River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-09-03
A SLIGHT
MISUNDERSTANDING
By HENRY HUMIsToN.

MANUEL, the fat bartender in
IVE the Cafe Pasaje, looked sharp
ly at the two Americans leaning
against the bar, AMI when he was
sure that he was unobserved he called
his patron saint to witness, and then
spit viciously in the direction of the
hated Gringoes. Outside the white
tropical sunlight danced in the de-
serted streets of La Sinceridad. A
soldier was sleeping in a doorway,
and a small child, very airily attired,
peered curiously in at the door of the
cafe at the two strangers. One OF the
Americans was tall and straight and
well groomed. The other mans
o4othes bore mute evidence to having
Teen slept In many times. The man
himself looked badly In need OF
shave; he was pale and nervous, and
smoked necessarily, lighting one
cigaret from the butt of the other.
Bob" said the tall American, Il
have heard all sorts of rumors. Did
you sell me out! AS man to man, as
fellow countrymen, / beg of you to be
square with me now if you haven't
what l am to expect Have you sold
me OUT"
The man in the much worn Broad
way suit shrugged his shoulders.
Didn't you get, the rifles you bought
of me?"
"Why, yes; my men have 1000
Mausers now, thanks to you.
But"
Didn't your gang get the cartridges,
l put ashore from the fishing boat
last tuesday,"
Eyes, we got the cartridges and the
two rapid fire guns that you brought
to us, too, although where you got
them l can't imagine"
you gave me an order for 1000
rifles and 100000 rounds of cartridges.
l delivered the goods. You say you
got 'em. What's the kick?"
Simply this" went on the other
man. you delivered the goods you
promised. But you are q filiEuster.
A flibuster l understand generally
plays fast and loose. He takes money
from all sides. / don't say you have
done this, but I've been told so. You
sold me guns. I'm told you've sold
guns and cartridges to Col. Gonzales,
too Consequently he's ready to
strike a blow, and I've got to fight,
when l thought that by getting a well
equipped little army together Con-
zales would be afraid to start any
trouble. / engaged you first. You
were my agent. You had TO right to
L. Is
But what could l expect fill"
Zone mans gold is as good as
another's, isn't it?" asked the fill
buster.
Eyes," answered the tall Ameri-
can, sulkily, ito a man who doesn't
know what honor is"
I'm other words, filibuster," said
the short man.
Exactly"
The disreputable man smiled sadly
and lit fresh cigaret.
There comes your other master"
went on the tall American. There's
Gonzales He doesn't know, perhaps.
that you have been playing fast and
loose with us both. Why don't you
tell him? 1t will make no difference.
though. If he is ready to fight, he'll
fight. | know what it means in the
end. It means ruin to me, that's all.
If 1 could have won out by that little
trick l was planning to turn on him
IL would have settled everything. But
anyhow, l played the man; / wasn't
a sneak and a coward that"
"Just cut that out for the time be-
ing" said the filibuster, heres Con
zales."
The colonel entered the cafe blink
ing his eyes like an owl as he stepped
from the brilliantly lighted street into
the cool darkness of the cafe. He
stopped in establishment when he saw
the filibuster and Bob Nelson to-
gether The filibuster called him
over.
Colonel" said the flibuster, my
friend, Mr.. Martin. thought l ought 20
acuuaint you with the fact that have
sold him 1900 stands of arms and
cartridges to match"