Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-20

where a couple of my men will guard
you. Have / your promises?
Polema gave a sour smile. You
hold all the cards. senior. l submit"
said he.
There was a pause. Then Don
free. count" said he. bowling. I'VE
shall do ourselves the honor OF re-
Stunning our interrupted duel"
Certainly. 1 shall be delighted"
And now the days passed steadily
away in the Boca de Lobo. Between
Don O. and one of his prisoners at
any rate there was no love lost. Many
Q.'s guest in that cave. Some he had
liked; others he had endured: but
there was something about his latest
captive which caused Don Q.'s gorge
to rise-in fact, he found himself on
many occasions sincerely hoping
arrive. Polema, on the other hand.
had retreated from his earlier atti-
tude OF rather sullen arrogance. and
had substituted for it kind of fur
tive politeness which was intensely
calling. AS to Don Jaime. he found
some touch of gay spontaneity about
him that appealed to the brigand,
who always liked a gallant man.
What would have occurred had fate
allowed e.-nts to work themselves
out along their own lines can never
be told. but 1t SO happened that here
another figure comes into the story.
and one which had no small part in
its denouement.
TT was PoIema's custom to wander
about in the Boca de Lobo Gas all
prisoners. seeing there was no chance
Of escape. were allowed to do) and
he would often go. As evening began
pines that stood upon its eastern rim.
One evening he had wandered up and
sat down with his back to q pine tree,
voice spoke, as 1t seemed. at his side.
my lord count" said the voice.
Polema looked in the direction Of
the sound: and was aware OF q man
lying at full length in the scrub.
What are you doing here? said
e: :. vas az aw att ,s your coming"
"Do you not recognize meT said
the man slightly lifting his bearded
so this is where you are. Pedro
Agachona!"
And what do you want Of me?"
'T wish to make bargain. But we
must be swift swift; Were r found here
Poiema nodded, and the man con-
tinued.
employed me as ganadero with MS
bull herds until"
Until the fiesta Of Todos Santos.
when you had the misfortune to
steal from me-you who were in a
position Of trust-and then you ned
into the mountains"
THAT is all true, my lord. but now
wish to go back from the noun
plains. I have a secret which my
lord count would give half his
wealth to know. II my lord count
will promise me that he will forget
my theft. and will pay me 5000 Pc
setas will tell him."
There must be something in the mans
story. since he had run so grave a
risk in meeting him.
well, tell me this secret"
Does my lord promise me the
the things that have asked?"
'Tf what you have to tell me is
worth them, yes"
days, before my lord was captured,
an old woman came up here into the
mountains. Her name is Marta
Marital said Polema sharply.
"Yes."
"And what did she do here?"
"She spoke with my lord Don Q. /
heard some Of the words-not many
but some"
what words did you hear?"
II heard your name, my lord. and
the name Of one Dona Moves, and
heard old Marta cry out the words
your daughter Then my lord Don
O. ran to the door Of the cave and
looked out. but he did not see me, for
l. had crawled into the shadow"
Polema was silent for some mo-
ments. At length he spoke.
You shall have not five thousand
pesetas, but ten thousand" said he,
ION one condition. You must escape.
You must go down the mountains.
You must carry . letter for me to
my major dome At Las Nsuvas. Can
you do this?"
eyes, for tomorrow It II my turn to
watch the foothills. The rest 10 easy.
But the letter-can my lord count
give 1t me at once. in hve minutes?''
Polema drew ont Q pooketbook and
began to write. At length he placed
what he Lad written In IN envelope,