The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-15

Our Consul here told us at the landing
place." continued the Lieutenant in AZ ag-
grieved tone, 'that a General Mendoza was
in power. and that ] had better report 10
him., and then ten minutes later I hear that
he is dead and that a General Rojas is Presi-
dent, but that a man named Clay has made
himself dictator. Ny instructions are to
] recognize no belligerents. but to report to
the Government party. Now, who Is the
Government party?"
Clay brought the red : barred flag
down with q Jerk, and ripped 1t free from
the halyards. Kirkland and the two boys
were watching him with amused smiles.
Il appreciate your difficulty h said.
President Alvarez is dead, and General
| Mendoza, who tried to make himself Die
tator, Is also dead, and the real President.
General Rojas. is still in Jail. So at present
I suppose that l represent the Government
party, at least 1 am the man named Clay.
1t hadn't occurred to me before. but, until
ROjas is free. I guess 1 am the Dictator of
blanche. Is Madame Alvarez on board your
ship"
Yes, she Is with US" the officer replied.
in some confusion. Excuse me-are YOU
the three gentlemen who took her to the
yacht? L am afraid 1 spoke rather hastily
Just now, but you are not In uniform. and
the Government seems to change so quickly
down here that a stranger finds 1t hard to
keep up with it
Six of the native officers had approached
as the Lieutenant was speaking and saluted
Clay gravely. I'VE have followed your in
structions,' one of them said, and the reg
lments are ready to march with the pris-
oners. Have You any further orders for
tuscan We deliver anv messages to Gem
eral Rojas?"
Present my congratulations TO General
Rojas. and best wishes said Clay. And
tell him for me that it would pleas. me
.anfI.- & H. -1,r1 -
citizen named Burke, who is at present In
the Quartet. And that 1 wish him to pro-
mote all of you gentlemen one grade and
give each Of you the Star of blanche. Tell
him that In my opinion you have deserved
even higher reward and honor at his
hands"
The boy-lieutenants broke out into :.
chorus of delighted thanks. They assured
Clay that he. was most generous: that he
overwhelmed them. and that it was honor
enough for them that they had served IN
der him. But Clay laughed and drove them
off with a paternal wave of the hand.
The officer from the man-of-war listened
with an uncomfortable sense of having
Numbered in his manner, toward this DOW
der-splashed young man who set American
citizens at liberty and created Captains by
the half dozen at a time.
Are you from the States?' he asked. as
they moved toward the man-of-war's men.
II am. thank God. Why not?"
Il thought you were, but you saluted
like an ~Englishman."
Il was an officer in the English
army once in the Soudan, when they were
short of officers Clay shook his head and
looked wistfully at the ranks of the blue
jackets drawn up on either side of them.
The horses had been brought out and Lang
ham and MacWilliams were waiting for
him to mount. Il have worn several uni
forms since l was a boy" said Clay But
never that of my own country"
The people were cheering him from every
part Of the square. Women waved their