The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-29

, senor Blufort shall paint me. Can you tell me what the British nation paid him for this picture of Don Tommy 2?
 Two thousand guineas, l believe said Sir Graham naming a big sum at ven ture.
 Good. I shall offer him 5000 I will write at once and perhaps you. senor, will be good enough to add postscript to say what you think of my hospitalitye'
 Sir Graham hesitated once more. Then he spoke firmly.
 You know how grateful I am for all the kindness you have shown me, he said Your hospitality leaves nothing to be desired. I do not know when I have enjoyed myself so much But if l were to write as you wish, I should in man ner be pledglng myself that you would send Blufort back to his wife safe and sound. If you can give me your word as 10 that, I shall be delighted to add to your note"
 A frown crossed the pallid forehead of the chief. but faded again.
 True. he said. you have reason For can by no means warrant this gentle mans safe return to the plains Suppose do not like the character of his work? :? Suppose I am not pleased? What then?"
 Precisely, what then?s echoed Sir Gra- ham dryly. s
 "Ah, as to that. Don Q. shrugged his pointed shoulders ''who can say2' He bowed over his glass of black coffee. T perceive your difficulty. senor. I will, with your permission, however, send my invi- tation at once''
 You can but ask him. responded Sir Graham, relieved.
 Don Q. turned abruptly.
 Do you mean he would be so unwise as to refuse2y ss
 Not if he knew your"
 Don Q. bowed once more.
 T trust senor. for his own sake, he will not dream of doing so.''
 The upshot of this conversation was that Don 0. wrote d charming letter to the great French portrait painter. He praised his work, praised it in such words as to show that he was something of connoisseur. He went on to say that great artist needed a great subject. He instanced portraits of Napoleon and oth- CTS He pointed out that Monsieur Blu forts chance had come out to meet him, and he has since said that he seldom en- joyed any period of his life more than he spent Tn the sierra while awaiting the ar rival of his ransom. For Don Q. sent him ibex shooting under parole and with Rob ledo, whose knowledge of the haunts and the habits of the wild cabra montes was exhaustive. These expeditions resulted fin a half-a-dozen good and one remarkable head
 It was at the end of such a days sport that Sir Graham returned to find the de- meanor of Don Q. unaceountably altered, He was no longer the courteous and charming companion, the perfect host.
 kll that was changed. Don Q. sat silent, breeding, with a vicious gleam in his eyes if he raised them; he was infact plunged in one of those black fits of depression to which his followers had grown accus- toned. His prisoner, being man of the world. wisely accepted the position and held his tongue also. For the black fit of Don 'Q. always closed his lips, and he often at such times remained ten days without speaking. If he spoke some one suffered
 For three days the Englshman living the round with which he had become familiar, entered the cave to find the brigand always crouched over his fire all ways in the same position, staring into the flames with the same fierce vacant eyes, and bitter compressed lips. He seemed not to stir through the hours.
 There was nothing for it but to wait for the dark ice of the mood to break Up. And Sir Graham was almost startled as he sat reading opposite the breeding figure on the night of the third day, when Don @. broke his sixty-hours' silence
 Don Graham. l am about to ask your advice" he said suddenly
 The other murmured his qualification
 T have received a letter from NJ Blu fort"
 The Englishman nodded.
 You will remember ] wrote to him a very courteous invitation offering him the honor of painting my portrait"
 q remember perfectly,'