Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-06-26

the dark figure that slipped IN like
q snake through the cautiously opened
door. closed again swiftly and barred
with care.
The lawyer faced Verdugo-he fen
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. alb.
ruptly, ut 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
thieyes-but they are many, and bad.
Myself-bah! 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 CO." 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 VerduSo1
whisper was in the lawyers ear, they
watch for you outside-they wait On
the trail, and l, even !, 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" Senior.
shall ! speak what is in my mind?"
Speak then they mind"
"Senor Licenciado Rivas, once 1t
was you stood between Death and l.
and held him from me. This night l
come to pay that debt. Thou hast
been marked down for death, but I.
Juan yerdugo, the ladron, the thief.
will take that packet of money to the
Office of express, and return to thee
the paper they give to show truly
that the money has been sent. This
will do, in good faith, for in truth
the debt lies heavy on my heart"
The slawyer, astounded at the sub
lime absurdity Of the offer. saw for
an instant nothing but it's fantastic
humor. you will take the money to
Santa Ana-you will bring the re.
ceipt?" The lawyers voice carried
distinct shade of incredulity.
"senor." Yerdugo spoke earnestly,
ION my word of honor-pah! sup
pose that you think have none; yot
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 1t is In
the office of express-though, to be
frank. l would most gladly rob the
train that carries it south! Say,
senior, am 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."
Valentin Rivas thought swiftly.
Risky it was, without doubt, to place
this fortune in the hands of motor.
ious bandit, to make a 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 alittle iron safe not vet locked
for the night Quietly he placed the
unsealed packet of bills in the hand Of
Juan verdugo. "The address is on
the packet-take the receipt after you
see the agent count the money and
seal the, packet. Bring me the re.
ceipt, and thy debt is paid"
"Bsta bien. senior. 1t is we'll. Move
not outside the door until come
shut thyself in, let thy servant say
that thou hast gone. But on no ac-
count be seen. l return in two days.
Senior, go!" Silently as a panther.
Juan verdugo slipped out into the
gloom.
Valentin Rivas stood long at the
little window. Unconsciously he stared
hard into the blackness. The moon
had set, and the wind was beginning
to whisper in the wide chimney. A
faintness that angered him. hint OF
nausea, would not be denied. He did
not regret what he had done, he did
not consciously fear for the result,
yet, If anything did go wrong
With suddenefear he brushed away
from his mind the hideous train, OF
consequences that seemed to assault
his courage in thousand ugly forms.
Shaken for an instant, he turned has
tily to decanter of brandy and with
trembling hand poured out and drank
half tumblerful of the burning stuff.
YEARLY he threw himself on the bed.
and, hours afterward, slept.
The next day and even the night,
passed not SO badly. Knowing his
need, all day and half the night, with
the heavy lash of his own grim de.
termination, he drove himself through
an accumulated mass of the exhaust
ing details of his professional work.
Spent and weary, he slept late on the
morning of the second day. But now
he could no longer force aside his
anxiety-his mind would drag back
from the tack before 1t, and the word:
on the written page before him seem
ed solemn drivel. Desperately he
would pace the length of the room.
and desperately he would try again to
force his attention to his work. That
same night verdugo should come, and
as the day waned, with the wind
bowling past the house and whining
down the great throat of the chin
ney, his mood would vary from black
detection to almost light-headed ella.
ton that the end was near. Never
really doubling the outcome. never.