The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-11-20
CHAPTER v
Adios

AQlOS
Even as l entered the spacious home
of Thomas Carrasco a file OF soldiers
deplOyed and surrounded it. Verify,
Morales moved swiftly-and | knew
i would never win free of Caracas.
Yet, l had held her in my arms again,
had lost myself in the sweet depths
of her eyes, had heard her call my
name, had felt he touch of her fin
gers. To my starved soul that was
very much indeed, so laughed gaily
as the good Tomas, all of tremble
hurried into my comfortable quarters.
DO they seek thee, Senor-these
soldiers?"
Aye, Tomas; am very valuable to
them, for | have just disarranged a
wedding, and have put a lasting hurt
into the heart Of Colonel Fuentes."
"Ah, misfortune. Senior; it will bring
death to all of us!'
Not so, Tomas; this will bring
death only to a poor French sailor
who would feast his soul upon the
beauty of lady. This inn of yours
money TO pay for accommodations.
You know nothing of me; shall as
sure them"
As a sergeant and five soldiers
and Lieutenant Polito-marched in
from the patio | chose the side of
the room farthest from the window,
that | might stand as mucn az pos
sible in the gloom.
The sergeant turned to Polite, who
shook his head and touched his band
aged throat with caressing fingers,
then the sub-Officer addressed me:
Are you the devil, Senior, who has
put a spell upon the Senorita Lamar
tina?"
There is too much fiattery in your
words sergeant" said. You as
sign too much power to me, and
think it is the Senorita who has cast
a spell upon all of u.s."
POlita started and stared.
What are you called, Senor?"
"TimoleOn SOurdez," said l, choos-
ing ar random the first name that
came into my mind, "a sailor raised
in the Indies, who will work for any
body, on any ship, 1T any time. | am
a iOater-that's all"
How came you. Senior, in the
cathedral?"
Il sat alone, this morning, in the
Plaza San Jacinto, while people passed
into the great church. A swarthy
sailor, doubtless having sympathy for
my loneliness, led me in so that l
might view the wed ling of the beauti-
full lady of Spain and ne wise Colonel
Fuentes. If evil has been wrought
in the cathedral, Sergeant, it is no
work Of mine"
Yet you"
The Frenchman, Senior, is e. er a
lover; and if l stared at her is it any
thing a thousand others were not do
ing?"
Yet She"
"Ah, must l let her fall, fainting, to
the carpeted aisle; would that have
been the act of a Frenchman? We
are a chivalrous race, Senior, and we
offer our arms-and our hearts-at
all times. May one do less?
Polito swung his legs. half-smile
on his handsome face. The sergeant
shrugged his shoulders helpIessly and
turned toward his superior. IF the
lieutenant desires to question him-?'
Not at ALL said Polito. His voice
was hoarse, rasping whisper, yet so
puny an effort sent him off into
paroxysm of coughing.
The Senior Lieutenant has an at
rOciOuS cold" | ventured.
Whereupon he smiled at me in the
friendliest manner. Il was in a
storm he explained.
Il am sorry, and your head"
us doing nicely, thank you; it came
in contact with SPAR" He studied
my face for half a minute. Things
might be worse, Senor"
a phil0sophic view indeed" said |,
land one in which | cannot share. for
soldiers at this moment surround my
place of abode"
He laughed, a sorry effort, but suf-
ficient. "A temporary arrangement,
/ think. Perhaps they imagine that
the tall salon. who has really offered
only the Frenchman's worship to
beauty, might escape-like a moon
wrath"
A wild surge Of Joy went over me-
PolitO knew me, he was my friend, he
was telling rne that | would be free
| could have thrown my arms around
him. And the guards, Senior Lieu
tenant-F'
Have been placed there by order
of Colonel Fuentes. and will be re-
moved, therefore. only by his order.