The Washington times., 1911-04-15
CHAPTER Xxx ,(Continued) =.

r. OR, as the door closed behind
r. them, a closed carriage dashed
Il around the corner, coming
from the Plaza de la Re
forma. Whoever it's occupants might
be-concealedt as they were by the drawn
curtalns-they were in haste that was
positively unseemly, considering the
time of night. The driver. a small, eX-
Srs1ns seG Ranve' 1--WE stood erect erect upon the box,
plunged desperately forward straining
10 their utmost endeavor. The crack
ing OF the circling, lash, the Gathering
drum of the horses hoofs, the Shrek Ing
OF the driver, and the groaning and
crashing of the abused vehicle, created
a clamor indescribable, waking to riot
tne hollow echoes of the night.
Ihe equipage ratified by the three men
IKE fragment of some noisy, feyered
dream. Ere 1t had slipped, however
INTO the dead night, which still shrowded
ane Faseo IN the absence of the regular
arc lamps, a door banged open, and
Malone could have sworn he saw a flap
ping shape, like huge bat, leap to the
ground and dart into the obscurity Of
,noupfeT Ine bordering dFgoo rows Of trees: As a
swung his horse into the avenue, in pur>-
suit, and a few curious chattering
loungers from the cafes in the Plaza
uotted after him out of that same OBJ
scurity came a black figure, walking
composedly toward the three men.
As he neared them, evidently not
aware of their proximity, they saw that
ne wore the flowing black robe girdled
at the waist, and the black scoop-shovel
hat of the parish padre. He was a man
OF no great height, and more than COM
monty spare of flesh, as his loosely
mapping yestments indicated. His steps
were springy, alert, giving the impress
sion of restraint placed upon eager
limbs, to stimulate the leisurely dawdle
of a priest.
IF that's a padre" remarked the
horse thief!''
The man, thus suddenly made aware
If minded for flight Then, giancing
sharply over the group as he brushed
by. he inclined his head with a mumbled
.'Su benedicion, senores!'' Kilrae, try
Ing to glimpse the face beneath the
gloom Of the broad-brimmed hat
thought he saw the semblance of a sar-
donic smile.
The. devilT' cried the colonel.
There's something remarkably remi-
niscent in that sham priests walk. In
fact, the whole business in queer Were
you Haroun al Raschfd, now, Malone,
and l the grand vizier, we'd run the
He turned and looked back. The
loungers, despr -ng of keeping up with
the flying horses, were reluctantly re-
turning to the cafe tables. with new
topic of conversation. The last lin
gerer rounded the corner as Kilrae
looked, and left the Paseo bare and
empty. The padre had vanished.
Now, where in blazes did he go to-"
mo matter, Kilrae," replied Malone
uninterestedly, his manner having al
tered in that brief time to that of an
extremely wearied man. Let be; the
blessing is that he is gone, and the way
clear We must hasten"
'Tis meself that's not liking it at
all,' persisted the colonel THE walk
of him was scandaously like some one
] know. Now, who in
At that moment they were repassing
the house of the Sonora de Casada.
from behind the bars Of whose dark
window second ironical benediction
was being scattered upon their heads
by the Identical man whose bearing, so
thoroughly incongruous with the robes
he wore, was exciting the imagination
of the minister of war. AS they left his
circumscribed range Of vision, he be-
slowed upon them parting curse.
SO, Sonora de Casada," he said,
mockingly, you have been success
ful?'
I'm way, Jose" The woman threw
hack her head and laughed mirthlessly
'In way. my friend. And you?"
Lazard slipped out of his encumbering
robes and lit a cigarette.
oh, also have played my part.
have little time to waste, however.
then"
lS SSHoTd leo the way 10 Inc QlnlnE-
room on the opposite side of the patio:
mere she attended personally to his
wants, Lazard marveled.
why do You not ring for a servant?'
fore him bottled of wine. "Of a |
surety, servants provided by Dona Inez |
may be trusted
They are trustworthy enough" she
replied ianguidly, Il dare say. But dis !
cretion is the better part of confidence, |
Jose. We can talk more comfortably |
alone Now, senor, your report"
me general drank goblet of claret |
The ship lies in port" he said. jerk
ing his thumb in the general direction
of San Diego. And all is well. The
girl, with Fetter and Rojas, are out of
town by this time. I noticed that there
was an imbecile of Malone's police m
pursuit, but He shrugged his shouI
ders significantly.
'Rojas will silence him." observed the
woman.
with a bullet or with gold-he is gen.
erous with both, is Rojas."
well? And Tompkins?"
"A good man-Valuable-the worst
sneak In our ranks"
You depreciate your own currency,
senor.'
The spaniard glittered angrily. then
You are pleased to jest with me!"
in the same boat?"
Ou <AuSle, ne EGSpOUuSQ
tarly. his equanimity restored by her |
"fhe gas engines?' she pursued.
''Will be landed tomorrow"
And the prisoners?''
''Safe-as yet"
"As YETI"
"Oh, i care not what Tompkins may
do. He is, you may say, quite unscru-
pulous; and he hates the old captain.
II he kills the one, ] presume he will
put the others out of the way. A small
matter"
'Indeed!" she cried hotly. "A small
matter-and in view of my instruc-
tions?'
81 but TESTED, Adele His supercil-
ious manner belied him. And as to his
excellency?"
She made comprehensive motion
with her thumb, pressing it downward
upon the table.
SO soon?"
81 never undertake what I cannot do
as you should know. Did not say that
would have all ready for your
He comes here tonight again, per-
hags?" :, ;, -
she had had no intention of betraying
the president just at present-and not
=