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


even AGramonte. his friend would find
| it hard to believe that he had been fer
chilly detained from keeping his en-
/ gagemeut. He knew that Romero aud
I his second would lose no time in brand
ing the American as a coward aud that.
according to the code duello. Captain
Romero woald have the undisputed
/ right 10 refuse another appointment.
In concentrating bis mind upon these
perplexities be also unconsciously con-
centrated his gaze upon a given point
among the shrubbery at a spot where
two paths parted at an acute angle.
both to disappear in the darkness. and
suddenly at the apex of the two paths
he discerned motion.
st first he believed it to be an animal
of some kind. but il seemed larger. and
presently he decided that it was a hui
man figure stretched at full length
upon the ground and slowly. but sure
~. approaching the window where he
stood. Instantly his perplexities We're
forgotten. and he watched the ap-
preaching figure curiously. 1t was a
man clad in the charro costume of
home tanned leather affected by rti-
rales. indescribable in color and almost
invisible at night. Pendleton realized
that he would never have discovered
the figure had it not happened that his
gaze was concentrated upon it at the
very instant it appeared. Two men at
the same window engaged in CONVEX
sation and not intent upon anything in
particular might have looked upon it a
dozen times without seeing ii once.
Quite naturally he asked himself the
reason of the mysterious visit. He
thought of an attempt at assassination,
but dismissed the idea at once. and aft
er conjecturinG upon many possibil-
ties. all of which were improbable, he
gave it up and waited. The true rea-
son did not once occur to him. The
Mexican nature is naturally chivalrous.
all critics to the contrary notwithstand-
ing and Pendleton was soon to have
oc # proof of 1t.
The stranger glided up the steps
with the silence and grace of SER
pent. and when at last he had disposed
bis full length literally against the
building. with his face close to the
grating, he Kissed very much like one.
Pendleton in the meantime had re-
mained motionless and silent. but when
the man Kissed he replied in his natu-
raj tones by asking In Spanish what
was wanted.
"Silence"' commanded the man in n
sharp whisper. 1T was 1 who brought
you here tonight. senior. l have re-
turned for the purpose of serving you.
If you will take the trouble to get
down on the floor as close to me as pos
sible. there will be no danger Of being
overheard. If 1t should be discovered
that am here. my power to serve you
will be past. and l will be in grave
trouble. Que la gusta. senor."
Pendleton was amused. He was also
interested, and he did as the man di-
rected.
"Say on he said then, and the
stranger continued:
You have an appointment with
Captain Romero near the Passed at 5
in the morning. Is that true:'
quite true. unfortunately. for can
not keep it. If you have come here to J
offer yourself as messenger. will be /
most grateful and. with your permits !
sion. will reward you to almost any
extent" replied Pendleton.
81 will do better than that. senior, if /
you will agree to the conditions will |
make
"what will you do and what are the
II will enable you to keep the ap- |
pointmcnt yourself. senor?"
81 cannot imagine conditions that /
would make me hesitate upon the ac-
ceptance of such an offer, my friend. /
What are they? / agree to them in adj /
Il have the key that unlocks this
is. l have a duplicate,
which is as well. / have horses sad
died and waiting. and there is still
time for all that is required even if you
should wish to send me to the city be-
fore the hour for the meeting. If you
gree to the conditions. / will accept
your word. and we will start at once"
Il have already agreed to them with
put hearing them. Let me know them
quickly. since you insist upon it,
AS soon as we are under the shelter
)f the trees l will blindfold you. You
are not to attempt to see anything, nor
AN you remove the bandage from your
eyes until l grant permission. You
must promise not to go to the city and
20 make no attempt to see or to speak
% any person except those who are en-
gagged in this affair. and TO them you
must not explain any of the circum-
stances. If it is necessary to send me
% the city to communicate with your
'econd or another. you will wait at our
,laee of parting until l return. After
he duello there will still be time to re-
urn here without discovery, and you
must submit to the bandage again, do
.xactly as l direct and resume your
,lace in this room as il you had not
'een absent. And there is one other
'oint where l depend entirely upon
our honor, senior. 1t may be that we
yi1 meet people on the road on our
etGrn. You must remember that it
will then be daylight. In such case
would be obliged TO remove the band
ge from your eyes until we have pass
d, but / hope such an event may be
yoided, but If 1T should occur we will ,
emain motionless until I can replace ,
be bandage. One more thing and the
will promise never TO recoe- .