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2 I . , CHICAGO LEDGER V , . . ,
reckoned as a. coward. but there was lighteti candle, I returned to the library. greeting, ‘and I shall trouble you to give to venture from his place unless I should I
something in the situation. the pa1pl- halting the door behind me. , me those Jewels!’ ' summon him to my assistance. V
tziting darkness, the stealthy sound that Then I sat down and tried to think “My anger rose. He had never liked thru the broken wall and enlered the
"might come from one whose hand was calmly over my situation. It seemed me. and I never had any reason even to grounds. .I advanced n few steps and
bent on murdermthe uncanny Thing that I had tome on a fool's errand, after respect him, tho ue had never had any then stopped in the shadow of a tree for
that I could not seemall these things all: that my visit to the Pandraza Castle hard words. - . a moment to make doubly sure that my
conspired to fill me with a nameless fear was to bear only the fruit": of adveil- “What do you mean?‘ I asked. With- entrance had not been discovered hy any
that I could not shake oft. lure. mystery and peril! out‘ answering he ma 3 a lunge. at one. > .
While l stood silent. listening. m.v Why hllil 1 accepted the commission me. 1 saw the gleam of a knife and Tile sky was nartly overcast with
' heart beating tumultuously, a thousand to come to Mexico-into the wilds of knew my danger. ,With a quick rna- VCIOHLIS. but'at intervals the full moon
fancies beset my brain. I could picture Guerreromto bring from the castle of neuver I dodged and dealt him a heavy came out and cast a floodof light over
the dwarf, hideous-visaged, a cunning Pandraza the Fernando jewels: Had blow, He went down limp and sense- the scene. The old ruin ofacastle stood.
leer on his evil face. working his way not Don Eugenio Fernando told me that less at my feet. Felipa screamed and dark andrgrim against the sky, and only
'silenLlI' toward me in the darkness. I I would be compelled to face the deadli-‘would have fallen in a faint had I not a solitary light gleamed from its somber
(lid not move. I realized that a step. or est peril? Yet I had come; not for the supported her. She stood leaning against ' Us I
to make the slightest sound, would be sake of the reward I was to receivee the Wall white and trembling. I picked ‘Vilile the light from the moon ‘-
to- guide my unknown foe in his silent tho that might have tempted better men up the knife that had fallen from her Deued the darkness K E0075 3 ‘iilkk -'
. Search for me. ' . than myself--for be it known that 1, father's hand and gave it to the girl. re)’ of the grounds and then walked in
‘ As this thought came to me I felt con. Henry Litchfletd, 21 years old. was only ‘You must go at once!’ she urged. ‘Father the direction of the spot where. -'18 I be-
vinccd that my foe was employing the la cub r8I>0rter on a New Orleans daily, has been drinking, and oh-I am so lleved. I would tlnd the sundial. I value
on same strategy, for there was no furs with no illrolne except that which came afraid he will do something dreadful!’
"T will go.‘ I told her, ‘and )'rnrnedi- thru a mass of tangled weeds, and for a
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'ther sound of step or breathing. And all from my worrr on the paper. Yet I may ‘E
on vim ll ht be w iting for me to say tna: it was not the reward that atei)’. unless you need my protection? l“0'“'-‘N 1 SW05 Slllrlng D950" me W109‘ I
.,.,.k.. 5., mild b y me. tempted me to brave the dangers. but a ---Go: e would kill us both if you 594- Stunned! The 9906513‘ of the S“n- it
1; was not 3 pleasant ., M“ T morbid desire for adventure, and yes- stayed!‘ she quavered. ‘WI-irti he is sober ma‘ 133' 0“ "9 SW9 and "19 93""? be‘ 7‘
play a game of hide and'seek in o rlnnrtll a Woman in the case--ix girl i shall not fear him. Take all the jew- Llxfllll ‘Where the Jewels had rested was P
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room In who might be xv vinl-7 WM!“ 1 hail‘ne-.-arse-errand might never eis and keep mine till you hear from
for a chalice to murder you is a siina- sec‘-a girl whose sweet oval face with e,’ '
mm to get onto one‘s nerves. The sits a pair of great dark eyes had looked at “The don was showing signs or recov-
pense of it, the elements of unceltninty. me from the gold locket that fell from er)‘. and then Felipa pressed my hand.
’ the black, cnshrollding darkifess, held Don Eugenio Fernando‘s pocket the night '
me as in -'t grip of,steel. > I rescued him from the vengeful hand bent over her father, while I left
- The dreadful Siierice'Weig:hed upon me, '3f1.r.ll assassin in the streets of New room, closing the door behind me.’ In
and I felt an almost, ungovernable im- V reans. . r l " , r-BM I found me la“ swarmm Wm, ' p ' V
’ pulse to rush upon the silent, menacing What folly was it that kept that face 90,, Emma-5 man? and as 1 mg. we MW Orleans. :0 back to my vosmon as
'l‘li-ing that 1 knew. musi be somewhere before me even in my dreams? I house and paused in some shrubbery, I 9"” 'e""""- ‘“'.Y‘“F ‘'V‘"'' "W "“'3' ‘he
T between me and the door. But I could answer shall Irmake, except'to say that, began 10 realm, um; my chances bf es. l'll0l”lr‘ of my fallllrei ‘
e not be certain that such an attempt it Wastllatuniversal folly tllulllassince cape wen, mm indeed. Near me was 1‘ ‘‘'‘‘s 5‘ ’““" ‘.h"“‘"“- .‘ me“ “’
Id , b t . 1“ ‘F the days 0, me Ga de M Ed ’ d . . think coherently of It all. no. i would
Wm‘ M 9 0 “"0” "use 0 an ‘ r X‘ en "'3 e’ ‘"‘ ’’“‘‘‘e'” S“'"“‘‘’ mad’ "f ‘mm’ 3"“ not give up: I would not admit defeat
Y .
I was dizzy with a crushing sense oi’
my defeat. I stood gazing at the over-
urnedsundial. a gripping dense of my
failure weighing upon me. My mission
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' tack without availing me anything. I the world go round? , [Hung lg to one side‘ I haguly smmped
kept silent, and listening as 1 had Ilefef‘ r“Thnt is the picture of Felipa Estrada. out a small cavity in the ground beneath ‘"1 1 had median ‘desperate effort to ac-
listene(L before, I stood immovable. a relative of'my deceased uncle.": Don l, ,,,d placed me case, 0; lewd, ll,e..el,,. Coinlllissllnzltvlgglfslfvaeciding on a mu“;
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- Presently I caught a faint- s0und- Eugenio had told me as we sat in his -l-hen fg“ ed mm um rounds toward . l l
‘ ‘ aometilini: like the caluilmls. intake orxroom aLthe hotel the next day otter our lb, gale, “gm 1 ma togflgllt my way, 0‘ “"ll0n- I would see Feilpn If possible .
1:reath,:‘mlzl the sollntl came from my adrentum "ahrilngel with a demon for mm ll was only by God's mercy I was 3"“ "9 ‘““"5e“ "Y. ‘““'- 3"‘ “W was ‘
left. Null I waited. hoping for a rel'le- 3’1'3”l"'-D0“ Pelllgb E3‘-Nd-'1'-U10 mall ‘not lcnptured by the brutal. ragged in- ‘ms 1.“ he ”"’c‘”"p1'5he‘" .T” be. ”‘“gm
ullo,-l 0; 3:19 sound lllal l mlghg be bet. whose hired assassin '(olloivod.me from sufrgcnonlsga. who swarmed 3"" m,’ prowllllg about the nrenllses ll'll8hi;l‘P-
ter guided in my attack. 3 Mexico and tried ‘to murder ms'last And ho“. ; subsequently escaped ‘hem’ suit In my being caught and thrown into
; Every moment seemed like an age. I night)‘, ' ' -‘ ,. , " '1 , an 9"‘5‘"'- H0“'9""- I must “like ‘"5’
l could count my own heartbeats as I It was two weeks later that he told ltlexlco, is too long a story to tell, But.
am’ i . ll A I if ‘ll
waited and listened. And now I heard me the4;xl0ry or tlle'I"eI'Iianda jewels. u- ]g r lace undgr the eaestal ‘ “e‘“"" “E W ‘"3 59" “'3” had 9 ‘ ’
a faint sound; it was as if a foot had “Don Benito ‘Fel'nando,’.my greaze f,‘,",,.’;,j., >,..,.,3.,, $1,, still thereflt they . told hint to remain’-Julsliie the .
z been placed upon the floor withliniinlte uncle." he began. ‘was the owner of a have not been found and carried away W“ 5 "‘ m‘““g.“” I 5h.”“m e"'h“ “““"‘ ’
caution. yet the sound had reached me. vast estaterin Guerrero. and among his 1,, D9,, 5,33,“, 0,. some of his men‘ But or signal for him to join me. ‘ '
it was not two yards from me.-on my vorsessions wasa ram collection of lee“ 1 have. conmiel-ice that they have not The '3“ "W ‘ ‘Wke '3” 1““!“"‘ ".
- left.‘ I tie;-id-.-d to wait no longer, for els and precious stones which he had been mung‘ ; 113;; they may be found s9"’"“5“ '3my.“""“ ‘"5 0"‘ “’ ‘he 1‘"""
’ at any moment I might feel the thrust bro:-ught,vrlth him from Spain. er [5 poggiblel “la (9, ma; 1-9330“ 1 wgnt "935 0’ “ M“‘“"‘ 597$?’ ‘Vim had be“ .
of a knife or the crash of a bullet thru "When he died a few months ago he (0 "ml 5am, on, (0 mm: ‘hem away employed on my fathers ranch ‘(or three
my 1,0“,-g > < . ]g(tVIlls.cnllec1lon',o( jewels to‘ Felipn 33 won as posslblel -I dare no: "mm yea s. and who had exerted himself to
I swung around likes liashl and stoop. and myself. all of his other estate‘ :04 to Mexico. for I . have learned that , ,
ing, lungs-d‘n>ith outstretched hands to. ing to ‘hlsrnearer Lrelstlves. Before he charges hafg,bgen'm3ag ggajngt me by. ‘D Mm‘! klN7“‘l91'‘i=’e 17' .Ellg1l5h- Flim-
ward the spot where I believed the died I ’was called‘ from my plantation Don Estrada, apcuslng mg or belng ln 91590 D9590“ “"9 1 “Wm? “Mm fllelldi Q
dwarf to be crouching, ready to spring In Cuba to his bedside. where! remained puns-pl]-gay wlu, ",2 mm” 0: me lamb. and it was with -’l feeling 01' T98”! Ch-'ll
upon me. i . the end. Just before he passed away deposed President." . , 1 told him good-by when he left the l
I heard u rasping sound, a quick step. he had'tho Jewels brought to me,’ and 1 glvlall not go [n((; the 4913"; at my "3"9“ W Y“‘“'“ W Maxie?‘
‘ and then my hands came in crmtitctwith dividing them into two parcels, ‘each Congerence Wm, Don p,m,,,d.,. but Wm My knowledge of his language now l
a burly body. I struck out with my parcel being placed In an ebony case. he lg; lg sumce to say that 1 Igf( for Mexico ‘mod "'9 “l 3904 “(Paar ‘W "5 ‘ls ll “'9“'
right. It blow that must have felled my gave them into my posu-.sslon.’asking um weeks later, commissioned to go to k“““'“ 1”‘ “"9” “my A'“"“‘“‘“ “"0
,sdversury, but it dill not land properly, me to carry the one Intended for Felix‘-a lh, canla ng Pnndrazs hi Guerrero and speaks the Spanlsllianeuase finds II more I
" and the next moment I was struggling to her. as she was not present.‘ .. bl-lag um jeynqs m New oneans, 1:" ready welcome’.-among the people of1i’iex-
In the crash or my um-en foe. “'Alter the burial of non Benito I !et my services 1 was to receive $2,000 if ‘W "ml h‘ ‘=‘’“‘“ ‘W99 10' Wmlolll =‘“i‘ll
I was now fully convinced that my out for the home of I-‘clips. who lived successful, and 3500 and the payment of k""“”',dg" . ‘
mysterious atlversars‘ WIS Nemo. the with her father in the old ruin of a all expenses in case the evvels were not “e“‘"‘“g P’d"’ 9“s“"“"‘d ""‘"‘d "W
dwarf. End realizing that I Iholll-'1 lind castle of Palulraza. to deliver to her the found in the place where they had been d“'“9 “I "“5l“s "9" ‘"9 “'““v I 33”“
,, him a most formidable foe. I exerted all jgwglg lgfg by my gfga[unc[o‘ Bug onrlen‘ . , Entered the grounds and, mild? my Way
ml‘ strength to force him backward. 1!! my arrival at the castle I wal met by a V Icarrled with me letters from the Mex- ‘‘"‘’’‘'‘i ‘"9 5l‘""“3f bulldlng f‘”‘”“ Whlch
"‘9.5”“9‘”'"9 “”‘i’P“‘3 mm 57 3 5"“' great surprise. As good fortune would it-an ambassador that would give me ""“?‘9d “'5“‘3‘e “SM N‘? 3 C3'C“’T“‘““
t maneuver that I had learned at college. have it, I out Felipa. in the grounds. and safe passage thm Mexican territory. and W” '1 , , ‘
' He staggered. and we both went down she homily informed me that her father I had little trouble in reaching . San '1"l"v.“'“ "0 “"1"? 50"‘ '0 hi‘ Rtll
V together. As we tell I heard the cllnk had Joined the revolutlonlats, and at the Rego. the little village lying close to “ml "0 Filgll Ml”? 0‘C9D““E the 50‘l"">'
3 r of metal falling upon the floor, and with head of ii plundering band was sacking Pandraza castle. ‘ . I , ' ray of light streaming Irorn the window
my disengaged hand Ireached out quick-v the little town: and creating ll reign or That very night, having hired a guide "l ill "PP" “NY-
‘Y- M)’ lingers came in contact with the terror thruout the state of Guerrero. She to accompany me. I set on for the ’ I 5“’3’Wd 3 ’”u9 ‘“5“"‘”‘ f""'“ "'9
handle or a knife. and I clutched it told me that it was , not are for my castle. The bribe I hull given the LIex- "““‘“"K- 3“ l"‘""l,“le Eh3d0“' hi 3 "err
1 i R the dwillf lllllst 12879 Slifllfli presence to be known at the cutie. as I lean made hlln my Willing slave. and I 9 “ “”f"1 "‘s"e"l”“ 0‘ ‘"5’ "“"
his head against the wall as we went would doubtleu be looked upon as a think the faithful Pedro would have Wunrlinzs and the gloomy old ruin, the
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that my life might depend on it, 1 could -‘when 1 gala ll" gf mg jewels 1 mill isen. tho I ad made up my mind to see ‘"‘“ “W” N‘? d“5“’"0d RPP9l"<1lli‘9 05 in?
not bring m)'SE”' to use the deadly brought she told me that my life would Feiipn EsLrada at all hazards. Irwos Old Wilding <=0m'lnred me t at he was
weapon on my fallen linlagonist. not be safe for a moment if it was a mad thing to do under the circuln- “"1 “W75 ,
A! lens! 1 Was I>l'0Vlilbd WitllaW8BD0l'l known that I had them, and she begged stances. but the hope of seeing her was I remained but a few moments at my '
of defense, and I now felt that I should me, for my own safety. to leave as soon no small part of the reward I hoped to post of observation, and then I walked ‘
V be a match for the dwarf-it it really as night should come and take both gain by my dangerous mission. briskly to the great door and knocked. '
r were the (lI‘.'2Irfmlf he should renew the cases of jewel: with me. She had grown It was an hour after dark when we The sound of my knocking echoed dis-
ana - ' - to fear her father of late. his treatment reached the broken wall that surrounds maliy 3"“ “'9 Old building‘. iv‘-it it was
, I lllitll’ Fe5‘0ll'ed upon a move that I of her had been so brutal and she was the castle. Here we halted in n thicket Home moments before there was nny re-
.‘ had not before considered. Iwould strike convinced that should he'discover that of ahrubhery to reconnoiter. . spouse. As I stood waiting I stepped
' ll light and have a look at my Inyste- the jewels had’been left to her he would From reports I had received I did not brick and threw, it glance lit the upper 4
rlous foe! It would be much preferable seize them at once and appropriate them think Don Estrada was at the castle, but windows where the light was hurtling.
lo ilshllhf: in therdilfk. ll llglli 1 mllS!- to his own use or worse lose 'them at I did not propose to take any chances. I and as I did so I saw a face appear. It
with a quick movement 1 leaped to the gambling table. Tfhile we were dls- had made A careful study of a map ot was visible for an instant and then it
“'9 “her “We 01' "I8 warn. drew amatnh cllSSln"‘ the subject there came a-su:I- the grounds given me by Don Fernando vanished. but even that brief glance had
from my pocket and lit it. I held 1! den knocking at the door and the voice and I was confident of my ability to and convinced me that the face was that of
llblllle mi’ head as the flame dispelled the of I"elipa's father demanding admlt- the sundlnl where the Jewels were hid- Felipa Estrada! ‘ r
d""'k"’5“t “"1 3“"m" I 3“'eD'- "'19 l'00m tnnee Fell a opened the (‘cor and Don den, without any trouble. The gonna of f,'[e 3 comm from within
Wm“ my gaze‘ “Y "‘3'5‘9"“’“5 amag‘ - p ‘I have just overheard After assuring myself ‘hat "0 ‘me “"33 told me that m ' '1): k hgd brou ht -i
0”“ had ‘"““m"e“"9‘“ yo mo-at interestln conversation‘ he lurking in the grounds Iturned toPedl-o res (ms; 1 heierd nook am". ll? life
amaizfnfrirsm-maya':.t37r“i..a;":t,,f”:;:S$x said moclnngly. wlthiut giving melany and bidding hlmwvalt for me and not lurlg. and then So. ti-:3 ail. was opened.’
but I was me only ‘hing soul in that e an uncouth figule stood at the threshold.
’ lifllis ‘v‘i3l%r?““ "‘ “’ '“"‘ :;-'lLlllllllllllllllllllIllllllllllllllllllll.lllllllllllllllllllllIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllla
he question staggered me. There
. down. for his ham on me relaxed for an spy. and conducting the income castle, murdered any one who sought to molest ROW‘ Willi! 0‘ which W5 fall?" down in .
lll$llMl!. and taking hdvantage 0! it. I the led me to one other own T001113,‘ me. ‘ ‘ "“"‘“5' mac” “"5 "‘7"""ed “"”‘ “"9el"“5 ’ "
- GHDPNI clear Di’ him and “as on my fez! where we would be free from intrusion It was not my aim to present myself “"91 ' 1
l - , ‘ll lln illiliavll. I Still held til! knife and where we could tall: the situation at the castle until I had secul-ed,the I had ’W fem’ 0‘ ‘"11’ 0“? Wm’ "light 3‘? d
ready to defend myself, for tho I realized over, ' 1 ewgll “ml "maud men, frag“ the 1,.-gm. about the place excepting Don Estrada. x‘
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n sguat dgu not over four feet in
.eight with A hideous, leering visage l‘
zlililost covered with a dark. massive
beard. d
if
- The strange creature stood blinking
t me with E queer curl about his thick
was something‘ inexplicably strange
‘ about the whole " ‘r-something de-
cidedly uncanny. But for my Dersonal E
encounter with the Thing; itself. and the
Hill
, .
E STRONGLY recommend to our readers the thrilling
story of an Alllericali's adventures in Mexico, in this is-
K53.’.'l'"'i’ “$25..".l“3i.'?l.‘Z"?.I1...‘...';:L" ,‘,',;,"n; sue, entitled, "THE FERNANDO GEMS; or, Mnxlcim
' ' d “C K C PEBIIS," by Will Lisenbee. Be sure and watch forthe leading
I picked up the candle (mm the table = story next week, entitled, “COWBOY‘PERILS; or, THE GIBLEE ..
3"“ "l““?" "- T""‘ ‘ "ma: 8 ““'el'"‘---‘-'“WON,’.’, by Frederic Knowles. It i:‘one of the best Out-West
doors were all closed. and um. w... ..,, .- stories we have‘ ever published. Grab it when it appears. Some
::35dbl;m:v:l:l;rec::3 Iglldnlglzxlliit g of the bestutcnes in all the history of the Ledger will appear in
insslng thru one of m. .,.,o,, 0, why E these papers dlmng the next few months. If you want to make g ,0, an um.u,e.,, W3, "inane. 0; low
2’;lIowa.k:lc!::dyetth:la(t)l hemddznsulnigairs: E some one a present, why not give him or her a year’: subscription '= running in his glance. d W h
I ”‘,‘e".hu“" or walker“? Bu, 1 hadmard - t9 the FIEDGEM They would get lots of entertainment and fun 5 e ’'‘’“.‘f‘’“‘" M’ "" "“‘ ’
nnthlnlzi -. r. W’ M ‘L Tl”? It ‘“1c9- ' I told ‘him that 1 am, but thought it
I i will not deny that the nu truaglnllr ‘ unnecessary to odd that it was Don
gz r.".m.::.c;:.:l.’. ’”.‘."..“f"..‘:..“.f.‘.’%:.... glilillillllllllliliiilililliiiililiilliliiliillililillllillliiillllllllIlllililililllllliiillliiiHill? fiililfe“x?5'f“f%-‘?5e3$’1J5‘li1i‘s=335
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"Who are you and what do you want?" 1
he asked, speaking in Spanish.
‘ “I want to see Senorita F‘eilo:l.." I re-
plied. in the beat Spanish I could muster.
Ivle stood leerinrz at me, as if undecided
what to do. I began to believe he was
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