The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-09-09
CHAPTER III.
BETTING THE TRAP


the hour of midnight.
The hanging lamp, which was wont
TO burn bright before the arched door
way of the palatial residence of Don
Manuel Ccballos, had in some manner
become cxtinguishcd, and no one In the
vicinity, not even the watch" seemed
inclined to rclight it. Nor did there APP
pear to he any necessity for the illumi-
nation ns the passcrs by were few
Shortly after the bells had ceased
their vibrations, il one had been play
ing the spy. he would have seen the
form of man glide stcathlly along the
street, keeping wcll in the shadows of
the buildings, pause Mt the doorway of
the mansion and knock gently for adj
mittance.
One would then have heard the door
open and might have observed the new
conner place some dark object before
his face, and have caught the woI ds
Cuba or Death"
Fully dozen of these mysterious
characters could have been counted.
They teere counted, and by Jose
Calvo, who, nnobserved by any of the
patriots, had crept near enough to hear
the countersign, see the mask, cover
the features of the applicant fol admis
sion, but not SO close as to recognize q
single individual.
"Ahl'' muttcred the spy, this then is
what Felipe Coras suspected. secret
meeting of the patriots. But why should
he, nativeborn Cuban, wish aught of
harm to his conntrymen? 1t must be
revenge. Yes, revenge! and, to my way
OF thinking, his vindictivencss points
directly to Don Manuel Ceballus or his
son Francisco. And docs he expect me TO
play the despicablc part of an infor MGR?
Though why should he not? l have
fallen to the very lowest stratum Of So
ciety and may well be considered capa-
bic of performing so dastardly an act.
But, by the good name of my fathers,
he shall see have not lost all the at
tributes of manhood! Vnldes uazas shall
know of this nights work, and that. too,
ut once, if l can find him. He, ut least,
can trust
poor man hurried back to the corner
of the streets where he had cncoun-
tered the officer who had spoken to him
such kindly and encouraging words.
That he would meet him in that neigh
borhood he was sure, for he knew that
the citizen-policeman's patrol would de-
tain him in this locality.
Nor was Jose Calvo astray in his cal
culations, for there, in. the glare of the
gas lamps, still stood the young Cuban,
listlessly toying with the hilt of his
sword and with seeming carclessness
scrutinizing the faces of the nocturnal
jewellers as they passed.
The mend.cant did not approach close
to llazas, but stood a little apart until
he could, without too much demonstra-
ton, attract the attention of the officer.
He was not kept long waiting, for the
sharp eyes of the Cuban were rowing in
eessantly over every object within the
range of his vision, and when he de-
tccted the barefooted individual, stand
ing somewhat in the shade, he moved
forward as though to inquire into the
business of such a suspicious-looking
character.
"Will the senior draw n little apart"
began Jose, in n whisper. ''that we may
not be seen or overheard have start
ling news to impart"
"a few steps will take us to the Gala
boosc," replied Haas, in the same
guarded tone.
"No, no-not there" quickly re-
turned the other, with a shudder, as
though the very mention of the place
conjured up untold horrors to his imagi-
nation.
"Then tell me what you have to say
where we stand. We shall not be dis
turbed ut this hour
Every well, senior. Now listen close
ly. Arc you aware that there is IL meet
ing of the friends of Cuba beng held in
the city limits tonight"
"Is it SOP" quericd the officer, with
deep interest. How learned you
that?"
81 was employed by that villain,
Felipe Coras, to shadow the honse Oh
Don Manuel Ceballos and note if aught
strange occurred in the vicinity and re
port to him the result of my observa
ton"
"And what saw you?" quickly asked
the other.
Several men demand admittance.
place masks before their faces, give a
countcrsign and enter"
"The countersigu WASP"
Scuba or Death"
'"rhc fools. How could they be so
carelcss!n Inuttered the young man nm
der his breath. but, Jose. can you Toe
trusted?" he went ON, his fingers ncr.
vously clutching the handle of his re-
volvcr.
Elise why should I have sought you
out, instead of going at once to the man
who has already paid me few piasters
to bring him the information?'
True! 1 might have known that,
with all your faults, you would not he
disloynl to Cuba. But what is TO he
done? Oh, that Francisco were here to
advise MS"
If l mistake not, the man whose
name you but now mentioned has been
standing upon the opposite side Of the
street for the last five minutes, senor.''
and Jose, with slight motion of his
head. indicated the direction in winch
he wished his companion to look.
The saints be praiscdl lis hep joy
fully exclaimed Valdcs Haas, recog-
nizing ut once the form of his friend
and comradc. "You remain here while
speak with him." So saying, the oil
Ger walked leisurcly across the thor
ouglifarc, as though he had no other
object in view than to report To his
superior the trivial events of his watch.
That Francisco was startled ut the
information which Valdes had to give
him, it is needless to say. lie paused
for moment in deep thought ere he
opened his lips.
Can the man who has broken faith
with one employer be trusted to prove
true to another?" he asked.
Il will wager my life, Francisco. that
Jose Calvo is loyal TO our cause" was
the prompt reply.
Then tell him at once to seek out