The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-11
BY ..
RICHARD HARDING DAVIS

orcr?' demanded Stuart. anxiously. and
IKE her ON board the yacht there? 1t IL
tea miles to Bccas ami the roads are very
bad"
Clay SAYS we could never get her through
tho city McWilliams answered. W.
should have 10 fight all the way. But the
city to the south is deserted. and by going
out by the back roads. we can make Bocas
10y 10 o'clock tonight. The yacht should
reach there b. ="
You are right. go back. 1 will call of
some of my men. The rest must hold this
mob back until you start: then 1 will fol-
low with the Others, Where is Miss Hope?'
cont know. Clay is frantic. Her
groom says she is somewhere in the palace
Hurry Stuart commanded. IF Men
doZa gets here before Nine. Alvarez leaves,
it will be too late"
MacWilliams sprang up the steps of the
palace. and stuart. calling TO the men near
est him to follow. started after him on a
As Stuart entered the palace with his men
at his heels. Clay was hurrying from its
rear entrance along the upper hall. and
Hope and Nine. Alvarez were leaving
Inc apartments Of the latter at its front.
They met at the top OF the main stairway
just "a Stuart put his foot on Its lower
step. The young Englishman heard the
CHATTER Of his men following close behind
him and leaped eagerly forward. Half way
to the top the noise behind him ceased. and
u lllilS MS ntfl QUICKLY ne looked hack
oyer his shoulder and saw that the men had
halted at the foot OF the stairs and stood
huddled together in disorder looking I'D at
him. Stuart glanced over their heads and
down the hallway to the garden beyond to
see If they were followed but the mob still
fought from the outer side of the barricade.
He waved his sword impatientiy and started
forward again. Come on!' he shouted.
But the men below him did not move. Stu
art halted once more and this time turned
about and looked down upon them with snr-
prise and anger. There was not one OF
them he could not have called nv name.
He knew all their troubles. their love az
fairs. even. They came to him for COM
foit ana advice. and to beg for money. He
had regarded them as HE children, and he
was proud of them as soldiers becaus thew
were the work of his hands.
So. instead of a sharp he asked.
'Nha is it, In surprise. and stared NJ
them wondering. He could not or would
not comprehend. even though he saw that
those In the front rank were pushing back
and those behind were urging them for
ward. The muzzles of their carbine. were
directed at every point. and on their face,
fear and hate and cowardice were written
IN varying likenesses.
"Nhat Goes this mean'' Stuart demanded.
Sharply. nat are you waiting for?
clay had just reached the ton OF IN.
stairs. He saw Nine. Alvarez and Hon
coming toward him. and at the sigh. of
HOPE ne gave an exclamation Of relief.
Then his eyes turned and fell on the tab
ieal belo". on Stuarts back. as he stood
confronting the men. and on their scoyIiug
upturned faces and half lifted carbines
Clay had lived for a longer time among
SpInish-Americans than had the EnpIIs,
subaltern. or else he was the quicker of tina
NV" 1" believe IN evil and ingratit,de for
ne gave a cry Of warming. and motione; the
women away.
STUART he cried. Come away. for
Gods sake. what are you doing? Come
back ~ .
The Enslishman started at the sound Of
MS iiielli voice. but he cid not turn his
mead. lie began 10 descend the stair, slow
~ d "'ep at 1t tiinc. staring at the mob 80
i"rctiN that they shrank back before the
look of wounded pride and anger in his eyes
Those i'll the rear raised and IaveraI ,be;r
rifles. without ak!ng his eyes from theirs.
stuart crew his revolver. and with his
sworn swinging from its wrist-strap poiutpI
his weapon at the mass below him.
what Goes tins mean" he demanded.
Is thi- mUtinyT'
\ voice from the rear OF the crow of men
Sariekei: Death to the Spanish woman.
rta'n 10 an traitors. Long live Mendcza,'
anu u" 'thefs echoed the cry in chorus.
clay sprans Gown the broad stairs ..,lltn,
come TO me-" but before he could rsnrb
Stuart. a woman's voice rang out in a long
terrible cry OF terror. a cry that was neith-
er a prayer nor an imprecation. but which
held the agony of both. Stuart started and :
looked up % where Nine Alvarez had
thrown herself toward hin, across the
broad ba!ustrade OF the stairway. She was
silent win f'"i Az her hand clutched 1T
TIE az. as -i'- w. ST. Ni!iI, to hi,
tcuv''"rt f"o2. - 49,.