The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-11-12

he could expect no mercy.
! He. therefore, took pen and
! paper and wrote clear and frigid
note to Ingham. demanding that
all Don as instructions should be
! followed.
We must now go down the
mountains and look at the matter
Of The capture Of Arlington j.
Studelcy, from another point Of
view.
lngham sat at his desk and
looked through the green shutters
at the baking town, and at the
violet sea which he could see shiIi-
mering in The distance. Stnde
ley's letter had been delivered and
the consul had read il over Iwcie
with his usual grave attention.
, At this moment, the Spanish
colonel. SSueno. who had been sent
down 10 Madrid 10 take charge Of
( tho affair in the interests Of his
Government. entered.
ANY fresh news" he asked.
Yes" said the consul. this"
and. he handed him the letter
The Spaniard read it through.
Have you answered this let
teri" he asked.
YES. and l have no doubt my
reply is in Don Q.'s hands"
what was your reply"
II said that I would do as he
wished. | have no choice. Are
you aware. colonel. that to do any
thing else would be playing very
dangerous game? In my opinion
ii is better TO pay the twenty thou
sand pounds and be rid of the mat
ter. do not think you realize
how stirred British opinion has
become. If anything were to hap
pen to Sir Arlington Studeley in
the mountains. there would be an
out-cry, and searching for scape-
goats. Of which you would be one,
my dear colonel. and another. !"
Then you actually propose TO
pay the ransom"'
Yes. colonel"
You have the money!"
Yes"
The colonel shrugged his shout
ders.
LAS you wish" said he. but
whom will you send up with the
mule?"
have already decided that, "
said the consul. Il shall 80 with
the mule myself. You see. this is
a very grave matter. and in all the
years have been here, Don Q. has
always kept his word. Also.
know Studeley; he is a stubborn
man, and yet he writes this letter.
1t means that the payment OF the
ransom is vital"
III Don @. guesses who YOU are.
have not the least doubt he will
take you prisoner and hold you
to ransom
In all the years I have been
here" again repeated the consul.
Il have never known him TO inter-
fere with an envoy"
Your mind is quite made up?"
Quite"
The colonel seemed about 20
speak. but a look OF cunning
passed across his features.
! Then all can do" said he. "is
TO protest and to withdraw from
the affair"
The consul bowed. II think
that will be the wisest course. d"
said he.
las you wish" With these
words. the colonel left the room.
and few minutes later issued
some secret orders 10 his second
in-Command.
The consul" said he. lis deter
mined TO pay the ransom. He Is
going TO pay II in person. The
place whore the ransom will be
paid is three miles above the vii
liEe OF EncicrrO. where there is 4
tree with three nests in il. You.
my dear captain, will surround
that spot with number Of picked
men. have not the least doubt
that Don. z. will come down him
self. for he would never trust such
a sum to any Of his men. and If
things go well. let me express
hope that within a few days, you
will be promoted 10 major. You
see" added the colonel thought
fully. the British Consul has
dealt before with Don O. and has
always acted as he stated that he
would; indeed. he wishes TO do so
on this occasion. With that we
have nothing 10 do. for we shall
act independently.
The captain saluted.
II was Friday night. and the
Spanish dusk had just fallen. leav-
ing the moon to light up the world.
MS IL little cavalcade wound into
the mountains.
| This cavalcade consisted OF tn"
consul and single attendant.
The consul rode one mule and the
attendant led another. across the
back Of which were slung two pan
niers which groaned and creakcd
with the weight that was in them.
Needless to say. the consul had
no idea whatever OF the plans
which were entertained by Colonel
Surno. He had hoped 10 arrive al
The appointed place at an earlier
hour. but he had met with several
delays on his upward way into the
mountains. Still. all was well, for
he had till IL o'clock midnight.
and he was now only some three or
four miles on the lower side OF the
village OF Endierro.
lie WAS Jogging along peace
. fully. when al a turn in the path,
he saw that a tree had fallen
across il. As he approached this