Evening star., 1921-11-06

carrying out the abuse of hospitality,
Don @. had an abhorrence. 1t was
the governor who had started the
hunt, but he had not realized what
a dangerous creature it was that he
was chasing.
Day after day and night after
night Don @. sat in his cave. and
much of his time was occupied with
thoughts of the unpaid debt when
ne owed to Don Manuelo. AT length
one evening while he sat brooding
Robledo came up the path and an
nounced that Isabellilla. one of the
most trusted Of Don Q.'s intelligence
department, had come up the noun
tains and wished to speak to her
chief. A moment later she was
dark beauty. as full Of vitality as
women seem to be only under the
southern sun. She wore a coarse
yellow scarf upon her blue-black
hair, and only her extreme fear OF
Don O., a fear not unallied to affec-
peasantry and charcoal burners Of
those regions. kept her from break
ing at once into her tale.
Don O. looked at her with a grim
smile. well. Isabellilla," said he,
you have. L trust, obeyed your
Master" cried the young woman
eagerly, Il have spent many hours
in the house of Don Manuelo, the
governor"
How did you gain entrance? They
say that Don Manuello walks in fear
and trusts none"
Isabellilla laughed. There is al
ways way when my lord COM
mands." she said, land I now do the
governors washing. In this way I
have. have ,! learned the secrets of the
Good" said Don O. "You have
done well. Now tell me what you
have heard"
THE buxom Isabellilla broke into
speech like hound in full cry.
1.-The governor" she said, "has in his
safe a paper signed by the great ones
in Madrid, and in this paper it is said
that $4,000 will be paid to the man
who takes my lords life"
And who will pay this money!"
asked Don Q.
."rhe paper says that the payment
will be in the hands of Don Man
ueIo the governor"
Don O. nodded. "And does Don
Manuello,' he asked. ever speak OIL
one Fueutes. the matador?"
Yes. my lord; yes" said Isabel
lila eagerly. "One day last week he
said to Crcaro. his old servant, that
if lie heard anything-any gossip IN
the town-about Fuentes, he was 10
= tell him Of it at once
And did Urcano hear anythinG?
He heard the stories that my lord
ordered to be spread abroad
And what were these stories?
"That it was reported from the
mountains that there had been much
singing of masses in the chapel OF
San Pedro, as though some great
one in the mountains were dead. 1t
WAS also reported that Don Ramon
Fuentes was hiding in the mountains,
and that the men of my lord were
that he had slain my lord
And when Don Manuelo was told
these things. what did he say, 1sa-
belIilla?'
He said; my NY lord, ' Car, Can It i; ;, be that
And is that all he said?
"Yes. my lord, except that he gave
an order
And what was this order?"
1T was that sergeant and file
of soldiers should camp in his garden
by the house. They are there now, my
lord
Don @. nodded You have done
very well. Isabellilla," said he, and
no doubt your husband, Rob1edo, is
waiting for you: Tell me, how are
your children? There are three. are
there not?'
"Three boys" said Isabellilla,
proudly, so high. SO high, and SO
high" She indica ted the heights with
her hand. presently no doubt, the
eldest will join Robledo beside my
lords fires"
"And will that please you. Isabel
liIla?", asked Don O.. almost sadly.
"WiII lit please you that your son
should become as we are-here in the
mounta ins?"
I'VE are my lords servants an
swered Isabellilla, land already the
boys eyes turn to the hills. Only
last week he slew a deer on the land
of the count Of Polema. He"
.Xaough!" broke in Don 9. go.