The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-07-29

bic company for me to give such lntor-
nation, | replied. Besides, all these
Spanish government messages are in
cipher, which | am not supposed to
know anything about.
Don't let the cipher trouble you,
he replied laughing IL have the key to
their cipher all right
GAS to who l am, he continued,
my names Macomber. l am the cor
respondent of the -" He named an
American journal. News as to the
whereabouts of the Spanish torpedo
boats and those cruisers would be valu-
able just now, not only to my paper,
but to the American navy at Key West.
Now, you are an American, and "a good
patriot, dare say. Will you help US
out?''
I'm good patriot, said l. And
am also an honest man, employed here 3
to do certain duty, which | will not
betray"
"You will not help me, then? Very
well, l shall examine your tapes by
force.
ut is not my business to fight for
Spain, " said l. IL have no force to re-
sist you, but will not help you"
Thanks That's all ask. Just you
sit quiet. "
do you think you can read our
tapes2" asked incredulously.
Sure. was cable operator three
years.
But where did you get your cipher
key?''
That's a matter that was arranged
! -,
tape bobbins for the current week are in
the table drawer, presume9"
Look for yourself eaid. But
my fellow operator here is Spaniard
/ do not speak for him. Senior Merode, "
l said in Spanish, these gentlemen
wish to see the record tapes.
Merode had stood listening, making
out what we said with difficulty.
"Nuncar' (never) he exclaimed excited
ly and made 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
glance at me, he stepped to the drawer
himself and took out the rolls of tape.
This will be a somewhat long and
tedious business" he remarked, begin
ming to unroll one of them. You might
help me if you would, but at least
oblige me by turning up the lamp lit
tie and placing it ON the table here.
: Thanks, he went ON when l had
! complied and he began rapidly unrolling
the tape through his fingers. He read
well and fast, and his running comment
amused me-
T "Oh, this is dandy siphon of yours
5 isn't itP' what ails your mouse mill!"
Say, friend, your record here looks
! like the teeth of an old, dull buck saw. "
Your inks coagulated.
. sat back and quietly looked on.
o Merode still lay ON the floor. The Gu
i; ban stood watching us both. If Merode
l. stirred, he shook his machete at him.
o Thus fully an hour passed. 1t seemed
o much more than an hour indeed before
T our American visitor found what he
: sought.
d "Ahp' he exclaimed at last. Here
we are. So the Vizcaya and Oquendo
e left Porto Rico for St. Vincent last
l. Sunday Good. Blanco is informed that
It the torpedo fotilla is going to st. Vim
y cent too, instead of coming to Havana
y That's all l wanted to know" he
a continued, turning to me, Sorry to
L leave your tapes in such mess, but
l. really cannot stop TO roll them up
h again. for must be we'll out to sea be-
fore daylight. Oblige us now, both of
& you, by remaining quiet here after we
re bid you good night.
# But Just then there was new noise
g outside The door opening to the street
IS was flung hack, and there stood Span
1t ish lieutenant from the fort, with hall
a dozen soldiers at his back for the
le Spanish sentry-a boy of lS-whom
f. they had gagged and tied up outside OF
le the house. had proved more nimblC
e. than they had thought him. He hac
ii worked himself loose and had run tC
ID the fort for aid.
N The Cuban turned instantly, killed
I'd the lieutenant with a swing of his ma
W chete and was at once shot down by {
soldier who fired over the shoulder o.
st his falling officer.
t, Macomber showed better judgment i
TO less courage. He dashed the lamp on
IS. and grasped me by the arm. Help m,
d, out, b" he said.
"A 1t would be difficult for any one Il
or resist the appeal Of fellow countrymal
p at such a time. While the soldiers rushed
nd in, tramping and falling over the slail
an men and Merode pulled the American
IS, after me through door, back Of tn
tables, which opened into our batter.
re room. In this back room was a window
de looking ont ON the harbor side, iron
re which Macomber swung in an instan
ng and decamped without a word. ha
tie time TO get forward into the cable roor
,e- before Merode, who had regained hi
- feet, struck match and relighted tn
H. lomp M tho uraUsOma Snpptap Gle yhic