The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-03-18

d price upon MS mead and the light of |
adventure in his eyes. Isabella liked 4
him for his good looks, though he al /
ready was carewOrn, after the manner
OF mountaineers; but. for his reckless
courage, her heart loved him.
ANY account of their converse ton
would be superfiuous. Robledo went /
away in the earliest train that left the
city, thus 1t came to pass when Don
Luis del Monte arrived by a round /
about route at the foothills, the news /
or his coming and his errand had al
ready been thoroughly handled in the /
remote glen where Don Q. lived in his
solitary greatness like the vulture
whose name he bore
RObledO had made extraordinary
haste to carry TO his chief Intelligence /
or the danger that threatened. for ru-
mOrs OF Don Felipe Majada's instruc- /
tons from Madrid and his anger there |
at, with his perplexity as to how they
should be carried out, had afforded the I
last weeks talk in the mountain gorge !
Evening was once more drawing on |
when RObledO sprang up the narrow
winding path to the mouth CT the cave |
IN the rock face, where Don O. chose to /
mouse himself apart from his followers /
The chief sat modify in the cave /
with his concentrated livid-iidded glare
upon the young rObber. And, although !
RObledO was brave man, he crossed /
himself fuTtively.
Then the chief put a question or two. I
and RobledO told his story at full /
length He had followed the governor
TO Malaga, after that SO much was
known, SO much was guessed. but the
plot was fairly understood and hing
well together. For Don Luis had told
nothing, he was far too experienced
Tor that, but something had been over
heard, and a good deal inferred from
the purchases he had made, and. in
1act, RObledO had proved himself
very credftable detective As he grew
more excited with his story, he gave
way to those picturesque ordinations
and gestures which the AndaIusian
loves. And Don Q. listened. laughing
here and there tenderly as a man laughs
who sees a subtle and hidden humor.
When the tale was finished and the
chief fell into thought; when he looked
up he asked:
And what is YOUR counsel RobIa-
do?"
But Robledo knew his master too
well.
Ny lord orders" he answered glib
ly. There is no knowledge nor will in /
the sierra but my lords
hand.
That is well, RObledo, my child. for
II there were it would die"
Robledo crossed himself again sud
denly and invOluntarily. and the chief
caught the motion.
And why that RobIedo?" said he.
L was thinking of the soul of this /
Don Luis del Monte" replied Robledo /
with ready untruthfulness
dres'
In very few moments the three
men stood in a silent line before him.
RobledO,' he said, you Will go
hDr H.
trees, and wait on the southern track
to Ronda- Take men with you. for it
may be that Don Luis will come bv
that way. And you will deal gently /
with him. You, Andreas, will go to-
ward the passes, for it also is a travel /
er's path through the sierra You will
bring this cabellerO to me very safely. /
And listen, RObledo."
Yes, lord"
We share a secret between us
and
Yes, lord"
When 1t ceases to be a secret you +
will cease TO be a man. Now 60"
The two men turned away from the /
terrace, and Don @ followed the lean, /
slnewy figures till their scarlet fajas /
disappeared down the slope: then.
seeming to forget the presence of the
third, his head dropped upon his breast.
and he remained still and mute like
some Dig bird sleeping bird for half an
nOur- Meantime GaSDar stood and .
waited without moving hand OF foot.
And for you, Gaspar," said Don O. /
abruptly, but in the same tone as if he /
had just ceased speaking: land for /
you, Gasp8T 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 Q. paused; Gaspar stood in the
same patient, uneager attitude
The soul Of Don Luis del Monte"
Meanwhile Don Luis rode on I'M
Knowing. On the second morning he /
had left the open stretches of heath
and palmetto behind him, and was
mounting the lower spurs of the sierra. /
He had no guide, but Don Q.'S net
swept a wide circle about the Boca de
LObO, and capture was equally prob /
able anywhere upon the sierra. In
the lining of his hat del Monte had Sc
cured the means whereby he hoped to
take Don Q-'S life. Beyond that one
resolution his plans were in the clouds
but he relied, as be had had reason to
do IN many other crises of his career,
on chance, treachery and a good wit.
AT length he entered upon a wide /
valley of cOrkwOods and lex 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 crag 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
errand, 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 mo-
ment was success, and the supply OF
money il promised him for another
fling at the tables.
A stone rolled down the perpendicu-
lar face of the crag and fell at the
horses feet but Don Luis was lighting
a cigarette and seemed too busy to look
up. Then shot whizzed past his head
ripping a shred of felt from his broad
brimmed hat, but he finished with his
cigarette. threw away the match and