Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-26

thread against the precipice five hundred
! feet above. Sheerly in its center, rising
| from the still sea of verdure round it like
an island. stood a high, steep. unclimb-
able plateau. an altar Of the gods. pushed
| up entire out of the solid earth. whereon
were visible a Clump Of trees and clus-
| ter of low white buildings.
| With a sufficient garrison at the horse
| shoe heel where the only possible en-
trance was, the place must be quite i'm
than two regiments. was there.
| The Golden Horseshoe-the Herradura
de Orc. as the natives knew twas
Ybarra's property. He had been born
time should come. fighting to a finish.
with the mountains at his back. It was
his last resort, the Tigers lair. place
of terror to the simple country folk.
Strange legends chung to It. and he made
the most Of them for his own purposes.
His flocks and herds all carried the horse
shoe brand. He had made a golden horse
| shoe the sign and seal Of his evil career.
1t was said that the great black stallion
| he always rode was shod with the prec-
| ious metal.
O'Dare stared about him uneasily as the
great walls seemed slowly to encompass
| him. 1T won't be easy to break out of
| here" he muttered. did you ever see
such place, Ftp
Its very lovely" the girl answered
gently. her eyes on the afterglow stealing
round the stupendous circle Of stone.
That's true enough" he admitted
grudgingly. but" They drew up
central height. and there alighted Ybarra
| and his cousin followed. and taking the
| lead again, slowly assembled a steep wind
ing staircase. cut in the solid rock.
| It was long climb to the top. but once
| carnations of amazement which rose un-
| hidden to their lips as the full beauty of
| the scene displayed itself.
Even Ybarra was touched for an in
Of the golden spires. all glittering in the
tender sunset beyond the blue hills in be-
tween.
you will be happy here. my Beatriz?"
he whispered. but she turned from him
with cold gesture Of contempt.
| Never with you" she answered.
steadily
| O'Dare had not failed to notice that the
stair up which he had just painted was
| guarded both below and above. He saw
on the inner glacis of the ridge that shut
| the Golden Horseshoe in. But. beyond
the single sentry at the top of the steps,
there seemed to be no armed force on the
plateau itself.
Its safe enough without them" he
grumbled disconsolately under his breath.
mo visitors without wings will trouble
us here. I'd hate to go too near the edge
| on dark night"
There were wide unkempt gardens
about the white buildings which formed
Ybarra's aerial residence. and beyond
these a thicket Of low trees which shell
tered them from any sudden blast.
| Once within the walls. however. they
tion. Ill-kept as the surroundings were.
no detail Of comfort was lacking in the
| interior Of the rambling dwelling. Serv-
ants were waiting to receive them. All
| were treated with consideration. The
women were taken charge of my two
maids. the president had two men to at
tend him. and to O'Dare was assigned a
single servant. The priest seemed to
| have betaken himself elsewhere for the
| time being.
He appeared again at dinner time, how
ever. and ate with the two others. while
| Beatriz sat with her cousin at a separate
| table.
1t was silent meal, and every one was
separated for the night. Ybarra took the
opportunity to explain his plans and dis
positions.
You know the rules. Dom Agustin,' -
! he said. turning his chair to face the
fnality. You. Senior O'Dare, may learn
| them from the holy father NY poor
house here with all that it contains is at
your disposal SO long as you do not
| transgress them.
| Il have come hither to celebrate a
| wedding-my own. with the Dona Beatriz
| Ybarra. It will take place within my
private chapel tomorrow night at this
hour. Dom Agustin will wed US. and you
| two will attend as witnesses.
Ladies' and gentlemen. I give you the
| good night"
He rose and. bowling. left them dumbly
| conscious of their helplessness In hts
hand. Presently the women went of for
the night. weary enough to forget their
| troubles in sleep.
| O'Dare also was fatigued almost be-
yond Endurance. but he sat on and
smoked a very sound cigar the priest pro-
duced. In the hope of extracting some
temporal comfort from that source.