Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-30

By ROBERT AITKEN.
Copyright 1851. he ,.Ai xest,s. caas.,,,
CHAPTER x11-continued.

CHAPTER XII-Continued.
Ybarra was by this time bitterly re-
pentant that he had not hidden the gen.
eral himself attend the ceremony. He
had been SO secure in the inaccessibility
of his natural stronghold that he had
| thought it more prudent to insure the
safeguarding of the outer gate, and.
furthermore. the said Won Rudolf had to
perfection that most debonair and win
ming way with women which Don
Ygnacio was ever striving to attain. but
with equivocal success. 1t had not
seemed advisable to his excellency to
challenge comparison with the young SOL
der in all the glory of full regimentals.
and still less so to expose that young
gallant to further contact with the Dona
Beatriz.
He was still cursing his precautions
for the general good when Corbyn stepped
back and babe him stand upright.
He did so, gladly. and the two rivals
faced each other for the first time since
they had dropped their masks. At one
side stood the girl for whom theys were
stalking everything. Fiji and ODare
looked on, the latter with his rife ready
for any eventuality.
Denny said Corbyn: 'you know this
place OGtt0f tH6n i. VIII yOu Out IL
airs well above? The stair head must be
held at any cost, and. IL there's any other
entrance to the hacienda it will be we'll
to guard that also. 1t won't be long be-
fore we have Won Rudolf to reckon with.
I'll send you word II you're needed here
again" o'Dare went OF to carry out the
duty imposed on him. and. when ne
found that all the company he could
count upon for the defense consisted OF
two devil-may-care cavalry troopers with
Dol int hy,1arv haro1v oScQned
brain fever. But he soon assimiiated
some of their ideas as to the wisdom Of
evading worry until that specter should
assume tangible and concrete shape,
end so sat down to help them hold the
fort at the stair head, since he knew Of
no other vulnerable point, while under
meath them the dumfounded guardians OF
the stair foot squatted over their fire and
spoke in whispers s Of ,.t the ine1plica0'e
you're foolish. Senior Corbyn." said
Ybarra, Ito come here thus. You have
me at disadvantage for the moment,
but-you scarcely hope to escape with
your prize, presume?
"Can we not settle matters amicably!
IL am willing to make terms.
Beatriz was about to speak. but checked
the impulse. COrbyn was looking hxediy
at her half cousin. whose eyes fell before
the Americans straightforward glance.
You take me for q fool. Ybarra." he
answered. presently, land perhaps you're
right. I'd rather be an honest fool than
a clever rogue. But il you think I'm fool
enough to take your word for anything
you've overshot the mark. Pardon my
speaking plainly. butt will be best to
understand each other.
mo terms that you could offer would
tempt me to trust you. Your reputation
ia not that of fool and still less that of
an honest man..
The presidents pale face grew paler
and his teeth clenched under the un-
vanished rejection of his right to treat
in honor with an enemy.
1t was so long since any one had dared
to twit him with his weakness that he
had grown to think himself no worse in
that respect than any Of his neighbors
Upon his pedestal Of autocracy he had
been immune from criticism; its personal
application stung him to the verge OF yiO-
lent outbreak.
But with an effort he controlled his
feelings. f
you have me at a disadvantage" he
repeated. FOR the, moment. What do
II have accomplished my immediate
object" corbyn responded. which was
to prevent your molesting the lady who
| will shortly be my wife. I don't know
that l need discuss with you my further
| plans
1T would perhaps be waste Of time If
| they have any reference to the Dona
Beatriz.' Ybarra countered, and his cou-
sin at length broke silence.
and her lover held out his 1 right hand to
| her. She moved toward him. and he
caught her In close embrace, which
| healed all the hurts between them. But
all the time he kept his left arm free
who was inwardly cursins his astuteness.
| Phil" she said again. shyly, nesting
| against his shoulder. there is a priest
here. Why should not we"
| rapturously. land right away. 1t was to
| that end that ventured to detain his
reverence.
Come forward. holy father. There will
be q wedding after ALL"
Dom Agustin obeyed with terror
stricken readiness. Penned in beyond the
altar, he had been prevented from escap-
| ing with his parishioners, and had waited
| dumbly while the two men talked.
We'll need another witness" Corbyn
observed to the now blushing Beatriz.
Fla. could you find Denny for us?
I'D go myself. but it would not be wise
to leave"
"I'n co." said Fiji. bravely. and. pass
| in the dark passage leading to the upper
air. The echo Of her footsteps became
| fainter and then ceased.
Ybarra moved an inch or two to one
| side.
STAND STILL" his adversary ordered
and the words clicked like the swapping
| Of q steel trap. He stood still, since he
could see the blue-nosed bullets in the
revolver barrel. His teeth showed bare
behind the black mustache and his whole
attitude was that of q beast about to
| spring. Corbyn held him at bay with un-
winking watchfulness.
There was a sudden fash. and Beatriz
| uttered a single strangled cry as she saw
| her lover sink to the floor without a
sound. So instantaneous had been the
impact of the great golden candlestick
the priest had used as a missile that no
shot was fired. The stricken man. re-
! Taxed his trigger finger with the others
and lay starkly still.
Ybarra sprang at her and held her lips
| his chaplain helping him to silence her
despite desperate resistance. Voices re-
| sounded from the stairway Fiji and
O'Dare were coming down together. The
| two men lifted her into a yawning tomb
| behind the altar. The great stone slab
which had moved at a touch to give them
| entrance swung into place again without
| sound.
She was aware of an unpleasant, earthy
| odor and that they were DESCENDING. AL
| most Immediately they stopped and set
| her on her feet. And one said. sneerinRly,
| your pardon. cousin. II we have seemed
| rough or hasty. We had scarce time to
| stand on ceremony with you
She did not answer. knowing that moth
| Ing she could say would help her plight
The place in which they were standing
was pitch dark. and she assumed that
It must be crypt connected with the