Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-29
CHAPTER XII.
Dom Agustin's idea.

II wish you wouldn't press so hard upon
your pistol" said Ygnacio Ybarra. 1T
hurts my head.1
You'll have no head immediately
Corbyn retorted, sternly. his trigger
finger trembling as he heard rustic at
his back.
Unless he added, doubtfully. 'you
are prepared to carry out the orders 1
shall give you
Spare him-for my sake. Phil a
woman's voice cried. and Beatriz would
have laid hand on his arm. but that he
ordered her away. His chance of success
hung on a thread too slender to take any
further risk.
STAND still" he ordered. in Spanish.
"or 1 fire.
Let no one move" Ybarra echoed, IT'LL
1 give the word
Then their eyes met again. and he con-
tinued: Tell me what you would have
me do, and TIL do it,
Corbyn tried hard not to show his relief.
He had not dared ito hope that he could
evil qualities. had never been accounted
| a coward. Ybarra's reckless disregard
of death and his stubborn courage had
helped him to the place he held. and en-
tious man would most assuredly have
come to grief
His smooth assent to that which was
required of him. without demur or cOun-
ter stipulation. made things much easier
for the American.
Order your men to ground their arms.
that strategist requested. and the presi-
dent complied. His words were audible
| Throughout the edifice. The rank and file
laid down their rifles. the staring sub
I<4v~ t.. ~h4 - IT. 81
Gathering on the tessellated pavement
he felt the degradation of this strange
surrender. keenly.- but. for Ybarra's sake.
he yielded. 1t would have done no good
to shoot down the intruder and SO cost
the trapped president his life.
Til take a gun now, COrbyn.'' said
O'Dare. released from durance. and joy
fully assured that. however it might have
happened. 1t was Philip Corbyn himself
who stood there. master Of the situation.
do. Denny" his friend answered.
Come up beside me-
And l. Phil?' Beatriz asked. humbly.
Yes. both Of YOU" he said. and they
came forward. armed. Their reinforce
ment carried matters more swiftly for
ward. and. when Fiji also volunteered
the Congregation was completely cowed
by the three weapons leveled at them.
while in the background lay his excel
lency helpless in the hands of a mys-
ferrous stranger, his very life dependent
"Have the church cleared COM
manded Corbyn. 1.-The women first and
then the workmen: the troops will follow.
| with the lieutenant last. They are to
leave the hacienda by the stairway.
have men posted there. and any one who
speaks ere he or she sets foot upon the
road below will be blown into space
without moments mercy
An angry light shone in Ybarra's eyes
as he confirmed this disposition. He
| ~k 800
means Corbyn had succeeded in obtaining
entrance for the ''men' of whom that
anxious diplomat had spoken SO, assur-
eddy. He did not know that there were
| only two. and in the uniform of his own
army, who had replaced the topmost
tent spirit duly drugged. For the first
time he began to doubt the durability OF
his luck. If his opponent held the stair
way his own position would be doubly
difficult.
There was no present help for it. how
ever. and he heard his awestricken de-
pendents shuttle away in silence. followed
by the surrendered soldiery. They
streamed up the long passage to its exit
without a whisper. out into the darkness
stationed at the top.
AndAwhen the keepers of the stair foot
would have questioned them the women
broke and ran. with white lips. for the
Sa1e Snelter OF the nuts DenlnQ the STA
bles. Their men folk followed sheepishly
| and. after them. the guard of honor
came forth. unarmed, impotent. The last
! to reach ground level was the boy officer
who had been chosen to command it. His
black eyes were suffused with tears OF
shame his empty fingers twitched con-
vulsively. and his cheeks were chalk-like
in their pallor.
He formed his men up. and marched of
to camp. there to inform Won Rudolf OF
what had happened.
Ito be continued tomOrrow)