The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-03-18
How Don 0.
Dealt With
Don Luis.

1Shed. WhereupOn the authorities at
Madrid sent down a strongly wOrded
remonstrance to Don Feupe, governor
OF the town by the sea, inquiring why
Don O., the brigand in question, had
not been plucked from his eyrie and
executed long ago.
SO II came to pass that Felipe Ma
3ada sat in his chair and cursed the
British government by the length and
breadth and TO the depth and height
of the Spanish language.
Thrown upon his own resources and
realizing that something must be
done, which it seemed the ordinary
agencies Of the law could not effect
he fell back upon the device of en-
ploying private enterprise.
1t was upon this business that he
jOurneyed to Malaga to meet a Ger
tain Don Luis del Monte, who ap-
peaTed to him extraordinarily quail
fed for the task to be performed In
Spain, as in other countries there is
always a sufficiency of broken gentle
men, ready to lend a hand to any we'll
paid job. Luis del Monte was one of
these.
At the time Don Felipe summoned
him, he was living in aching poverty
above a shop where they sold tobacco
and stamps.
The governor entered into the bust
ness with a new zest. To pit Don
Luis against Don @. meant bloodshed,
and in fat Feline Maiada the instinct
of the bullTing awakened.
sit down." he said aloud: 4 will
explain the plan I have formed"
- Then he told the story of Gevil-
Hays detention by the brigands, with
the matter of the ransom, and added
many other details given by former
captives until del Monte felt he was
in possession of all the needful facts
of 10 RpfvvppO them stood yz-ina
and cigarettes-the short, brown
Spanish cigarettes rolled in sweetened
paper, not innocent of saltpetre. Don
Luis smoked one after another as he
listened, gazing out with absent eyes
over the two harbOrs of Malaga.
When Mazda ceased he began.
Il have heard much of Don Q. He
appears to be a fine sort of fellow who
has made the best use of his Oppor-
tunities up yOnder. I had thoughts of
going into the business myself. Mean
while what do you want me to dO?"
The governor of the little white town
put his wish plainly if largely.
I'VE must rid ourselves of this vul-
ture," he said.
s'So?''
1T will be worth your while" added
Majada.
THAT is as it may be. The risk is
great"
nothing
What do you propose to pay the
man who undertakes it?'
zone thousand pesetas."
Don Luis del Monte laughed and
snapped his fingers in contempt.
1.-TWO thousand pesetas then"
Don Luis shook his head.
Dollars he said parenthetically.
Impossible! Would you ruin the
country"
No. no. You forget I know better,
my dear senior. I have already in my
time explored her pockets myself!
Two thousand dollars
The question was not settled in a
moment, but eventually Don Luis del
Monte's debOnair infleXibility on the
point prevailed
The price of my life" he said, and
q beggarly bad bargain"
For the government amended
Don Felipe. Besides you will live to
enjoy it in Malaga. How, then, do
YOU propose TO get to work?'
81 must be captured. and you will
arrange the ransom. They say down
here that the brigand recognizes a
gentleman and treats him handsomely
pending the arrival of the ransom and
the arrangement of his affairs, If he
does not-welI, I am an old soldier.
Meanwhile. I shall have five days in
his company
..Bv St. Peter, Cold steel and close
auartersr' cried Don Felipe. with ris-
ing excitement. ''SenOr. you are not
a coward
Nor fool" rejoined the other cold
Then you have some other design
-yes?"
Certainly I have a design less blair
ing than yours. 1 shall start in the
early morning"
stay! How will you deal with
him?"
"As a goatherd and the farmer deal
with the other quebranta-huesos- 1
will poison him. He shall share the
death of the vultures and the wolves.
I shall have FIVE full whole days with
him. I tell you. How can he escape
me?''
Il do not know" Don Felipe said
obviously as he watched the thin, sin
lister face opposite him with SNUG
interest. But 1 have heard him called
a bad enemy"
And I will conquer him by being
bad friend which is just twice as for
midable"
Yet" and Don Felipe lowered his
voice instinctively, "he has other
friends. I came hither TO Malaga, for
in my own house across the bay some
ear would have heard and some foot
nave Deen IedUy 10 carry lHe AldINSA
up yonder
Don Luis made no answer. He put a
handful Of the governors cigarettes
in his pocket and prepared to go.
Il must have money tOnight-mOney
to repair my toilet, to buy a horse and
lay the affair in train. It is necessary
TO be generous, senior. This may be |
my last night of pleasure, and then, |
perhaps'-he began the song with !
which children mimic the clerks |
chant at funerals gorigor comes /
next. Who knows?"
Don Luis del Monte staggered |
gracefully down the dim stone passage |
with its high barrel windows. and so |
out into the street. AS he went along /
a woman passed him with a soft /
southern laugh For the rest Of the |
evening she evinced a quite made /
ouate interest in his movements.