Evening star., 1921-11-13

senor." said he. "They can only be
| disastrous to you. The time is pass
| ing, and the money must be in the
mountains on Friday night. 1t must
be placed upon a mule, and the mule
led upward and tied to a tree which
has in it three nests. This tree is
we'll known to the villagers OF En-
with the mule. and when he has tied
It up he is to depart at once. Is all
| this clear. senor?"
Studeley was no fool. He had spent
three weeks in Don Q.'s company,
and, though the knowledge had come
to him slowly, he had at last fully
realized that he was face to face with
two alternatives. If the ransom did
not come ne could expect no mercy
He therefore took pen and paper
and wrote a clear and frigid note to
Ingham. demanding that all Don Q.'s
instructions should be followed.
We must now go down the noun
capture of Arlington J. Studeley from
another point of view.
1ngham sat at his desk and looked
through the green shutters at the
baking town. and at the violet sea
which he could see shimmerins in
the distance. studeley's letter had
been delivered and the consul had
read il over twice with his usual
grave attention.
At this moment, the Spanish colonel,
Sueno. who had.pbeen sent down to
Madrid to take charge of. the affair
in the interests of his government.
entered.
ANY fresh news?" he asked.
yes" said the consul, "this," and
he handed him the letter. The Span
lard read it through.
Have you answered this letter7"
he asked.
"Yes. and I have no doubt my reply
is :" J, y Q.'S h.tnG.
'iN.;it was your reply?"
,,.n.d that [ would DO as he wish
ed: h, .'e no choice. Are you aware.
ctlcne!, that to do anything else
would be playing very dangerous
game" In my opinion it is better to
pay the twenty thousand pounds and
be rid Of the matter. | do not think
you realize how stirred British opin-
ion has become. If anything were to
happen to Sir Arlington Studeley in
the mountains there would be an
outcry and a searching for scape-
my dear colonel. and I another"
Then you actually propose to pay
the ransom?'
Yes, colonel"
You have the money!"
Yes"
The colonel shrugged his shoulders.
LAS you WISH" said he, but whom
will you send up with the mule?"
Il have already decided that" said
the consul. Il shall go with the mule
myself. You see. this is a very grave
matter. and in all the years I have
word. Also, 1 know Studeley; he is
a stubborn man. and yet he writes
this letter. 1t means that the pay
ment of the ransom is VITAL"
''If Don @. guesses who you are
have not the least doubt he will take
you prisoner and hold you to ran
SON." r,
'In all the years I have been here"
again repeated the consul, Il have
never known him to interfere with
an envoy"
"6e,',. "6our mind is quite made up'"
THE colonel seemed about to speak,
but look of cunning passed
across his features.
Then all 1 can do" said he, "is to
protest and to withdraw from the
affair."
The: consul bowed. Il think that
will be the wisest course" said he.
"As you wish" With these words
the colonel LETT the room, and a rev
minutes later issued some secret or
ders to his secnod in command.
"The CONSUL" said he, sis determined
to pay the ransom. He is going to
pay it II, person. The place where the
ransom will be paid is three miles
above the village Of Encierro. where
there is a tree with three nests in it.
You. my dear captain, will surround
that spot with a. number of picked
men. 1 have not the least doubt that
Don @. will come down himself, for
he would never trust such a sum to
any of his men, and If things go well
let me express hope that within a
few days you will be promoted to
major. You see." added the colonel.
thoughtfully, "the British consul has
dealt before with DON q. and has
always acted as he stated that he
would; indeed, he wishes to do SO
ou ih.I ocosslon. With that we have