The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06

, thin lips before he called Ramon. Gas
! par and Felipe up from the fires in the
valley.
"Gaspar," he began. you know the
Inn at Colaro, on the road to Castel-
leno?"
Yes. lord.e
proceed there, and order an excellent
: supper for 10 o'clock tomorrow night"
Yes, lord"
Go. You. Felipe, will proceed to the
Castillo Negro below the mountains, and
see there Valentino, who waits upon the
! maid of the Duquesa. You know herr"
The young man redeemed. and glanced
up with a furtive look of fear.
Yes, lord
The chief met his eyes with a con-
temptuous smile.
The robber crossed himself but made
no reply Go down and bring the girl
, to the grove of lick near to Colaro. She
shall say that her grandmother is dy-
ing. The grandmother who brought her
up you understand? She need fear moth
ing. She has pleased me-" He added some
further instructions.
And you, Ramon. pick with care ten
of the least repulsiye looking of your
comrades, saddle my mule. and wait for
me at the head of the pass"
The brigands trooped off. and the chief
dropped his eyes once more upon thu
paragraph that had given him inspira-
ton.
1t merely stated that high festivities
were to be held in Castelleno on that
evening of Saturday, and that the ball
would be graced by the presence of the
Dllquest dOrava, who happened to be
staying at her country house, the Cas-
tillo Negro, some twelve miles distant
from the town. 1t was situated, in fact
upon the upper reaches of that river that
murmured so dismally below the prison
grating behind which Robledo was ly-
ing.
Beneath the sierra, which rose stark
and threatening in the moonlight, ran
the narrow country road connecting the
Castillo Negro with the highway Down
this road the carriage of the old Duquesa
must pass as she drove from her house
to the ball to be given that night in the
city. but the deep dust remained undis-
turbed in the windings of the lane as late
as o'clock on the Saturday evening.
Perhaps the world held no more sur
prised woman than the old Duquesa
d Orava when her carriage pulled up
with a jerk In the shade OF the lex grove
Perhaps, also, she was frightened; but
she was a high-tempered old lady, and
she showed no symptom OF fear as she
called out her strident commands to the
coachman to go on.
! Report says she was adding some full
favored remarks when the door opened
and man In a cloak stood bowling be-
fore her, his pallid face and bald head
bleaming white in the dusk.
At the sight of him the Duquesa's elder
ly maid began to scream.
Peace fool! One Sits the throat of
a screaming hem The sharp, sibilant
tones cut across the womans shreks
May l beg of you, Duquesa, to order
this person to descend? l must speak
with you alone"
Certainly notl I am in a hurry. Drive
on, Joaquin
Pardon me-" said the figure at the
door, and before the occupants of the
carriage had any idea of his intention
he laid grip of steel on the maids arm
and swung her adroitly out into the hands
of a man behind him.
ut grieves me to the heart to put you
| to this inconvenience, illustrissima, but for
| the sake of performing humane action
| one would venture to plead for your for
| giyeness.' 49, Is - s-yt..-
The old lady listened amazed This rob-
| Der had the accent, the bearing of her
own class. Oddly enough, the fact fur
| Their incensed her.
what does this mean" she cried
cried fercely who are you? foot
pad?"
Hardly, Duquesa. Your eyes deceive
you in this dimness. Believe me, no man
has more profound horror of footpads
than myself. TO the honorable brigand
the footpad Is unspeakably abhorrent."
Perhaps the fiery old heart sank at
this, but laugh cackled on the night