Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-09

chair. His delicate white hands Law aIons
the 1s arms ,s one OF thsp holding gold vim
between as n,,d his silk,stoSRsed legs. The Ola
vivid rays even in tbas noss s1oI pa ou The
young girl was sitting with her hands to
her temples and her Fellows on the Jong
table mnute lie exarhitiing the notioniess-
turned into stone te' ffa' sesine4 y nave
We entered quietly. and after moment
She ca a9ok bsr up an candid into my and
her head toward her father. She placed
clearly: 1l9s
BE welcome, my English cousin" and
tfen dropped her eyes again to the lizard:
She knew all about me from Carlos. The
man. of whom I had seen only the top of
his head, turned his chair suddenly and
rather small and round. with very firm flesh.
and very white plump hands He was
dressed In the blackT clothes of a Spanish
judge. On his round face there was al
the jaws of a pike-only more humorous:
He bowed httle exaggeratedly to me ana
said:
"Ah, We are that famous Mr.. Kemp"
I said that imagined him the more ia
nous Senior Juez O'Brien.
It's little use saying ye aren't famous famous,
he said His voice had the faint, Infinitely
sweet twang of certain Irishy; thing as
delicate and intangible as the scent Of lime
flowers. Our noble friend"-he Indicated
Carlos with a little f1utter of one white
hand-"has told me what make OF dare.
devil gallant We are; breaking the skulls or
half the Bow street runners for the sake
of a friend in distress. Well, 1 honor ye
for 1t; I've done as much myself. He
added, 'In the old days" and sighed.
you mean in the 49," said, a little In
solently.
O'Brien's eyes twinkled. To him, even
though he was now judge in Cuba, 1t was
an episode of herofsm of youth-of ro-
nance. in fact. So that, probably. he did
not resent my mention Of it.
Now, I'll make you fair Offer" O'Brien
said suddenly, after an intent study OF the
insolent glance that gave him. l disllked
him because I knew nothing about the sort
of man he was. And he gave me the Inn
preston that. if perhaps he were not alb
solutely the better man, he could still make
a fool of me- or at least make me look like
a fool.
said And there are warrants out against
you here for assaulting the admiral We
can work together, and there's nothing
low in what have in my mind for you
It was the first had heard definitely or
warrants against me in Jamaica. That, no
doubt, he had heard from Ramon, who
knew everything. In all this little sardonlc
man said TO me, 1t seemed the only thing
while, in persuasive tones and with airy
fuency, he discoursed of the profits that
could be made nowadays in armlng priVa-
teers under the Mexican flag. He told me
I needn't be surprised at their being fitted
out in a Spanish colony. There's more
than one aspect to disloyalty like this" said
he, dispaSsionately.
Spain resented our recognition OF thelr
responsiveness, relieved by humorous
smiles, he explained that the loyal Span
iards of the Ever Faithful Island thought
there was no sin in doing harm to the En-
glish even under the Mexican flag, whose
legal existence they did not recognize.
Mind We, it's an organized thing, have
something to say in it. 1t hurts Mr.. Can
ning's government at home. the curse of
Cromwell on him and them. They will be
dropping some of their own colonies direct
ly And as you are a separationlst, small
blame to you, andJ1 am an Irishman, we
shan't cry our eyes out over it, Come, Mr.
Kemp, it's all for the good of the cause.
And there's nothing low. You are
gentleman, and / wouldn't propose anything
that was. The very best people in Havana
are interested in the matter. Our schooners
lie in Rio Medic, but can't be there all the
time myself g4tsEs
Surprise deprived me of speech. glanced
at Carlos. He was watching us 1nscrutap!y.
The young girl touched the lizard gently,
but it was too frightened to move; OBrlen'
with shrewd glances, rocked his chair.
Now, 1 offer you good berth, snug
berth. And tits pretty spot" He got
sort of languorous honey into his voice,
and drawled out, ;'The-the senorita s. he
took an air of business-like candor you
can help u.s. and we you; we could do with
out you better than you without US. Our
undertaking-there,s big names in it, just
as in the free, trading you know SO well,
don't be saying you don t-is worked from
Havana. What we need is man we can
trust. We had one-Nichols You remem-
Der the mate of the ship you came over in.
He was Nicola ell Demonio he won't be any
longer-I can't tell you why, It's too long a
story"
l laughed outright You're quite mis-
taken in your man." I said. You are,
really"
He shook his head gently, and brushed
an invisible speck from his plump black
knees.
You must go somewhere, he said
"Why not go with us?'
I said suddenly and reckleSsly:
II am not traitor to my country
Then l realized with sudden concern that
I had probably awakened the old Don. He
stirred uneasily in his chair and lifted one
hand.
1.-The moment go out from here I'll de-
nounce you" 1 said very low; Il swear
will. You're here; you can't get away;
you'll swing
O'Brien started His eyes blazed at mo-
Then he frowned. 1--we been misled." he
muttered. with dark glance at Carlos.
And recovering his jocular serenity. I'VE
mean it?" he asked: tits not British
heroics?'
The old Don stirred again and sighed.
The young girl glided swiftly to his side.
"Senor O'Brien" she said. you have so
irritated my English cousin that he has
awakened my father"
O'Brien grinned gently. "'Tis ever the
way" he said sardonically. THE English
fools do the harm and the Irish fool gets
the kicking" He rose to his feet, quite
collected, a spick-and-span little man. II
DESERVES ANOTHER.