The Washington weekly post., 1899-10-17

Panama presented as undignihed a spec
tacle as could be very well conceived. He
had been chloroformed.
Ill
II was a little later in the evening Tbs
Plenipotentary from Caracas called &c
see his colleague from Panama He
showed himself upstairs In the informal
fashion which obtained in the diplomatic
circles in which he had been wont &c
move. He even turned the handle OF hi:
colleagues door without troubling to an.
nounee his arrival.
Dim, are you busy-eh?" He paused
for an sppreciable instant to remove ths
cigar from between his lips There was
no answer. NO? Right / gone in
He went into stare in amaZement al
what he saw
"What-what in dunder! Drunk? Al.
ready? What a mani
further examination caused doubts te
cross his mind.
He does not look as II he was drunk.
did not dink dere was enough drink In de
world to make Dim O'Rourke so drunk as
dis; dere Is Tot enough money in Banana
TO bay for IL. Died? Died TO his chair:
What in dunder? Dere is-dere is a little
game here. All! He wakes! Dat is bet.
ter"
slight eonvulsiye movement passed
over Don Joaquim's body. His limbs
twitched. There seemed to be a slight at
tempt at respiration. His colleague OBJ
served these signs with interest; he treat
ed him to a gentle shaking.
Dim, you are awake? No? All right
you will be soon. Berhaps if I were tC
dake away dis cord it would be as we'll
Dere is sOmeding here a liddle funny. We
shall see. Ny dear life, il is so Digit dis
cord, it is a wonder it has not cut him
half in two. Do cut it is de best
The Plenipotentiary from Caracas took
penknife from his pocket-a really serv-
iceable article. with a blade some seven
or eight inches long. He cut the cord al
Don Joaquin back with but touch
from its razor-Iike edge. So sudden, IN
deed, was the parting of the strands, and
the captives consequent release. that be
fore Don Martinez was prepared for such
an eventuality, the Plenipotentiary from
Panama tumbled face forward on to the
floor. The tall, eolleeted-looking gentle
man, with the cigar between his teeth
and the cleaning steel in his hand
showed no sign of being distressed by
lIllS unlOWd1Q little lnciuent-
Dat do him good; shake him up; rouse
his sluggish liver"
Something seemed to have done him
good. Either the release from CALLING
bondage or the shock of the tumble. Or
perhaps. the effects of the drug were
wearing off. At any rate, so soon as he
reached the floor he began to show signs
of objecting to the position in which he
lay. Presently he rolled over on to his
back. and finally raised himself TO a sit
ting posture. Looking about him with
not unnatural bewiIderment, he pressed
both palms to his throbbing temples.
THE holy saints And if there's snoth-
er head like mine I'd like to see the man
as carries it upon his shoulders"
"A liddle ill-eh. Dim?"
Don Joaquin twisted round his head
with a degree of celebrity which suggested
that he had already proceeded some dis
tance on the road to recovery.
You're still there? You're still there?''
ITO be sure. Where would l be if not
near my friend when he's in liddle trou-
ble-eh?"
by the-by the living jingo, you're "a
and calm as if it wasn't straight from
hell you've come
Dat so? Still feeling a liddle so-so-
eh, Dim?'
I'm feeling a good deal more than a
little $3.50, and I'm likely TO keep on feel
ing till I've had few words with you.
It's about my turn to talk. Blessed st.
Patrick, the head I've on mep'
The Plenipotentiary from Panama
scrambled to his feet. 1t was a process
not altogether unattended with difficulty.
When he attained to a perpendicular
position he sWayed to and fro in a man
ner which suggested fresh descent. Don
Martinez advanced with the apparent in
tention of helping him to stand. But the
other would have none of him. His
friendly design had a restorative effect
which was possibly unintended. Don
Joaquin swung round on his heels with
unexpected agility. With fists clenched
he stood and glared at him.
Keep off! Keep away with you! If
you so much as touch me with one of
your dirty fingers I'll prove to you that
am still d man"
You're more than a man, my DIM
Singer! Let the sneers slip off the
tongue of you! I'm laughing! Maybe
you'll be before this meeting rises. Stand
where you are"
I'm standing"
'"Then keep standing"
The Plenipotentiary from Panama, with
a step which was still little uncertain,
moved toward the door. He turned the
key; took it from the lock; placed it in
his pocket His colleague observed him
with cigar held between his fingers
For what do you lock the door. Dim?"
ITO keep you from going through 1t.
Maybe, this time. it was through TIE
door you came, for a change"
lit is generally through the door that
l do GONE
Except when you come through the
window"
Just so. Except But that is not often.
II is some time since l game through
window"
About an hour ago-or it may be two.
You sausage-faced Dutchman, why, it's
still gapirg!'
One OF the windows was wide open. He
closed it with an amount of bang and
clatter which was, perhaps, little more
than was needed.
1T is q liddle joking you are-eh, Dim?
A kind of game you have wild meY'
You've your own notions of a game;
by the saints in Paradise, you have!' He
GldDtGu
turn cut, before we're through, that l
have mine Now, you lOng-legged black
guard, I'll give you one fair chance. Have
you took it?'
DOCK what? De whisky?"
"The whisky to blazes. You know very
well what I'm after. None of your fool
ing"
ITS you who have done all de fooling
up 90 now
I'm coming TO business soon. Answer
me. Have you took the reaty?''
At the mention OF the word treaty
siight alteration took place In the others
derre amor. He became more alert; a lit
tie eager-a change which was not con-
cealed by the ostentauous air of indif-
ference with which he replaced the cigar
between his lips.
1t is you who doOk the dready. Yet
you dold you did not. ] know, positively,
dat is lie"
Quit it! You've been through that al
readyr'
"AIreadv? When already? II is about