The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-04-22
BY K. AND
HESKETH
PRINCHARD

1T would appear from much that
you have been good enough to tell me.
senior, that business is a cloak for many
| Sores,'' he remarked.
McCorkadale showed his white teeth
/ in a complacent grin
Il suppose one must acknowledge so
much. But what does it matter as
| long as the sore is on the back of an
other MANI" he replied.
/ Don Q. eyed him broodingly.
| You may not be aware, senior, that
L hold strong views on ones duty to-
ward ones ire1ghbor," he said.
1T goes without saying" laughed
| the Cuban; but, L presume, stronger
| ones on ones duty to OneSelf?'
The chief raised a delicate yellow
forefnger.
Pardon me, I think not" he said,
with some grimness. But it seems
| strange to me that /, who occasionally
perform the meritOrious action of re-
| lieving the rich of a part of their
| wealth, and thereby decreasing their
| temptation am put outside the pale
| of the law, whereas these of whom you
speak spend their lives in robbing the
poor. and yet are respected and praised.
How is that?'
"A matter of luck, I suppose" re-
| spOnded the other indifferently. But
! there is something l want to talk over
with you. Just reconsider the subject
| of my ransom-G5O 900 is a long price,
Don @. rose abruptly
| AT the end of the week, senior, when
we have come to know one another
better we will speak of it again.
But the delay is absurd" exclaimed
| McCorkadale angrily. Il cannot per-
NIT til insist"
Don Q. raised his hand.
There are two courses open to you,"
he said slowly. Either you remain as
my guest, in which case 1 am sure you
will respect my prejudices, or you will
! become the guest of my children in the
valley, who will, 1 fear, not be likely
| to respect yours"
The Cuban set his jaw. Ii was intOl-
cradle!
| bledo and the rest, and settle the mat
ter out of hand" he said insOIently, los
ing hold on his temper; but the chief
walked away into the interior of the
! cave without replying.
| 1t was evident that detention in the
mountains annoyed the Cuban out of
all proportion TO the hardships it en-
tailed. Don Q. became serious, and
at the end of the week he spoke:
! 1T would seem, senior, that my hos
| pitality does not meet with as much of
your approval as / could wish
This has lasted long enough" broke
out the other irritably. Even your
society and that of Jour cOmpaneroS,
| Gaspar & Co. down tncre"-he pointed
a brown finger at the fires in the glade
I-"begins to pail after awhile
Don Q. sat silent for q moment, swal-
lowing his wrath. This low-bred ami
NAL had, for the second time, dared to
speak of the villainous GasDar and his
like as the comrades" of their chief
Il have been thinking much the
same, senior" Sc spoke at last with a
steady voice
THAT is well. If you let me go to-
night I will pay you half as much
again as the ransom you ask
re- in h-rr~ to TE,ea
mountains Tonight, you suggest? O,
no, senior, l grieve to disappoint you.
This day month, shall we say?"
Suppose we say the day week in
stead?'' amended the prisoner A no
ton struck him that ne would play
with Don Q.-play with his avaricious
desires-fOol him with a dream nF
wealth You remember our converse
tiOnS on financial methods"
The chief glanced at him for 4 mo-
ment, then lowered his eyes.
Perfectly, senior"
In few sentences McCorkadale eX-
planned the situation. He himself was
the genius responsible for the famous
corner in corn He stood to gain some
thing over two millions provided he
reached London in time
Don q. listened, nOding to empha-
size the points. Although he did not
speak, a certain excitement was diScer-
nible about him.
on the 21st?" he questioned
'Of course, the whole scheme will
fall through. 1t viii mean ruin, in
short"
ITO you?" inquired the chief, with in
terest.
'Caramba! yes, to me. But we will
not even allude to that most unlikely
alternative You, who are also bust
ness man" he began persuasively.
Yes, yes" softly interjected Don O.,
1--WE are both brigands. You are a brig
and of the city. / of the mountains
you rob the poorest of their bread
The Cuban arched his black eye
brows.
These are Details" he said, Ticking
the ash from his cigar.
1T is your intention to Starve many
thousands-poOr women and little chill
dren-that you may grow richer-you
who are rich already? pursued Don Q.
in a cOlorless tone.
McCOrkadale stared him in the eyes
That is their business-or, at any
ia tie of their husbands and fathers"
True, true" assented the chief, with
| the meekneSS of one convinced
| L thought you would see it in my
light, especially if 1 gave you my word
that if you enable me to reach London
in good time, l, on my part, will en-
gage to make over to you % per cent
of any profits may make on the deal"
1T is clear" commended the chief
politely that my patron saint sent
you into the sierra"
Anyhow, il will be a record haul in
the annals of brigandage.'
You must pardon me, senior, if L
make one small amendment to your
plan /, of course, trust you; but we
are, as you said. business men. and a
certain sum in hand before you leave
me, by way of guarantee for the rest
you have with so much of generosity
promised, would be more satisfactory
to my children down there in the val
ley. Suppose we name e1OO, 900 as the