The Minneapolis journal., 1904-12-31

II.
The White House at San Salvador
looks about as much like the White
Iouse at Washington as st. Paul g
cathedral looks like the Moulin Rouge. |
It is the only brick building in town,
is low enough to resist earthquakes,
and has two sentry boxes projecting
from its facade like warts. a soldier
clad only. in cotton. trousers and belt
me IlenV with t al a loud sFQuien f Yivafs' ee''
Amigo I replied, swinging from
my mule.
He came down and looked at my pass,
a proceeding which I endured without
Eyareo had
to have mastered his handwriting.
. Shall you want a man with yous"
asked the soldier.
t'"'No,' I replied. ct know the room
to toJ get the the snuff Efa box Which T his excelI.
ency requires. :" !.
'HBut the sunff box is in the vault. :"
eyes; his excellency gave me the
gos" quite as much as they hate them,
and I passed without further question
ing. Immediately after crossing the
threshold turned to the right and en-
tered Rivas bedroom. I had no plans
Sa 1sS hft sa Rs sEs gans to
whatever foundation opportunity Of.
fers9 I knew that the president must
bring the packet to that apartment, and
I hoped for the rest.
53eS The Ieom was brilliantly nia M lighted when
cut the electric wires close to the low
ceiling. Then I sat down to wait in the
darkness. Two methods suggested
themselves to me as promising initial
SUCCESS; chose the simpler. Rivas
a ~ o tSa eoRe ~ Rs soan he
if he could help it, and there was
good chance that he would have the let
tiers in his hand ready for the big safe
that had been placed in the wall At the
sound Of his footsteps I had but to
plant myself lta near the deer seize what
tie hall and run as tho the devil were
latter me. =
I have sale, the plan was simple; the
thing which frustrated it was simpler.
Rivas had hardly set foot in the room
when he slammed the door shut and
locked it. I heard him withdraw the
key. I was trapped.
II did not breathe aloud once. Rivas
tried to turn on the light and swore
audibly when he found that he could
not. I hugged the wall in silence. If
he rang for servants I should have to
fight for it. I had neglected to cut
the wire that connected the push-but-
ton with the bell below. ID
to make sure of his letters first. Even
more important than 7 had thought
these letters, since having them made
him suspicious the moment the lights
failed. heard him tumble in his
elothing: Was he replacing the packet
or drawing out a revolver9
The answer to my question was not
long in coming. The rattle Of matches
in box came to my ears, and then
the touch, Of his fingers against the
pasteboard. There was but thing
for me to do and that was to remain
still. If he was facing away when
the match ignited I might escape de-
; lection; if not should have to spring
tiny illumination showed me his ex-
cellency standing before the safe fin
gering the combination. A second
! later the match went out. Evidently it
had burned long enough. 7 heard the
hinges squeak as the ponderous door
swung open.
,.tRy Riyas was ga about ;t,t to p9t the bundle Of
would be beyond my reach forever.
. Under such circumstances it is tho
thought Of violence which first occurs
to a man. was about to launch my
self upon his excellency when less
risky plan suggested ITSELF; I dropped
to my hands and knees and then
crawled rapidly across the floor. The
ReesasP mass v d4opPia fHPR K for tt the his p9s
when he began turning the combination.
When was within five feet Of him a
board creaked. Rivas turned toward
the door Of the room, and, rising to
crouched there with outstretched
hands.
I had not long to wait. Alarmed at
the noise, Rivas threw the packet into
I forgot that my life depended on the
rapldity Of my movements. The hinge
creaked again. i thrust out my leg,
intending to interpose my foot, but too
clang and I heard the bolts shoot into
their places. .-.-.....
So great headway may man get
dreadful crash Of that iron did not i'm
packet. I continued to feel about until
T had found it-a little roll containing
three or four letters bound with a rub
Der band. Once I had that roll in my
hand my mind flew back to the plight IN
which I had gotten myself. Only the
determined use Of all my mental force
prevented my yielding to despair and
throwing myself against the door. "If
/ you do that,'' I Said to myself, the
president will hear you and you will be
Shot at once. If you restrain yourself
you have left at least an hour Of life.
In. that hour someone may open the
snfe.''
Waiting grew very hard, however
The air that I was able to draw into my
lungs seemed to do me no good, and
both my head and my chest began to
aehe IF fFightfqllg grew dizzy na too
that I might not let them fall. An in
stant later I heard voices. The presi
dent must have rung for lights.
sfSome one has cut the wiresl'
heard him exclaim loudly. It was
only when he spoke at the top Of his
voice that I could distinguish what ht
was saying.
After a time I heard him rage,
Didn It come Quit Then there was
some one herel'
The sentry had reported my passing
probably even the fact that I haG
| entered the bedroom. What an ac
cursed fool | had been not to look be
hind me as [ came into the building
! But then I had been an accursed foo
! from the beginning and knave
oa+ ;o hoy had undertaken tf