The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-29

crunched upon gravel paths whicl
wound in and out among shrubbery
for the branches frequently brushed
against him. aud once he thought il
probable that he was again within tn.
secluded garden OF the Tacubaya gam
bling house This illusion was soon dis
PEELED. however. for after passing
across an extended court that was dag.
ged with stone and thence into a see
ond shrubbed and graveled Enclosure
he was directed TO mount a flight of
three steps. and he knew that he en-
tered an apartment of some kind.
There was the yielding touch of soft
carpeting under his tread. and the
warm air was quite in contrast with
the chill without. He was hidden cour-
teously TO wait one moment and was
left standing in the middle of the floor.
He heard the sound made by closing
door. and after what seemed an inter
minable period. although ii could not
have been more than minute or two.
he attempted to relieve himself Of the
binding serape.
There was no resistance, and upon
casting it aside he discovered that he
was alone. His conductor had disap-
peared.
For moment he stared around him
in amazement. This was certainly not
the sort OF treatment he had expected
He began TO think that perhaps they
were not bandits after all: the sur
roundings of that moment did not sug-
gest such an explanation. The room
was richly, even luxuriously, furnish
ed. and his first quick glance told him
that it was the favorite living room OF
a lady: the Eictures on the walls. the
chairs, the piano and the books that
Uttered the table all assured him of
that much. The wide. low window,
through which he believed he had en-
tered the room, was open. Not so the
iron bars that protected it. but they
told him nothing. since every house in
Mexico has its windows so furnished.
He peered out through the grating. but
he could see nothing except the out
lines of tall trees showing against the
sky. There was nothing by which he
could determine his locality. so he turn
ed back into the room again and cross
ed to the table. where one of the lamps
with which the apartment was sup
upon a slip of paper with writing upon
it, and he read these words:
Senior Pendleton-H you mystifed concern
ing the OF this evening. read the letter
that last came into your possession.
There was no signature. but he rec
ognized the chirography as the same
as that he had received early in the
day calling him to Tacubaya, and he
added mentally. Where l was fool
enough to go to be trapped by a wo-
man.
His cigars were intact, and he light
cd one. Then, after arranging the lamp
more to his purposes, he dropped into
an easy chair near the table, produced
the letter which had been given to him
by his companion in the summer
house. broke the seal and began:
I crave your pardon, Senior Pendleton. for the
indignity that forced to thrust upon you. /
have determined to prevent the meeting between
you and Captain Romero. and l have hope
tnat YOU will consent to abandon all thought of
it have prepared this in anticipation of your
refusal You Will not be detained longer than is
is. only little longer. for it
will not be possible TO liberate you during the
hours OF daylight. Twenty-four hours will be
The duration OF your imprisonment. In the
meantime you will be left entirely alone. Your
room is supplied with every necessity you will
require during that time. and when il expires. as
soon you have placed the serape over your head /
70 that you can see nothing, you will be taken /
back to the city, at least far FL CabiIlito.
am informed that il is your intention return |
o New York tomorrow night. l regret that will /
lot be able TO hberate you enough for you to /
AIRY out your plan The train leaves three hours I
90 early for that. But you need not be pre-
iented from taking the early morning train on /
he other road. If you will leave your New York /
ddress the table. l will communicate with /
'ou again; also, should you TO commit nicate F
nd throw it through the grating at your win
low. it will be delivered at once. If have placed t
ou in false position concerning the duel and
our masculine conception or honor, ! can assure
'ou that the day will when you will thank
ne for what have done. il the opportunity oc-
urs. / will sign this letter did the one that
rought you to Tacubaya. One who prefers for
he present, 20 be known to you only
CARMEN
PendIcton folded the letter and re-
urncd it TO his pocket. Then he looked
It his watch and discovered that il
vas not yet midnight. After that he
aced moodily up and down the room
many times.
"pf course she means to read what
yer l write to James," he unused. land
say anything in expla nation of my
bsance the message will not go. The
My thing / can do is to tell him to let
hings stand as they are until later.
nd | must do that; otherwise he will
e out of the city before l am out of
ere unless
There were writing materials on the
able, and he indited the following
lessage to his valet:
You esviI extend tae time Of waiting for me
venty-four hours. Do nothing whatever until
nat time. IL there should be callers, tell them
] that ! will be prepared to receive everybody
midnight tomorrow night-tonight of the day
ou receive this. b. p.
He thrust the message through the
rating. extinguished the lights in the
pom and stood on guard to see the
erson who should come to take it. and
hen that person appeared he recog
lied in the graceful walk and carriage
le lady of his interview in the gam
ling house. She kept her face turned
way Notwithstanding the fact that it
as concealed by the lace mantilla.
ut he had already seen it twice since
Q ca me to Mexico. and he understood
le act TO mean that she did not wish