The Van Buren press., 1903-09-05
~. oo,ono, shrugged his shoulders


Colonel" said the tall American,
"I am not coward. You know that.
I'm willing to fight you TO the last
ditch. But what's the use of killing
off a lot of people? What's all the
trouble about, anyhow? You are go
ing to crush me because your daugh-
ter loves me and love her. You want
10 force her into a marriage with a
contemplate old octogenarlan that
she despises. You envy me the hold
have on the people here. You have
a prejudice against me because l am
an American, and you want TO rum
me. Every cent | have in the Worlu
is invested here I've got to hight Ior
my rights If you force me TO, but
would prefer some other way.
There is" said the colonel. There
is. Leave the country. Go away.
Never see my daughter again. Never
come back"
'Ill not do that" said the Ameri-
can, shortly.
your revolution? Very well. That
is the way it shall appear. | have the
favor of the president. Don Miguel,
that my undutiful daughter refuses to
marry, is what you call big gun
here You will be crushed, Senior Mar
tin 1t is sad"
Il intended to start no revolution,
Senior Colonel, and you know 1t. That
scamp of Miguel and you have liked
up little conspiracy against me, and
you know that, too You were going
to come down on my people suddenly,
there would have been a fight, and
when it was all over my places would
have been in ruins, my people killed,
and myself either dead or a fugitive.
| tried to protect myself. | secured
arms and when you came | was going
to meet force with force. | had hoped
that my forces would be so much
stronger than yours that | could drive
you back and force you to give 1t up.
/ This tilibuster here is the only man
I that can get arms into this country
hired him first and thought that as
you couldn't secure rifles from any
body else you would be badly off. Bat
he has sold to you, too, and our forces
won't be so badly matched, I'll give
you a good fight, Senor Colonel"
The colonel laughed. Yes" he
said your countryman was so good
as to sell me guns, too, and many
cartridges. That is one nice thing
about Gringoes. They will sell their
souls, their friends, anything for gold.
1t is we'll"
/ The flibuster leaned wearily on the
bar. Il haven't had my pay from you.
either, Senor Colonel"
NO" said the colonel "but you
shall. Let me see | bought Of you
5000 rifles and 100000 of the cart
ridges"
You bought" said the filibuster,
5000 loayes Of bread and 100000
dried fish"
The colonel laughed. 81 need not
explain, he SAID bowing mockiugly
1 to Martin, you know 1t is the custom
in these countries where governments
do not like things like revolutions.
We do not say rifles or cartridges.
They are such wicked words A spy
may be hanging around and he might
hear, That would be bad so we say
bread and fish"
Extremely interesting" said Mar
tin.
Il didn't understand your colouul-
allsms, put in the filibuster, lazily.
Your men came to me and ordered
bread and fish. filled the order. The
bread and fish were unloaded from
the Schooner last night Probably
you have heard from your men to-
day or the boxes were not to be
opened until tonight"
The colonel's face was white anG
he tremblCd. you sold me fish and
| bread?"
Yes" said the nlibuster You
should have beenmore explicit Some
times ! am little obtuse."
Martins face was glowing. lie
grabbed the flibusters hand and
pumped it up and down. Bully for
you. old man" he gasped "Senor
Colonel he said, I'VE win go on with
the war You must be careful in
shooting that bread and those dried
Ash at US, though. Nothing is worse
than dyspepsia, Go on, by oil means.
with your original plans. intend to
let events have their course. But by
the time your arms have arrived the
government will be overthrown and
your old enemy and my friend Torres
will be president"
"Scnor Martin gasped the colonel
II am sure my daughter would be
pleased to have YOU call on us This
afternoon. WIN YOU not do my Door
house the honor Of dining with us to-
night? All, thank YOU viii 10 and
tell my daughter you are coming"
llowalked hurricdly out Of the cafe
81 don't know what to say" cqsped
Martin you'll forgive me what I
said, won't you? didn know. And
It meant so much to me-"
20, It's all right" replied the GII.
buster 81 don't mind I'm used to
everything It's all In the game"
I'm sure Of one thing" went on
Martin "and that is that blood IL
thicker than water It must have
been an American that said that
Chicago Tribune.