The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-08-27

are in cipher, which am not supposed
to know anything about"
Don't let the cipher trouble you, :"
he replied, laughing. 81 have the
key to their cipher all right"
Gas to who l am" he continued,
'my names Macomber. | am the
correspondent of the -." He
named an American journal. "News
as to the whereabouts of the Spanish
torpedo boats and those cruisers
would be valuable just now, not only
to my paper, but to the American
navy at Key West. Now you are an
American and good patriot, l dare
say. Will you not help us out?"
'Tm good patriot" said /. "And
am also an honest man, employed
here to do certain duty, which 1 will
not betray."
''You will not help me then? Very
well, l shall examine your tapes by
force"
cit is not my business to fight for
Spain," said |. Il have no force to
resist you, but I will not help you.
''Thanks. That's all l ask. Just
you sit quiet"
500 you think you can read our
tapes?" l asked, incredulously.
Sure. was cable operator three
years"
But where did you get your cipher
key?"
That's matter that was arranged
in Havana three months ago. Your
tape bobbins for the current week
are in the table drawer, l presumed"
Look for yourself" I said. "But
my fellow-Operator here is Spaniard.
| do not speak for him."
''Senor Merode, said in Spanish,
these gentlemen wish to see the rec
ord tapes"
Mefode had stood listening, making
ont what we said with difficulty.
"Nunca!' (NeverD he exclaimed, ex-
citedly, and made Jump for the big
table d. aver, with some notion, |
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 VIC
lently backward on the floor and drew
his machete.
Don't hurt him, Luiz!" shouted
Macomber, and then, after a steady
6 lance atme, he stepped to the drawer
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, if you would; but at
least oblige me by turning up the
lamp little and placing it on the
table here"
Thanks" he went on, when I had
and began rapidly unrolling
the tape through his fingers. He
read well and fast, and his running
amused me.
ooh, this is a dandy siphon of
yours, isn't i'll" "What ails your
mouse mill?" ''Say, friend, your rec
ord here looks like the teeth of an old
dull buck-saw." "Your inks coagu
lated"
1 sat back and quietly looked on.
Merode still lay on the floor. The
Cuban stood watching us both; if
Merode stirred, he shook his machete
1t him. Thus, fully an hour passed;
t seemed much more than an hour,
indeed, before our American visitor
ound what he sought.
"Ah!" he exclaimed at last. "Here
We are! So the Vizcaya and Oquendo
eft Puerto Rico for st. Vincent last
sunday. Good! Blanco is informed
hat the torpedo flotilla is going to
1t. Vincent, too, instead of coming to
Havana"
"Thats all I wanted to know" he
turning to me. "Sorry to
cave your tapes in such q mess, but I
eally cannot stop to roll them up
gain, for l must be we'll out to sea
'efore daylight. Oblige us now, both
# you, by remaining quiet here after
ie bid you good night"
But just then there was a new noise
outside. The door opening to the
treet was flung back, and there stood
Spanish lieutenant from the fort,
With half dozen soldiers at his back!
'or the Spanish sentry-a boy of IS
whom they had gagged and tied up
Inside the house, had proved more
imble than they had thought him.
lie had worked himself loose and had
TN to the fort for aid.
The Cuban turned instantly, killed
he lieutenant with swing of his
lachete and was at once shot down
y soldier who fired over the shout
er of his falling officer.
Macomb showed better Judgment,
less courage; he dashed the lamp
ut and grasped me by the arm. "Help
he out, he said.
1t would be difficult for anyone to
9sist the appeal of a fellow country
ian at such Il time. While the SOL
orc r,,,l,