The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-25

Come, dear uncle." said Labor, I've have arrived at the end of our long jour ney"
 At this moment the innkeeper appeared to meet them
 T as desolated, senores, but my house Is full" he began,
 "Te, te te," cried the bishop irritably. T am here. and here I stay. Do you know who I am? I am Rev. Dionysius Bellingham, lord bishop of Britain"
 The landlord hesltated English visitors paid we'll and were not from the point of view of Don Basillo dangerous. still
 T have but one room, excelleney.'
 50? Put two beds into it. Be quick
 The landlord turned to Labor
 "Senor" he said in a low voice, with glance over his shoulder al the master full bishop, 'can you not persuade the mo- ble lord to try another hotel? There are many In the city"
 Labor looked gloomily into the mans eyes.
 NO power on earth could persuade him!' he replied with tragic conviction.
 Come, come. lead the way! lead the wayv' piped the bishop peremptorily, in spite of his now halting Spanish.
 The guest rooms of La Wien Venila are built round an inner patio, paved in mar ble. roofed in glass, and decorated with llAdliJ lpll3 pdAlllS. llllD bAh9 NiAO bA9tANP advanced with his mlncing step, followed by the reluctant hotelkeeper. The sharp, sibilant tones were sufficiently raised to attract the attention of a tall and stout man who had been smoking cigarette Tn one of the adjoining rooms. He came striding out
 What Is this noise about?" he asked angrily of the hotekeeper "Who is this? Did I not order you to keep the place oF al nlf
 In an instant the bishop had stepped up in front of him.
 Pardon, senor, my coat is black. but 1t can be pulled off! Also I can borrow a sword!"
 The hotelkeeper stood aghast that any one should thus address the great Gen. Don Basllio That truculent parsonage seemed a good deal surprised himself.
 'I do not fight with gnats!" he an- swered rudely. "Get rid of him." he added, turning away.
 But the bishops active figure was again before him.
 Yet I will not be brushed away" he cried with slbilant imperiousness, more especially by an animal like you."
 Labor, who was enjoying himself hugely, felt it was time to interfere.
 q think, my dear uncle." he said lay Ing his hand on the bishops shoulder "that presently you will deplore having permitted your prominent virtue of Chris tan patience to desert you"
 True, true, dear nephew" said the bishop sadly, pressing his thin finger upon his lips. Your pardon. good senor," he went on. My excuse must be that although I have strong hopes of ulti- mately succeeding, I have not yet entirely mortified the flesh. My fiery temper has ever been a thorn in my side" Then seeing that Don Basilio was about to vent his rage in words, he added: Forget all I have said--I earnestly trust l have not frightened you" The churchman's livid eyelids fickered up at Don Basilio's puffy face, and before that gentleman could recover his speech he was trotting up the stairs, followed by his nephew and the hotelkeeper.
 Don Basllio stood still. uncertain how to act Just then the bishops piping tones hoated down from above.
 "Te, te te! I will remainl I am i'll. And if you refuse me entertainment I shall be obliged to appeal to the authori ties. Send at once for"
 Don Basilio went back to his cigarette.
 So it happened that the lord bishop of Britain or the man who masqueraded under that name, planted his camp well within the lines of the enemy; in other words. obtained lodging at the headquar- ters of Don Basilio.
 The latter worthy for a time did net know what to do. Should he in1ist on the departure of the peppery English cleric, or would 1t be wiser to let sleeping dogs lie? After half an hours cogita- ton he decided that awkward as was the presence of the two strangers in the hotel 1t might be still more awkward to bring himself and his people into prominent notice at the moment.
 So Don Basillo cursed the bishop in two languages, rated the hotelkeeper and finally dispatched a little note of apology to the bishop of Britain, which caused the man who received it to shake 1t from his fingers with contempt