Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-06-25


will not betray."
"You will not help me, then? Very
we'll, l shall examine your tapes by
force"
at is not my business to fight fol
Spain," said 1. ~ have no force to
resist you, but will not help you"
"Thanks. That's all ask. just
you sit quiet"
"Do you think you can read our
tapes?" 1 asked, incredulously.
"Sure. I was cable operator
three years."
"But where did you get your cipher
key?'
"That's a matter that was arranged
in Havana, three months ago. Your
tape bobbins for the current week are
in the table drawer, I presume ?"
"Look for YOURSELF" 1 said. "But
my fellow operator here is Spaniard
1 do not speak for him."
"Senor Merode," I said in Spanish,
"these gentlemen wish to see the re-
cord tapes"
Merode had stood listening, making
out what we said with difficulty.
"Nunca !" Never y he exclaimed, ex-
citedly, "and made a jump for the big
table drawer, with some notion, l
think, of destroying the tapes. He
was plucky fellow. But the Cuban
seized him by the collar before he could
open the drawer, flung him violently
backward on the floor, and drew his
machete.
"Don't hurt him, Luiz!" shouted !''
Macomber, and then, after a steady
glance at me, he stepped to the draw
er himself and took out the rolls OF
tape.
"This will be somewhat long and
tedious business" he remarked, be-
ginning to unroll one of them. "You
might help me fyou W aid; but at
least oblige me by turning up the
lamp little and placing it on the
table here"
"Thanks," he went on, when had
complied, and began rapidly unrolling
the tape through his fingers. He read
well and fast, and his running COM
ment amused me
"Oh, this is a dandy siphon of yours,
isn't it," What ails your mouse mill y
"Say, friend, your record here looks
like the teeth of an old dull buck-saw." ."
"Your inks coagulated."
I sat back and quietly looked on.
Merode still lay on the floor. The
Cuban stood watching us both ; if Me-
rode stirred, he shook his machete at
him. Thus, fully an hour passed; ii
seemed much more than an hour, in
deed, before our American visitor
found what he sought.
"Ah !" he exclaimed at last. "Here
we are! So the Vizcaya and Oquendo
left Puerto Rico for St. Vincent last
Sunday. Good Blanco is informed
that the torpedo fotilla is going to
St. Vincent, too, instead of coming to
Havana.
"That's all wanted to know" be
continued, turning to me. "Sorry to
leave your tapes in such mess, but
really cannot stop to roll them up
again for 1 must be well out to sea
before daylight. Oblige us now, both
of you, by remaining quiet here after
we bid you good night"
But Just then there was a new noise
outside. The door opening to the
street was flung back, and there stood
a Spanish lieutenant from the fort
with half-a- dozen soldiers at his back
For the Spanish sentry-a boy of IS
whom they had gagged and tied up
outside the house, had proved more
nimble than they had thought him
He lad worked himself loose, and
had run to the fort for aid.
The Cuban turned instantly, killed
the lieutenant with a swing of his
macbete, and was at once shot down
by soldier who fired over the shoul'
der of his falling officer.
Macomber showed better judgment,
if less courage; he dashed the lamp
out and grasped me by the arm.
"Help me out" he said.
i 1t would be difficult tor anyone 10
resist the appeal of fellowcouutry'
man at such a time. While the sol.
diers rushed in trampling and falling
over the slain men and Merode, l pull,
ed the American after me through a
door, back of the tables, which opened
into our battery-room. In this back
room was a window looking out on
the harbor side, from which Macomber
swung in an instant and decamped
without word. l had time to get
forward into the cable-room before
Merode, who had regained his feet,
struck match and relighted the lamp.
Of the gruesome spectacle which the
light revealed I will not speak.
After the manner of Spanish justice,
both Merode and myself were put
under arrest, pending an investigation,
which showed that neither of us knew
anything about the affair. Yet the
commandant at Santiago suspected
that I had planned it, and sent me
under arrest to Havana, by steamer,
the following evening
expected to remain in Las Cabanas
for the rest of my days, but was dis
- y i