The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06

/ to be settled between US in the next half
hour"
4 am Don O., and, lest you should I'M
wisely forget the fact remember you
are my captive. As long as you are that
! l demand eivility. otherwise you will
die"
| Ubrique pondered.
How long do You propose to keep me?
i 1t is a matter of ransom, of course?"
he said at length.
1T may be called SO. But the AFFAIR
is little out of the common. For your
| life l ask the life of another man. In
the prison of Castelleno lies a certain
Robledo, condemned to death. He must
| be restored to liberty"
| Il met the governor of the prison this
evening. This fellow is desperate char
acter. Special precautions"
=" L know that minutely!'
"eH is to die tomorrow morning.
For your sake. ! hope not; because
whatever the fate of Robledo that will
be exactly your fate"
The general smiled slowly.
"Ahl and what do you want me to
dor"
Merely to write a letter limiting to
the governor that you have absolute evil
dence of Robledo's innocence. Avoid de-
tails
I'm other words, you wish me TO pro-
for giving me my life?"
Precisely, senior"
''Unloose my hands and bring me pen
and paper.i
Gen. Ermelo Ubrique wrote rapidly for
a few moments
Shall tell you what | have written.
senor?" he said: and, as Don Q. bowed.
he added, my letter is naturally to the
governor of the prison. I have told him
how / was brought here by a stratagem
that my death Is certain unless the con-
demned felon Robedo, who find belongs
to Don Q.s own band. Is released by way
of exchange for my life. You follow
me?"
But certainly. 1t is to the point" and
fashion.
The general glanced sharply up at
him.
Listen further. Such suggestion
proves this briEands incapacity to I'M
derstand the code of honor which rules
the life of a gentleman of Spain. beg
you will at once have this Robledo put
to death"
"You have done absolutely as I ex-
pected you to do. Pray accept my con-
CALCULATIONS. It is the act of brays
man! More. also. 1t is absolutely the
letter | myself. Don O., of the sierra,
would have written In your place. IT,
que and held his eyes-'lf had not been
rather less of a fool than you arei'
Perhaps there is no man living who
would not have admired himself In the
position Don Ermelo Ubrique had chosen
to take up. He had accepted death for the
sake of honor. II is little wonder that he
turned furiously on Don Q.
IT could not expect you to understand.
You. who are
'Hush! the word Kissed out like a
bullet. Listen. before you rashly con-
denim. | know much about you, Don
Ermelo. ] have watched your career
with attention--if ] did not fear to I'M
duly elate you ] might almost say with
interest | think you might yet do much
for Spain. But II you die here today
what will the world know of you? That
you were taken by a grotesque strata
gem. duped by an impersonation you
should have been keen enough to fathom.
In every fonda the story will be told
| against you. You will be mourned not
with tears, but with laughter You were
a brave man. perhaps, but a fool, they
| will say; and Don Q. bamboozled you
| that old vulture of the mountains mas
querading as the proudest Duquesa In the
land, Man. die IL you will, but do not
ruin your reputation"
Ubriques color changed to a chilly pail
lor as he listened. 1t was true, al THAT
this mountain wolf said: that was the
horror of II. il was true. Death. which
atones for so much. could not cover him
from the ridcule of the people 1t was
Continued on Next Paue1