The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-03-02
OR A BITTER RECKON
By CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME

DAusn Vi Sue carly morning, very ragged
but determined to 90 ON. He had made
friend Of the guard, glad to find some
one who spoke French-for his Spanish
was doubtful from long disuse-and or
the arrival Of the train they went of
together to the inquiry office to find out
means to reach the obscure town Of Villa
| Silentio.
The station master, half asleep, and
wholly angry at being routed out Of bed
at such an early hour in the morning, at
first denied all knowledge Of place OF
that name; but. when the guard re-
minded him that such things as reference
books of the railway routes were issued
Tor his especial enlightenment, his man
ner changed, and he proceeded to do his
best on Mr.. Mallett's behalf.
1t is here, you see," he said In Span
ish, putting his fat finger on a spot in
tho map. "Senor cannot leave Madrid
until half past nine; he will then have
two hours railway ride, and then an
hour and half by coach over not the
very best of roads"
Mr.. Mallett looked at his watch. It
was a quarter to six; he would have time
for three hours rest. Thanking the
friendly guard for his good services, he
tossed his small bag and rug on the near
est hack-carriage and drove off to
hotel.
At one o'clock Mr.. Mallett, feeling as
IL his sense had been shaken out of him
By the last hour over that never-to-be-
forgotten road, found himself standing in
the market place Of Villa Silentio, with
the hot midday sun beating down on
him, feeling more completely alone and
helpless than he ever remembered to have
felt before.
Il am afraid made mistake In COM
Ing myself" he said to the market clock,
az he stood In front Of 1t. 'You see a
man OF ffty-seven is not 90 quick and
apt In adapting himself to circumstances
as younger man would be-"
For two or three minutes Mallett stood
listening to the distant rumbling of the
coach wheels. and. great as had been his
suffering during the drive, he almost
wished himself back again on the awful
machine, instead of here ir this deatl,-
like place.
He shook off the dreamy feeling of I'M
reality that possessed him, and crossed
to deserted looking house on the shady
side OF the square, where a sign board
from which all vestige of paint had long
since passed away hung over the door,
seeming to denote house of entertain
mont.
He pushed open the door and It swung
to behind him without noise. He was
In large stone-Aagged room which oc-
cupied the whole depth of the house, the
opposite end opening ON to a crazy veran.
da crumbling under the weight of luxuri-
ant creepers, through which there were
glimpses Of a weed-grown Enclosure be-
yond. He stamped up and down the
stone hoor, and shouted until the stones
echoed his voice. At the end OF ten
minutes sallow face, surrounded by
turbulent masses Of frizzy black hair.
leaned over the hand rail of the stairs
that led up to the next floor. In about
i've minutes the sallow face and frizzy
hair reappeared, and the woman began
to apologize profusely.
Mr.. Mallett stood politely silent, hat in
hand, until she seemed to have ended her
speech, when he presented the enyelope
given him by Babette, with the name
ana address OF the photographer of the
The laxative lady took it over to the
light and spelled it out laboriously. and
then turned again to Mr.. Mallett. and
ratified off another little incomprehensi-
Die speech, interspersed with numberless
calculations of establishment. Seeing at |
ast that he did not understand a word |
If what she was saying, she pointed to |
he address In her hand, and said SLOWLY
n Spanish:
my father"
Mr.. Mallett understood that, for point |
ng In his turn to the envelope, he asked: |
''WhereT'
She smiled pleasantly, motioned to him
o reseat himself. and went upstairs look
ng once or twice over her shoulder to |
nod and smile at him reassuringly. Could
be that the man he was In search of
vas here In this house? He could hear
N animated conversation going ON some-
where In the rooms above, and he recoe.
lized the voice Of the woman and the
ones Of q man.
Presently there came to him an elderly
'paniard. with something Of the dandy
till clinging to him In the shape of
vaxed mustaches and perfumed hair.
IT'LL, the signs Of decay that abounded
throughout the place showed themselves
ven here In the ancient fop's frayed |
acket and well-worn shoes. To MIR.
dallstt's surprise and relief he at once
pened the conversation in passable
french.
Monsieur wishes to see me? He has
come long way for that pur-
ose. am charmed, fattered and abash-
ID all at one time-charmed and fat
cred to receive any one who comes a
distance to pay homage to art"
He put his hand on his heart and bow
d with the air Of prince. His belief
hat Mr.. Mallett had come to visit and
compliment art in his person was so EVIL
lently genuine that the sensitive gentle
nan felt almost unhappy to have to un-
Ieceive him; but time was pressing. He
lad none for the observance of unneces-
airy politeness. He took the little photo
'raph from his pocketbook and held II
oward CASTELAR,.
believe you took that picture. Now,
want you to tell me where the grave
u which this is a picture is to be found.
low you came to take the photograph, |
whom you took it for, and any other cir
'uhstances you can remember in connec-