The Dickinson press., 1914-02-21
THE seal
TURNED
By ARTHUR GRIGsBY


Edwin HOxie, an American artist
seeking subjects for his brush In Spain,
left Madrid to go to the mountains OF
Toledo. some sixty miles from the cap
sital. Arriving at an inn midway be-
tween the plain and the summit Of the:
range, he concluded to make it his
headquarters, going about among the
mountains sketching. He arrived in
the evening and concluded>t o put OF
any work till the morrow. The inn
being in a lonely spot and at the time
apparently no other boarders in the
house, he seated himself on a veranda,
where he could overlook the plain far
below, and called for supper.
The cloth was laid by a girl in a
short petticoat encircled with stripes
OF various gay colors. beneath which
appeared a dainty foot and ankle.
Hoxie was very young, and youth
is unthinkjng. He permitted himself
to gaze too admiringly on the senorita
and did not take the pains not to do so
while she was looking. He spoke some
Spanish and began to chat with her,
but could get nothing except Eyes, Sc
nor" and mo, senor," for she was a
difident little thing, especially in the
presence of one in the. social scale so
far above her.
There were many points in the vicin-
y where attractive views were to be
obtained, and Hoxie attended to his
work, not thinking about: the girl when
doing SO. But in the evening between
supper and bedtime he needed com
pany and after supper would invent
ways to keep her with him on the We
randa. The inn was kept by her aunt.
and the two women were the only per-
sons In the house besides the few way
farers who stopped there. The aunt
Hoxie addressed a sonora, the girl as
Pepita, which was her name. When
he was not out sketching he was con-
tnually calling OF the one or the other
for something-either a glass Of wine
or bit Of cheese or for Pepita to
bring her guitar. and play for him.
"You are troubled about something.
Pepita," he said one evening to the
girl while she waited upon him at sup
per: what is it?"' /. (
Nothing, senor," she said.
Eyes, there's something you fear,
Tell me-"
swell, then, senor. there are bandits
in these mountains. You should not
go out sketching."
"You must be mistaken. l asked
about that before coming here and
was told that would be as safe here
as in Madrid"
inls Did Lot appear to relieve the
s.rl 8 fears. There is something that
draws a man to a woman who fears
for him, and Hoxie drew the girl to
him and kissed her,
1T is very lovely for you,' he said.
ITO be anxious for my safety. Don't
worry. j think 1 can take care OF
myself"
There was a sound in some shrub.
berry just beyond the veranda. Pepita
started, gasped and trembled. Hoxie
looked up at her, surprised. and was
about to ask her what had frightened
her when she ran into the house.
The next evening was very warm.
and Hoxie lay smoking in a hammock
in the yard. The moon was at the
full and In the rare atmosphere at
such a height cast a bright light.
Hoxie dosed. Suddenly he reused him
self and looked upon a shadow cast
by the0 noon on the ground directly be-
fore him. It was the shadow Of a man
with arm uplifted. The closed fist
seemed to grasp something, for there
was a protrusion from It not clearly
enough shadowed for Hoxie to discern
what 1t was. Hoxie OWNED that it
was a weapon ,of some sort. most
probably a knife.
Whatever was done must be instan-
taneous. Hoxie's reasoning certainly
was. He reasoned that some. one was
about to Kill him: that the murder
would be committed silently. The only
method Of escape seemed to, be to call
to some one. This might brighten OF
the murderer.
"Senora" be. called without display
ing any alarm in his voice.
.What do you wish, senor?n"
"A glass Of wine"
At the first word the shadow with
drew SO that he did not see it. His
enemy had sprung back
Never mind" Hoxie said. rising as
he spoke. II will drink 1t in the
house.
Not daring, to betray his knowledge
sof his danger by looking back. be
walked; Into the house without turning
his head. Heshad not seen his enemy
only his shadow. Nor did he Dee
him later. Els GOODNESS had saved his
life. His enemy quite likely was in
such condition Of mind that d word
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