Evening star., 1921-12-04

men does not concern us. for their ear
lier meetings We're simply on Senior An
greuZ's part, a campaign toward an end
which he already had in view.
On the third day he bought a con-
sisnment of wine from Senor Augeolo.
and it was this purchase which led
to the conversation which carries our
history forward.
The two men were sitting after
dinner on the piazza of the wine
growers house.
"And now. my dear sir" Angreuz
was saying. Il have bought the wine
and l am waiting for you to tell me
how I am to get it to my consignee
in Seville
Nothing is easier" said Senior An
geolo. a genial-looking man with
large beard. for 1 shall be delighted
to lend you. for a consideration, my
mule train"
Your mule train?' repeated An
greuz.
wine over the foothills in that man.
ner.
rs it safe?"
at always arrives"
'.Undepleted?'
Angeolo laughed. 81 see what you
mean" said he. ut is quite true that
once in every three or four trips Don
Q. takes his little toll, but as he light
ened my pack-train by fifty bottles on
their last journey. ! have no doubt
that your consignment will go across
safely enough"
"Caramba." said Senior Angreuz.
you say that this brigand robs you
regularly"
"As regularly as the mail" replied
Angeolo, smiling.
And you make no protest"
"None."
"Why?'
Angeolo gave another of his hearty
laughs.
II live under the mountains" said
he, land I can assure you that Don
Q. and I are-very good friends. He
is most courtly person."
"Then you have seen him?' de-
manded Angreuz. a suspicion OF eX-
citement in his voice.
But certainly. replied the other.
"If ever he passes this way he does
me the honor to step in and take a
meal with me. He is a very. good
Judge of wine, truly a connoisseur.
Indeed. he says that my. watts have
better stuff in them than any others
in the country"
Senior Angreuz nodded his head.
And I thoroughly believe he is
right" said he. you and l must do
more business together. I will give
you a better price than any one In
Seville ., s.,a
Not at ALL" replied Angreuz. 'It
is to my interests. Come. will you
sell me your next four consignments?
"Willingly," said Angeolo. "on the
same terms that you gave for this
one?" ,,,o,,,a ,o
a reduction on auuantity."
The rest of the conversation has no
interest for US, as it was pure busi-
ness, but at the end of that business
Angreuz began. to eetviSions or him
self rising high in the secret service
and enriched with the -blood-money
which was set upon Don Q.ss head.
He was man to whom any weapon
that would serve bis purpose was a
good weapon. a cold, passionless crea-
ture. who had never known a generous
impulse or a genial thought.
In due time Senor Angeolo'ss mule
train bore the first Of Angreuz's con-
signments across the foothills. 1t
arrived safely in Seville, as did the
second. and before the third started
Senior AugreuZ paid another visit to
the vineyard.
what he did there need not be re-
counted. but as soon as-he saw the
third consignment once safely upon
its way, avoiding the foothills. he
took wide circle and arrived IN
Seville before it. '..-&
We find him again sitting in the
mule-train arrived under. the COM
mand of Angeolo's chief muleteer. one
Tomas Colon. man of fifty, who had
worn out his own weight in rope
soled shoes during years OF journey
ing in the neighbofhood OF the noun
tains.
you have brought the wine? Is
olI -
yves: but I am sixty bottle. short"
"An accident?" he questioned.
"The accident that happens so reg
ularly," replied Tomas.
"Don. O." Has he again. robbed
"He has taken his toll"
"It is fntolerable" GRIEF Angreuz.
II will go round to the headdu arters
Of the civil guard; I wilr appeal to
the military governor. n:
TOMAS shrugged his shoulders.
1 "Better let sleeping dogs lfe,''
said he; otherwise they, get sup and
sometimes they are fierce. My mas
ter will not be pleased il you rouse
Don Q. against him, and for sixty
bottles OF. wine. ." Tomas
waved his cigarette with an express
sive gesture.
There is something in.Swhat you
say" allowed Angreuz. Come, let
US unload"
That evening a singular event oc-
Cured Shortly after dark a laden
boat pushed out from one of the
Seville wharves. On board were
Senor Angreuz and two boatmen.
When the boat came back 1t was no
longer heavily laden. The wine that
would have filled four hundred bottles
had been pitched overheard and had
already sunk into >the deep mud of
the yellow river.
The scene must now. change, and
we find Don Q. sitting over his dre
in the cave in the black rock which
he always inhabited in the Boca de