he has to get experience. Don't
you think so?'
The chief felt his heart quite warm
to this ingenious Britisher.
L know an author" he began. who
for years has seldom left his own
hearthstone, yet his transcriDtions of /
humanity are so original. so vitality
true, that the world will be shaken with 4
a new knowledge of itself when he pup /
hshes them. He has had opportunities 4
of seeing the soul of man naked"
Lalor pushed. back his chair invoIun-
tar1ly. His imagination had OWNED the /
truth.
1T is yourselfl' he cried. while the
thought flashed through him-what
sights had not those hvid-Edded ewes
looked uDOn2
You are right have occupied nv
ODD moments in compiling an autobiog-
raphy- 1t will not be dull book. and
VIII tend TO set me right in the eyes of
those who malign me in the plains
fhey do give you viIIafnous char
acter down there" admitted Labor.
ell, for reasons which l have al
ready mentioned To YOU. ! am some
times forced to adopt regrettabIe aIter-
natives The chief stopped and
looked resentfuliy at the door. where
one or his men stood holding a letter.
ne daylight had now grown strong
er. and Don Q. went to the terrace our
side the caVe-mouth to read the com
muntcation- An odd sound made Labor
look up. The chief stood in the center
of the cave, shaken visfbly by some
fierce emotion.
You have been 10 Malaga >" he
asked abruptly. Who was the chief
guest at your hotel?"
Let me see Labor considered. a
FELLOW from South America. calling
himself Da Costa He seemed TO have
any amount of money"
That is the animal who has per
Inltled himself to insult me. Da Costa.
Inc chief grinned venomousIv. ''You
VIII know him as the Comte de Dieppe
or as he loves to call himself rovaIIv
amongst us Spaniards, General Don
BasiliO."
'What?-the Carlist general?"
1 s- Here is a man who writes ask
ing me TO become a rebel who offers
me a free pardon as the price of nv
honor- Corpse Of a sCUllioni He would
overthrow dynasty! He forgets that
between Queen Christina and her enc
mes lies the sword of Don O."
You take the side of the queen re-
gent! asked LalOr, i'll some surprise
L remember the court of Spain as il :
was. l am proud of the court of
spain as 1t isl There are not MANY |
good women in the world. Senior T.aIor |
you viii learn that for yourself some |
day; let US defend and admire those
whom We know This is a moment |
when all true subjects of Queen Chris
una should loosen their knives in their
belts 1t is a mother defending her ia
-herIess child against the plots of DOW
l srI-II ana subtle enemies. Well, have
seventy men at her service!"
Were it not for nv misfortune as
regards my lack of ransom. you might
nave SeVenty-One." exclaimed IaIor
little carried away
Senior: are you willing to risk your s
life for the queen of Spain -
smile. {
The queen is already on her way to
Malaga. where she is to make a prog :
'ess through the streets on the 18th. :
Den Basilo's presence means that
ome infamous plot against her is being a
prepared You have heard of this '
nan?" 4,
He's pretty notorious"
You may take my word for it. senior.
le is even worse than the world be-
ieves him to be
1t is at the man himself that
must strike!" The chief paused and laid
| slim yellow forefinger on Laior's =
leeve- Are you willing, senior. to do
great service TO the queen and there
~ TO cause me to remit your ransom -
Il am willing without the renting :
f the ransom, senoT.''
Corpse of scullion!" exclaimed Don :
}. Il see our way into this mans
,resencet"
Our way?''
Yes we two-alone," The chief bent Il
onward and whispered for some time d.
nto Lalor's ear, breaking off at inter- q
ais to give way to terrible sfbilant
Of laughter.
As the young man listened. his face
ghted up. Here was adventure unde-
led.
Don Basilio's plot is still in the egg
we must crack the shell a little pre-
added Don O. aloud. in his
sual soft tones. II foresee that Fate
rdains you TO hold a hand i'm a fine
anne. Should I be forced to kill YOU