Evening star., 1921-11-06

and forgive my importantly. excel,
lency. I am Father Sebastian. and
iI look after the souls Of those who
live in the village of Encierro.'
The governor bowed. II am glad
to meet you" said he; us not En-
the mountain of Sabio Blanco?"
"Yes. yes," said the little priest,
land there are terrible men who
dwell upon Sabie Blanco. though the
most terrible of them ALL He
checked himself.
Of them all?" asked the governor.
NAY, nay; 1 know not" said the
priest, "for 1 am a man of peace,
and it is my duty to give the con-
solations of religion equally to the
just and the unjust. But strange
thing has happened for one one ,na9fn. morn
men came knocking at my door and
demanded to see me. I came down
and met them. Each one produced a
sack Of money, which he placed upon
the table, and each said that this
money was to pay for masses for the
soul of one who was dead. or who
was about to die. Then they turned.
and without more words walked out
Of the village. and saw them climb
up the foothills of the mountains with
the speed OF goats.'
This is very interesting" said Don
Manuelo. 1.-Two sacks OF money. you
"Yes," said the priest, land that
is not the most strange part of it.
for it was not copper that was in
these sacks, but silver and gold"
And you saw no more OF these
men,"
The little priest shook his head.
Il am a man Of peace" said he, land
these are terrible men-men beyond
the law-they frighten me, for / am
of very timid nature"
but this" said the governor. this
piece of paper with nothing written
servant. What is the meaning of
this?"
"Ah. forgot" said the priest It
was handed to me in my chapel Of
San Pedro, and with it letter"
where is this letter." cried the
governor.
Here. excellency. here"
but few words in Spanish. and was
addressed TO no one in particular.
Here are the words: 1T is done; but
my life is in danger from the others
II ! can escape I will be with you
to report on the night of Friday in
There was no signature.
The man who gave you this
should you recognize him?" demanded
the governor.
1T was dark in the chapel. and
could not see his face, excellency."
You have done well to bring me
this document" said the governor,
but you will do better still to forget
that you have ever been here Good
evening, father, good evening. 1t
state we'll"
THE saints have you in their holy
keeping. excellency." said the priest,
and moment later Urcano had ush,
cred him through side door into the
night.
AS he walked up the street the old
servant could hear him chanting
softly one OF the benedictions of his
church.
"A very holy man. said he. with
out doubt one of the holiest men in
Andalusia."
We must follow for a moment the
movements Of the good priest whose
actions for SO holy man might
now have struck the unbiased on
locker as peculiar.
He drew a knife from under his
soutane, paused once or twice, turned
and walked back quickly on his
tracks, and when he came to a corner
he stood there in the shadows until,
at last. certain that he was not being
followed he went of into the lower
parts Of the town.
The city Of Castelleno lies upon
rising ground. The governors house
and the residences Of those whom we
may call the leading citizens were
all on top Of the slope; down below,
not far from the river which runs its
turbulent course among the little
cliff faces, lies the poorer part Of the
town. Into these districts the priest
made his way, and passing down a
poor street knocked upon the door
Of q dark house. It was opened by
no less a person than the beautiful
Isabellilla.
The priest entered.
"My Lord Don @. has seen the
GOVERNOR" breathed Isabellilla.
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