The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-04-01

off, she laughed again with an aban-
don of enjoyment that came near to
breaking down the restraint Don Hugo
had placed upon his temper.
Not precisely. But / admit that sight
of the sierra reminded me of your fool
ish visit up there, and naturally of
that robbers most insolent message"
he replied with an air of lOftinesS.
This has forced me to take special
steps with a view to setting an end to
his career. A cOnclave of the principal
persOnages of CastellenO and the neigh
borhOod is to be held in the great hall
presently. An extraordinary expedition
will then be sent up against him. l
Will probably lead it myself"
The sonora rose from her seat and
curtseyed deeply and derisively.
Il shall be dOubly anxious about your
ears then, my beloved! Don Q. is a
man of his word But, see, your guests
begin to arrive"
Spaniards, in spite of their reserve,
are moved to excitement upon any sub
ject which touches them nearly. The
caballerOs of the district no less than
the citizens of the town appeared to
find in Don O. a topic far from con-
ducive to calmness. However, his rep
utatiOn stood with the poor; the rich,
whom he sent empty away, bore him
much i'll will. The room resounded
with tales of the mysterious brigand.
Each man could apply different anec-
dOte of his annoying, if not terrible, eX-
PLOTS, some of which dated back a
score of years, some of yesterday, but
almost all stamped with that distorted
humOr which commonly bit too deep
for laughter
The Count de Bermeja had told the
story of AntOnio's punishment by the
brigand, and another of the hidalgOs
had spoken of a report that Don O.
hoped eventually to publish a book,
which should take the form of an auto
biOgra ply, and be enriched by couple
of appendices, the first setting forth
the names of all his captives who had
been ransomed, the dates Of capture,
amount of ransom, demanded and re-
ceived, and date of release; the second
appendix to be set within a suitable
border of black, should contain a COM
plete list of those whose mOney-Vdlue
had failed to arrive, with a little note
below each name detailing in what form
death had met them.
Then Don Hugo, rising in his place,
referred to the browning offense of
which the brigand had been guilty. He
told, in fact, with certain eXDedfent
deviatiOnS from historic accuracy, the
tale of his wife's journey into the noun
ia ms. That so beautiful a woman
should have been kidnapped and half
frightened to death stirred the ready
Spanish chivalry, and when Don Hugo
declared himself ready TO adminis> ter
an oath of membership to Il society of
vengeance. the idea was greeted with
acclamation and was about to be car
ried into effect when a servant dis
turbed the meeting.
A captain of the civil guard was in
waiting below. charged to speak with
out delay to the governor on matter
of the highest Importance
You will be good enough to request
Capt del Pine to rest himself for a few
minutes" returned Don Hugo inpa-
tiently.
Pardon, exceIlency, he babe me pre-
sent tbs" The man held out card
upon which some sentences were writ
ten.
The governor glanced at it and ut
tered an exclamation.
''SenOrs. Captain del Pine comes from
Madrid upon business connected with
Don O.
A slender man in the uniform of the
civil guard was already bowling I'm the
doorway. His long blue cloak hung be
hind his shoulders, and, as he raised
his head, covered with dark curling
hair. the assembly saw that he bore
stains. not only of travel, but of mis-
adventure by the way. His brow was
bandaged, and a sDatter of blood
showed on his cheek
My business is pressing, excellency.
Can l see you alOne?" he said, in a low
tone, which, however, carried an i'm
perious echo.
You have a mission connected
with" began the governor pleasantly.
Pardon me- interrupted the courtly
captain. "a secret mission, intrusted to
me by the highest authority in Madrid"
'AS to that you will never guess the
purpose for which we are gathered here
tonight"
"A matter of some responsibility and
difficuIty?" Del Pino's tone and gra-
nature of d general compliment to the
ability and position of those present
You may speak freely. We-my
friends and I-are agreed on that sub
ject." Don Hugo waved his hand
largely. Your mission then con-
Germs"
"A certain gentleman, we'll known not
only in these parts, but throughout the
whole of Spain, a certain Don O." add
ed the captain quietly.
Come, come, Senior Captain, We
have less respect for the one-eared bri-
gand Of the Boca de LObo," laughed
the governor, too busy I'm lighting a
cigarette to notice a sudden contraction
of del PinO'S features. That VuIture
of the rocks has troubled US too long.
We were, precisely when you arrived,
arranging to make an end of him.
mo doubt your plan would be sue
cessful, though it was said. in Madrid,
that he had defied capture for some
twenty years already, and that a score
or so expeditions sent out against him
had failed observed del Pine, with q
shrUg of his shoulders. He must be a
remarkable parsonage. I was the more
gratified, therefore, at receiving orders
from headquarters TO come down and
deal specially with a man of such in
tereSting antecedents."
Can you bring yourself to conceive
the last crime the fellow has commit
ted, senor?" Don Hugo took adVan-
tage of a pause. He had the AFRO
gance to kidnap my own wife in the
last fortnight"
Del Pine made a gesture of Mortified
surprise. she must at once be res
cuedl" he declared
Make your mind easy, 1 pray She
is at this moment within these walls"
4 trust he treated her as a gentle
man should?" Captain del Pine asked
in Snft ira WI