The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-18

head dropped upon his breast. and he re-
manned still and mute like some big sleep
Ing bird for half an hour Meantime
Casper stood and waited without moving
hand or foot.
And for you. Casper" said Don 9. alb
ruptly, but in the same tone as Il ne
had just ceased speaking and Tor YOU
Casper, a peaceful errand-to the shrine
of San Pedro. You will see the Fathers
Yes, lord"
TAKE with you this bag Of pesetas and
ask them to say masses beginning next
Friday, for
Don @ paused; Casper stood in the
same patient, uneager attitude
The soul of Don Luis dol Monte
Meanwhile Don Luis rode on unknow-
ing. On the second morning he had lett
the open stretches Of heath and palmetto
behind him, and was mounting the lower
spurs of the sierra. He had no guide. but
Don Qs net swept wide circle about
the Boea de Lobo, and capture was equal
~ probable anywhere upon the sierra. In
the lining of his hat del Monte had se-
cured the means whereby he hoped TO
take Don O. life Beyond that one res
olution his plans were in the clouds. but
he relied. as he had had reason to do in
many other crises Of his career ON
chance, treachery and good wit.
At length he entered upon wide val
ley of corlzwoods and Hex trees where
he rested during the heat of the day, and
as the cooler airs of evening blew over
the ridges from the sea he mounted again
and pushed upward. The first dew was
beginning TO fall when he halted under
white. outlying limestone erag to look
around.
On every side range beyond range. the
sierra rose gray, stony and sinister. The
utter loneliness of the scene, the fact that
he was bound on a desperate GRAND, that
there was no help possible against the
bloodthirsty men into whose power he
was about to give himself might well
have made him pause, but del Monte's
single thought at that moment was sue
cess, and the supply of money 1t prom
Used him for another fling at the tables.
stone rolled down the perpendicular
face of the crag and fell at the horses
feet, but Don Luis was lighting cigar
cite and seemed too busy to look up.
Then a shot whizzed past his head. rip
ping a shred Of felt from his broad
brmmed hat, but he finished with his
cigarette, threw away the match, and
was ABOUT to raise his eyes, when loop
of rope fell sharply over him and he
was jerked from his saddle upwards.
The indignity Of his position as he was
hauled mp the face of the cliff amidst the
ieers of the bandits reused del Monte,
who passed a bad quarter of an hour
dangling furious at the ropes end until
exhaustion compelled him to allow him
self to be secured without resistance.
Nearly all that night the men drove
him stumbling YEARLY through the higher
mountain tracks.
At the end of his journey Don Luis was
blindfolded and led by winding turns and
through the chill Of an underground pass
age into the enclosed glen where the
brigand chief waited for his coming.
While Robledo went up into the cave to
make his report. del Monte was left with
a couple of sullen guards in the valley.
One happened to be Gaspar, whose errand
to the Fathers had been happily con-
Guided.
My friend" began Don Luis present
~, lis this captain of yours all one hears
of him down there in the plains? Is it
true that he bures his prisoners alive?"
When he does not cruelty theml" re-