The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-06-14

whisper, cold, sibilant, penetrating
-"Senor!" @
without a moments hesitation he
/ snuffed out the candle on the table,
| leaving the room in darkness but for
sickly ray of moonlight slipping
through the small window.
Moving like cat toward the door,
| the pistol gripped in his hand, he felt
/ for the heavy bar. The money was
in the house, and his blood chilled
little.
"Quien es-who is it," His whisper
was as low as that of the other.
The answer made him jump. SIT
is I, Juan Verdugo-be silent, and
open quickly"
In spite of himself, the lawyers
heart contracted for an instant. AS
founded, he made no answer.
"Senor, open, open at once or go,
and your life is lost-open, for come
to pay my debt" The cutting whisp-
er trembled through the crack in the
panel.
Valentin Rivas softly slid the heavy
bar back, and opened the door, know
ing we'll the hazard, and feeling dim
ly wonder at his own rashness. The
muzzle of his pistol nearly brushed
the dark figure that slipped in like
a snake through the cautiously opened
door, closed again swiftly and barred
with care.
The lawyer faced Verdugo-he feA
his presence rather than saw him
and waited for him to speak The
strangeness of the situation dominat-'
ed for the moment its sinister posi-
bilities.
"Senor," whispered Verdugo, abb
ruptly, cit is known that you are to
start for Santa Ana this night. You
are to take with you $4,000 to send
to Judge Cantu. You are surprised,
is it not? But if you go, you will be
killed, for they are many that would
kill you. They are coyotes-chicken
thieves-but they are many, and bad.
Myself-bah! I work alone!" And
in the dim gloom the lawyer saw his
figure stiffen with the tigerish pride
of the predatory beast.
"But the money must 60" Valen-
tin Rivas spoke thoughtfully. Denial
was obviously futile, and hardly oc-
Cured to him. "No, Verdugo, must
take tit is promised, and must CO."
He knew how imperative was the need
for the money.
'Senor," the sharp hiss of VerdugoB
whisper was in the lawyers ear, "they
watch for you outside-they wait on
the trail, and l, even I, Juan Verdugo
have sneaked through weeds and
shadows to come here. They watch
you, but know not that am here
Venture from this house tonight and
you die" He paused, then-"Senor.
shall 1 speak what is in my mind?"
Speak then they mind"
"Senor Licenciado Rivas, once it
was you stood between Death and l.,
and held him from me. This night
come to pay that debt Thou hast
been marked down for death, but /,
Juan Verdugo, the ladron, the thief,
will take that packet of money to the
office of express, and return to thee
| IAS pdpCL IACy SlfO " 0AOW - uAJ
that the money has been sent. This
will do, in good faith, for in truth
the debt lies heavy on my heart"
The lawyer, astounded at the sub
lime absurdity of the offer, saw for
an instant nothing but its fantastic
humor. you will take the money to
Santa Ana-you will bring the re-
cc;pt?" The lawyers voice carried
distinct shade of incredulity.
''Senor," Verdugo spoke earnestly,
ION my word of honor-pah! sup
pose that you think 1 have none; yet
thieves have honor of its kind. Bien!
l go then, senior, only that may be
purged of my debt. The money will
be far safer in my hands than with
thy trustiest messenger, until it is in
the office of express-though, to be
frank, I would most gladly rob the
train that carries it south! Say,
senior, am l thy messenger or no?
Speak quickly, for the life of hunt
ed ladron hangs on too slender a
thread in this place to be to the liking
of even Juan Verdugo."
| Valentln RlvaS thought swiftly
Risky it was, without doubt. to place
this fortune in the hands of motor
ious bandit, to make trusted mes
senger of hunted scoundrel. Yet.
somehow the money must reach Judge
Cantu, it was imperative. Also. he
knew well that odd and almost super
stitious respect for the sanctity of a
private VOW, so common among even
the worst in Mexico. Knowing his
people, he understood we'll how the
man chafed under the constant gal
ling sense of obligation to one he
little less than hated. His mind was
made up. Silently he moved over to
the little iron safe, not yet locked
for the night, Quietly he placed the
unsealed packet of bills in the hand OF
| al to