The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1904-11-17
A Schoolgirl DiD|omat
Iorigtnal.l

On a steamer about 10 leave the 18TH
mus of Panama a nun. an American.
was leaning over the. rail, watching
the people on the wharf. when a car
riagc drove up and a lady alighted and
ain aboard. AS she walked up the
ganSway size happened to raise her
eyes. and they lighted upon the Amer
lean. 1t seemed to him as il there was
something conscious in the look, some-
thing 10 indicate that she had seen him
! before. He hoped he WAS not wrong
in his inference, for the lady was
young and a perfect type of a Spanish
American beauty.
The evening after sailing was Dalmy,
and u half noon appeared on the merid-
IAN. Most of the passengers We're on
deck, including the American and the
Spanish senorita. The former was pac-
ing the deck, the latter sitting in a
steamer chair. He walked near the
girl and occasionally glanced at her,
but She did not notice him. Suddenly
the wind produced by the motion of
the steamer took off a bit of lace that
had been wrapped about her head and
throat. The American caught it and.
taking it to her, delivered it with a pro
found bow
Thank you, signor," she said. then
in a low voice: 81 wish to a some
speech with you and without attract
ing attention. | let my lace headdress
go on purpose. DO not remain by me
long enough to attract attention. but
10 .ftn, ,II tIA.. ,,.rI .-a IN
their berths. 1 will be here. Come
then"
Certainly. senrorita." And. lifting
his hat. he continued his walk.
The passengers turned in early, and
by 10 o'clock the last one. except the
senoriti. had left the decl. Then the
American joined her.
you are Mr.. Worthington Curtis"
she said.
81 am he replied, much surprised.
"You are on your way to Washington
with important dispatches from the
government of Colombia"
Really
Don't deny it. ! would know moth
ing about it or everything. | nov ev-
erything. An effort is To be made be-
fore You reach Washington TO relieve
you Of your papers. It is very impor-
tant 10 Colombia that they should 20
through. ] am going to Try TO foil those
who are On your track
""Tl.ey! Who are thcy!"
"TlIry are not aboard the ship, but
their representative is"
"AHd hat representatives."
SI x. Gntfn. chat xAtU SI,ottIJ 49,
ignorant of his or her identity. | will
not tell You the sex. If You knew you
would reveal the knowledge"
but could | not the better protect
myself?"
THAT is the Americans view of it.
We Spanish people are so deeply verscd
in ~trrachery as to consider your iglo-
rance of your enemy an advantage It
will throw that enemy eff his or lIrr
guard. | will come in MS a third per
son to take advantage of IT,"
Il see. But who sent you on this
mission?"
the Colombian government is Interested
in your getting through with your dis
patches"
did you come on the ship especially
to aid me?"
mo. l am going to New York to
school"
HIN. Rather a ~precocious .chool-
girl. Where are your credentials"
What credentials?"
You must have a letter TO me from
those who sent me hat you are here to
aid mo"
Il have not"
Then | must decline to trust you
"You don't need to trust me-. When
I point out a danger. avoid it. That is
not trusting me"
Curtis ended the interview by thank
ing her politely for her interest in him
and went below. The next morning a
steward handed him IA note, unsigned,
which read:
You will be approached by q man this
evening who will endeavor to lure you to
the stern of the ship, Do not go with him
True enough, as Curtis was smoking
on deck a man opened conversation rs
to the direction of the gulf stream.
After some talk he proposed to Curtis
to walk to the stern to observe n ploS-
phorescence in the wake of the ship.
Curtis declined to go and from that
moment placed faith in what he called
the senorita. Next came a note advis-
Ing him to keep his dispatches on his
person for the rest of the journey. He
hesitated for some time and then de-
cided TO take the advice
The night before reaching he port
of New York Curtis was sitting with
the schoolgirl" in a retired place on
deck. He dropped several hints that it
was time for all passengers to be in
bed. but the senorita seemed inclined
! to sit late. Suddenly Curtis felt himself
embraced by an iron grip and was pow
erless to move. The senorita whipped
out a hottie from a pocket in her dress
and. saturating q handkerchief with 1t,
held ii against his face.
When the dispatch bearer came to
himself he was lying in his berth and
the ship was lying in the harbor wait