The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 15, 1906, Page 4

THE SAN FRANCISCO SUNDAY CALL. SOSOOSST0SI SIS SIS This story published today— ¥ Three-Cornered fifth of u series of thrilling fes of Spanish brigandage, and K itten - Yo Game'—is under the title of “The Hesketh Pritchard, % Don Q.” The s recount the lawless md- mtures of this bandit, who, 3% vever, is ot portrayed in the & rx of the ordinary Spamish ww. but as = philosopher $ so menn type. One complete $% ry of “Dom Q's” sdventures 3 d highly exciting experiences 3 ppear each week in The % v » all until the series is R § SOSOLLO000I0000000000000000% son Pub. Co.) —y much to there were sugge k to tempt nto our and shook his ked coquettishly er fan pped his finger re than his eve uty as glo- c,” she replied For all lan by ch you of the sferra s within I say.” ant him easily,” Jewel of a Rosita! ) n-uull‘rln | ?/ DAKK JTI5 71 A or <P = sure you can perform this She nodded, smiling pon W best in He is a bloodthirsty harmed a “He has never You I re- s empty -because dubi- Don Felipe, of Don me down in 1 will tell him in nding some ept it will be poisoned, and so prove my good f the chief." ent plan, my Rosita, ' exclaimed Don ration. “I have two or three score men s of the Casa de Segli— him. >u will remain Governor,” she the most beautiful wife in * he gazed at her ferevently. So it came to pass that the fetter of Dona Rosita de Rivero, which betrayed the plot of the convoy of poisoned wine ended to fall into Don Q.'s hands lit his mind a cold and deadly fury against Don Felipe. “This over-gorged carrion would en- deavor a second time to poison me!” he reflected. “Am I a rat or a dog that we should do this? He must be taught. has imprisoned this girl moreover. he must be taught.” for many hours the chief brooded Yes, 8o in his cave, for when time permitted he ltked to consider every possibility of the game. After these hours of silence, he went to a le that stood in one corner of his nd began to write. They were but a few lines which ran somewhat as fol- lows: He kissed the hand of the lovely Dona Resita. He thanked her for the hint sent him, and he would take steps for her deliverance on the coming Friday evening. He paused for a moment as if about to add more, then sealed the letter and called Robledo. The young fellow came running up the pathway to the eave-mouth. “Bring also Antonio,” was the order. Don Q. looked keenly from the‘worn, handsome face of Robledo to his com- panion's. Ak LIKE THE FLAFFNG TUGE WINGS W/IRLFL ABOJT ~ 2 =Z- “I am about to trust you. 1 pray you may prove yourself worthy of the honor. am about to put my life in your keeping. il tter must be piaced in the hands of y whom you will find detained at Segll. Take care that by no it falls into the hands of Don Majada—my life would pay the You understand?” lord.” “Then go.” Don Q. Isoked after the man with that quiver of his drooping eyelids which with him betrayed amusement or anger. A very meager intellect,’ he murmured. “That insect will do exactly as I calcu- late; he will endeavor to betray me.” Then he turned to the second of his fol- lowers, who stood waiting meekly. “For you, Robledo, I have a double mis- sion, the chief resumed, in his soft, sibi- lant tones. “Go down to the shrine of San Pedro and beg one of the good fath- ers to come up into the mountains to the gorge of the torrent. Say that his pres- ence will be urgently needed on Friday evening. th the Casa de Se chance . s e The sun had already passed overhead and was dropping in the flerce blue sky when the chief mounted his fragile frame on an ambling mule and led a body of his followers downward toward the plain: By many bridle paths they passed, over wild scrub-grown areas, through glimmering summer woods, until in the splendid glow of evening they came to where a rugged path wound and tum- bled through. the lower ravines. "Here a charcoal-burner rose from a thicket in which hy had been crouching. With his eyes on the ground he told of the passing of a convoy with wine'for the ©Casa de Segll. That was sixteen hours ago. He had kept watch ever since. We have secured the convoy. And the jers?” inquired Don Q. “They also passed, my lord, in the dark hefore the dawn. I could count 60, but others went by in the gloom. There were more, than 60.” “Good. You shall be rewarded, Tomas.” The “Ana mow, my children, forward. soldiers will enjoy a quiet evening in the pleasant gardens of the Casa de Segll ‘We will not disturb them.” It was deep in the night in the streets of that white and ancient city where Don Felipe held office. = The watchmen had Jjust cried the hour with the facts that the night was black and the stars hidden, when six men in Indian file slipped noise- lessly through the shadows under the sleeping houses and paused by the wall of the Governor's residence. Then their leader, drawing on more tightly his long muffling cloak, delivered an order or two, something flopped softly down from the balcony above, and a slender figure passed by a rope ladder into the window over- head. History s uncertain as to whether it was a man or a woman who met him, but, in any case, the accomplice—for Don Q. had friends everywhere, equally in the little local courts of-officials as in the huts of the goatherds—holding the thin hand of the chief drew him through a passage or two, and left him before a high closed door. Don Q. took from his belt a knife, turned the handle of the door, and walked in. A faint lamp burned beside the bed. The brigand stepped up into the circle of its light and tapped the sleeper sharply on the ear. The Governor awoke. “Do not presume to utter a sound,” commanded Don Q. The Governor’s face, bulged with terror, peered from the bed clothes. “Rise at once and come with me,” went on the urbane, inexorable voice. ‘‘Dress warmly for it is chilly in the mountains, and I should never forgive myself if you were to contract a pneumonia.” At the word “mountains” Don Felipe's jaw fell. He found his tongue at last, but the sound it sent forth was like the bleating of a kid. < “Wh—who are you?—I refuse to go with you.” “You will not I am sure do anything rash as refuse. You cannot know that it is Don Q.'s shadow which lles across your face. Corpse of a scullion! Do not keep me waiting! My patience has its limits. I have ripped up a man for less.” Sunrise saw the Governor wbe-begone and chilled, bound on a pony with rough paces, mounting higher and ever higher into those sierra he had hitherto beheld only in terrified visions of the night. This was Friday—what had happened? It was the day on which Don Q. had promised in his letter to deliver Dona Ro- sita. What was going to become of, him, Felipe? They encamped in the gorge of the Tor- rent, a remote and lonely spot, seldom trodden by the foot of man. Soon a sibilant voice called from the choza. “Bring the prisoner here, Robledo.” And in a moment the Governor stood trans- fixed under the heavy-lidded gaze of the great sequestrador. “You are Don Filipe Majada?" The fat captive quaked and bowed. “I have recelved some complaints of your conduct toward a lady,” went on Don Q. politely. “I trust you will find yourself able to demolish these accusa- tions.” Don Felipe feebly shook his head. “It pains me greatly,” resumed the brigand, ‘‘to be obliged to touch on eo delicate a subject, but I am given to understand that you have pestered a laay with your attentions. I trust for your own sake that gossip rather than truth lies at the root of these reports?” “They gre false, senor,” gasped Don Felipe in an agony of apprehension. “I swear they are false!” “Then how can you explain this?’ de- manded Don Q., handing him the letter that he and Dona Rosita had concocted together only four days earlier. Majada read it, wagging his head and grimacing in sheertefror as he strove to speak. “It is all false. She loves me!" blurted at last. “Arnd the wine?’ questioned Don Q. “Bring here a bottle, Robledp.” It was laid at his feet. “Do you recognize tais bottle?” “No, no!” Majada almost screamed, “Then will you gratify me by taking [ he a glass with me. You appear overcome. A glass of good wine is a restorative,” Don Q. urged with suave gravity. “Come, let us drink to our happy meeting.” “It is imposible! Hearken to me, senor. Have mercy on me!” and there on his knees with his hands stretched for mercy Don Felipe gave his rendering—the an- clent rendering of Adam—of all that had passed between himself and Dona Rosita. A long and heavy silence fell upon the group. Don Felipe exhausted by his ef< forts found himself crying dumbly. At last Don Q. spoke. “This lady loves you?” “She adores me! She would marry me in spite of myself,” mumbled the other. ““Hew fortunate .. . . for you.™ “What do you mean?” “That T am about to send for her, Don Felipe. If she loves you she will come.” “It is impossible. her in charge.” “Take a pen and write to your ma- jor domo, or whoever happens to be in command at the Casa de Segli, ordering that the Senorita de Rivero be allowed to accompany the bearer of your letter. No' more.” “I repeat,” stammered Majada, it is impossible.” “How unlucky for you! “You are chivalrous—she !s a woman,” pleaged Don Felipe. “Senor,” sald Don Q., in his softest marner. “write the letter, and if you have any influence with Dona Rosita, as you say you have, use it to bring her here.” Resistance was hopeless. Majada's shaking hand produced the words. “Yeu have finished?” demanded the chief gently. “Yes,” puffed Don Felipe. “Then add this_postscript. If she loves you it will cause her to fly to your side.” The exquisite courtesy of the brigand’s manner only deepened with each sentence. “Write, senor: ‘Don Q. desires me to add that If you are not here by 8 o’'clock I shall be buried at a quarter past.”” “Senor,” protested Majada miserably, “this—is—" “The truth—no more.” “Whea she comes we will have a talk and apportion the ‘guilt,” returned the chief agreeably.” “‘She is an important witness. Now, semor, you know the course that events will take. Let us My servants have “that Dirlteharel, fi?")"fl aismiss all thoughts of the future; the future will take care of itself. In the meantime the air of our mountains is excellent. T have packets of tobaoco from Havana, also excellent; and most excellent of all, some wins of the dora- dillo grape. I foresee that we may sing a song together and gossip of the old You shall tell me of the life from which I have divorced myself, and I will relats to you how many of your old acquaintances came to me in the mountains, and—how some of them left me.” But not even this programme ap- pealed to Don Felips Majada. He drank wine, but more and more he steeped himself in the glgom of terror. Talk he could not. and the chief presently excused himself, saying he would in- dulge in a slesta. But no sleep came to the tired eyes of the Governor. What would be the result of Rosita's arrival? How much would she betray? Soon the slight bustle of some arrival on the little plateau under the llex trees reached Don Q's ears. He waited but a moment before he called to Robledo. handsome, pantin at The young bandilt, travel-worn, appeared of the choza. “You have done my b “The lady “Good.” T time, and commanded the lady should the ope is here, lo chief p: some ord t Don 1a Dona Rosita had never looked T handsome. Don Q rose and bowed before sweeping his sombrero to the ur pardo: aire chief. to bl lovelo: ency: gallant tmplored me not to put you to, so much inconvenience for his sake. But a certain story b b told me re- quires to be investigated. Without your delightful presence I ould nothing. The sight of your beauty refreshed my dim eyes, your amiability my poor heart,” again the sombrero swept the dusty floor. t would you know of me? Ask your questions and let me be gone Give me my liberty, senor.” “But certainly. It will be my happi- ness to secure the liberty of the lovely Dona Rosita. Condescend to hear me.” Don Q. -recited the story of the plot as it had been told him by Majada. The lady did not speak for a long mo- ment; she plerced the unhappy Governor with a silent gaze. “Grant me a moment, plored, “out of the hearing of all these ears.” She waved a contemptuous fan at the guards who had accompanied her. “Let me enter the choza and tell you all the truth.” Don Q. signified his acquiescence, and bade his men draw off. “Order this traitor to come, too. Dona Rosita touched Majada on the sholder. *“He shall be forced to tell the truth.” Don Q. threw some twigs upon the fire, till its flames lit up the three faces. Then with an apology to the semorita re- sumed his hat as she began to speak. “So,” she cried. “this false man has dared to say many things to prejudice me in your eyes? He would save him- self by throwing the guilt upon me; O, noble cabellero! O, chivalrous gentleman! I thank you!" She turned to spurn Ma- Jada. “O, Rosita, Rosital” moaned the Gow ernor. “I hate you! You have torn me from my home. You would force me to marry you!—Lord of the sierra!"—she turned to Don Q. with a magnificent movement— “what Is such a traitor worthy of?" “It is indeed a most shameful affalr, senorita. Shall I punish him? Pray com- mand me,” replied the brigand with an alr of respectful sympathy. “No!—I shall deal with him myself." Then springing to the side of Don Q. she added passionately: “Give me your knife, senor—and I will show you how we Span- ish women deal with such a one! Don Felipe cowered, his hands over his blanched face, as the chief handed the weapon to Rosita. She took it and faced Majada. “Felipe,” she said, with a sudden break into a caressing tone, “Felipe look up and listen to me.” The Governor, struck by the change i her voice, peered up at her, his hand o half withdrawn from his face. senor,” she im- ¥ “Felipe, you swore to marry me in seven days if—something happened. Is that not so?" “If,” repeated the man, sul “What's the good of talking®of it now “Because it Is going to happen! Help me, Felipe, help me!" Lithe as a wild creature, she flung self round upon Don Q. she sook as stabbing viciously at him with the kr and The chief flung up his arms dark cloak swirled about the flapping of & pressed upon him, driving her knife as the folds-of the cloak closed and - tled in a heap upon Don Q.'s falling bod: Nothing of him remained visible but one emaciated yellow hand, pale as death, grasping loosely at nothing. Terrified by success, Rosita stood spell- bound, gazing at the motionless and shapeless heap of black clothing, under which lay the body of the famous bri- gand. At last she drew a long breath. “I haye won! I have defeated even Don Q.! There he lles, your unconquered thief, killed and outmaneuvered by a woman' You allowed my first plot to fall —TI don't know how—but my second has mastered him.” But Majada only moaned. Yes; it Is all very well. You have —_—_—— Continued on Page 8. .