Evening star., 1921-11-13

O., ''to have the pleasure of welcom-
ing you into our mountains
Studeley. who had been led into tho
brigands presence by Gaspar, placed
his pince-nez upon his nose and grim
ly surveyed his captor.
TT Is pleasure" said he, FOR
which you will have to pay very dear
ly. Do you know who I am?'
Don Q. waved a deprecating hand.
Il am awaiting for you to enl1ghten
me. senor," said he.
my name is Studeley-Apington J.
kings counsel"
The brigand opened a book and
taking up pen, wrote down his pris-
oner's name.
And the amount of your income?"
Studeley started as if he had been
What is that to you?" he cried in
his most rasping voice.
"A very great DEAL" answered Dor
O., gently. "a great deal. senior, to
both you and to me. You see. senior,
it has always been my wish to be
of your income it is impossible for
me to assess your ransom"
RANSOM" cried Studeley. "As
soon as it is known that I have
disappeared a regiment or two of
soldiers will come to look for me
Should you do so, I will perhaps
speak a word to the authorities which
will cause them to mitigate your
sentence
Up to this, Don @. had been cour-
tesy and geniality itself, but now
his face changed.
"Senor," said he. you are laboring
under dreadful delusions. You see
this book? In it 1 have the names
of more than $50 prisoners whom !
have held to ransom here in the
Sierra. To these $50 prisoners one
of the two things has always hap
pened."
And what may those two alterna-
tives be?" demanded Studeley.
Either they have paid their ran
SONS or they have remained in the
Sierra"
Studeley grew shade paler.
ut may be one thing said he
''to hold to ransom some petty land
owner, but you will find it vastly an
other to meddle with an Englishman
of position"
1t seemed as if Don Q. were about
to give an order, but he restrained
himself.
You are slow of comprehension,
senior. for so great a man." said he.
Let me read an entry or two from
my book.
Nationality: Prussian. Captured by
detachment 2. Ransom demanded,
$4,000, to be paid before June 49,
Ransom received June IA. Note: Dur
ing the stay of this officer I often
found myself wishing that his ran
som would fail to arrive.
september l. William ]. Simpson.
Nationality: American. Captured by
detachment 1 while admiring the in
terror of the Shrine of San Pedro of
he 1ar nd
to be paid by October Is. Ransom
received October IS. Note: A very
charming caballero, who made a de-
lightful guest. l may mention that
Don Simpson had the good fortune to
secure some excellent heads of ibex
during his stay among us. In saying
good-by, lost friend"
You see, senor." added Don O.,
that I receive my ransoms."
And if you do not?". demanded
Studeley.
DON @. waved his hand. Let us
- not speak of it," he said, for I
am very tender-hearted man. Now,
senior. forgive the apparent coarse
ness of my question and inform me
of the amount of your income"
The K. c. was a truthful man.t
Somewhere in the neighborhood of
100000 a year." said he.
Don @. bowed.
Then we will place your ransom
at that figure, and it must be paid
within the month. There you will
find the pens and paper. The. sooner
the letter goes down the mountains
Lthe sooner the answer will come.
land now, senior, all disagreeables are
pver between us and I hope that you
will be my guest during your stay in
dur mountains"
Nat first the days passed in the
Sierra without any incident. Studeley,
topk up his quarters in Don Q.'s cave,
and If at first his manner was chilly
towRrd his captor, this at times wore
off J little, for when he chose, Don
@. cRuld be the most charming of
compe Unions.
And. at the end of the drst-Wsek